Church History

In 1973 the congregations of the Noah’s Ark Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. R. G. Green, and Mars Hill Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. John H. Pratcher merged and created the United Missionary Baptist Church and Rev. Pratcher was appointed Senior Pastor.  Noah’s Ark Baptist Church congregation included members such as Sis. Bertha Hall, Sister Willie Bell Wade, Sis. Minnie Sullivan, Sis. Maria Newton, Bro. & Sis. Herbert Garvin and Bro. Billy McLean.  Mars Hill Baptist Church members included Deacon & Sis. Willie Hyman, Deacon & Sis. Vernon Wright, Deacon & Sis. Milton Hemmitt, Bro. & Sis. Earnest Pelzer, Bro. & Sis. Hercules Smith, Deacon Kizer Dukes, Sis. Johnnie Sue Harrill, Sis. Beatrice Taylor and Sis. Dot Gant. Deacon Hyman was appointed Chairman of the Deacon Board, Earnest Pelzer was Chairman of the Trustee board, and Deacon Dukes was named Sunday School Superintendent. In 1978, due to failing health, Rev. Pratcher relocated to Buffalo NY.

Rev. MeKelvie C. Garvin became Pastor and held the post from 1978 until 1990. During his tenure as Pastor, Rev. Fields, Rev. Young and Rev. Reatha L. Jefferson joined Rev. Garvin as Associate Ministers. Rev. Garvin was a school teacher and because of his love for children, he held Daily Vacation Bible School at the church during the summer.  Rev. Garvin left United Missionary Baptist Church and founded Greater New Beginnings Baptist Church where he was Pastor until he relocated to Spotenberg, SC.

Rev. Reatha L. Jefferson became Pastor and held the post until 1992 with Rev. Kelly and Rev. Nathan Williams as Associate Ministers.  Rev. Jefferson was a short petite woman and was always challenged baptizing new members.  She ordained Dexter Foye as a Deacon. Rev. Jefferson remarried and in 1992 she relocated to Florence, SC.  

Rev. Nathan Williams became Pastor and held the post until April, 2000.  Rev. Joe Williams joined the church and worked as an Associate Minister with Rev. Williams. Under Rev. Williams, Louis Gant and Hercules Smith were ordained as Deacons.

Rev. Willie C. Scott became Pastor and held the post from March 2001 until February 2005 when Rev. and Sis. Scott relocated to Sylvania GA. Rev. Scott started a New Membership class for new members joining the church as well as Baptismal classes for candidates for baptism. During his tenure our church was been blessed with a 15-passenger van and a beautiful lighted cross for the front of the church sanctuary.  During this time, after 29 years of service, Deacon Hyman resigned as chairman of the Deacon Board and was replaced by Deacon Louis Gant.

On March 26, 2006,  Rev. Thomas F. Stokes was installed as Pastor of the United Missionary Baptist Church.  In 2007 Rev. Marvin Abram joined the church as an Associate Minister.  Rev. Stokes,  ordained Deacon Robert Robinson and Deacon George Pollard and presided over the ordination of Rev. Marvin Abrams.  He has also taught and ordained new members of our current Deaconess board.

Rev. Marvin B. Abram was installed as Pastor on June 30, 2013. Rev. Abram has a vision that United Missionary  Baptist  Church  “will be the beacon of light for the community at large, a place of healing and restoration,  a place where one can come and find  food for their soul !! A place that equips, empowers and educates the people of GOD!

In 1978 Deacon Hyman’s Mother died at the age of 72 while continuing her education.  The church started the Alice Hyman Birch Scholarship Fund in her memory.  In the thirty years since the scholarship fund was started, the church has provided aid to more than 50 young people.  Deacon Hyman always stated if we could just buy a child one book it was a help.  With the passing of our beloved deacon in 2005, the scholarship fund was re-named the Deacon Willie Hyman Scholarship Fund.

Over the years many ministries and auxiliaries were started by the members.  Trustee Adell Johnson started the Willing Workers Club which worked to raise money to beautify the church.  When the Willing Workers bought the chandeliers in the sanctuary, Sis. Johnson’s face was as bright as the lights. 

Mother Hyman and Mother Bessie Halls wanted to get the little children involved in the church and they started the Tiny Tots ushers and  Mother Hyman  founded the Youth Ensemble choir for the older children. 

Deaconess Clay Dean Pelzer always felt a closeness to the Pastor and she started the Pastor’s Aid ministry.  We can all remember the fundraisers Sis. Pelzer hosted including the street fairs and the dinners. Deaconess Gracie Wright saw a need to beautify the church and she started the Floral Club.  Deaconess Wright also sponsored a fundraiser to purchase the chair left we now use to allow the disabled to access the fellowship hall in basement of the church.

Looking back over the church history we have to mention Sis. Norene Mott.  Sis. Mott was the church’s financial secretary, Sunday School Superintendent and printed all of the church’s programs.  Sis. Mott is best remembered for her “acting skills.”  She often performed “dramatic readings.”

We have always had a dedicated Deaconess and Missionary Board who worked diligently with the sick and shut-in.  For several years. the church also sponsored a Food Shelf.  Monthly, the church would so and get food donated by the city and distribute it to the needy in the community.  This program was started by Deacon & Sis. Beasley and when they retired, Deacon Hyman and Trustee George Davis and others continued the program.

For many years, on Halloween, the church would host a costume party for the children.  They would all come in their costumes and eat, play games and have candy bags to take back home.  And we cannot forget the many Christmas programs and plays the children were a part of.  Some of these were real productions.  And every Thanksgiving the church would give Thanksgiving baskets to the needy in the church or community.

Music has always played a major role in our church and if you think of music you have to remember Sis. Johnnie Sue Harrill.  Sis. Harrill played the piano for all of the choirs. She attended all rehearsals and whenever the church went out, Sis. Harrill could be counted on to be there even if she had to take the bus.  We can all remember Sis. Harrill causing the piano to shake when the music got good to her.  

Over the years there have been many choirs including:

• Senior Choir, • Gospel Chorus, • M.C. Garvin Choir, • Youth Ensemble, • V.C. Chorus, • Male Chorus• 1st Sunday Choir and • most recently the UMBC Inspirational Choir and
•.The Angelic Voices Youth Choir

The V.C. Chorus was formed in memory of Sis. Vera Covington, a mother who died at a young age and was an active and faithful choir member. One of the biggest church events was the choir anniversaries. Who cannot remember Deaconess Rose Smith “strutting her stuff” during the grand march?  And don’t forget the down home gospel sounds of Deacon Hercules Smith.

From the original members we are blessed to still have with us Mother Willie Bell Wade, Trustee Earnest Pelzer and Deaconess Rose Smith.  

The members of the United Missionary Baptist Church have been  serving the Lord for over 44 years.  People have come and gone and yet God’s house still stands.