Messiah's Rich History in Grand Rapids
Messiah is the oldest African-American Baptist church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Messiah Baptist Church was founded in 1890 by Sister Catherine Carter and was organized with the help of Rev. Holt, a Baptist Minister from Amesburg, Canada. On September 16, 1890 Messiah Baptist Church was officially recorded as a church by the state of Michigan.
Pastoral Leadership
1890-1895 Rev. Robert Gillard
1895-1898 Pulpit filled by various visiting ministers
1898- 1900 Rev. S.B. Toles
1900-1915 Rev. S. Henri Browne
1915-1918 Rev. Melville Purdue
1918-1929 Rev. W.J. Northcross
1929-1930 Rev. Robert Moody
1930-1933 Rev. Lawrence McNeil
1933-1969 Rev. Albert C Keith
April- July 1969 Rev. Homer C. Cross
1969-1971 Rev. I. Joseph Miller
1971-1972 Rev. Homer C. Cross
1972-2017 Rev. Dr. Clifton Rhodes, Jr.
2017- Present Rev. Daniel Smith
