Blog 135: Do You Know the History of Your Church?: Three Baptist Churches in Review

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By Vernon M. Herron

     The First Baptist Church Colored was the first African American Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. “West” replaced the word “Colored” which was added to the name change. The original First Baptist Church is Caucasian in nature.   

     At the end of the Civil War, The First Baptist Church granted letters of dismission to its former enslaved members to form their own church. Thus, in June 1867, The First Baptist-West was born. 

     From this “mother” church, The Ebenezer Baptist Church, sometimes called “Second Baptist,” at its early beginnings, was born in 1877. Charlotte is blessed with thriving African American Baptist churches with dynamic ministries. In addition to the two churches mentioned, we note that Mt. Carmel Baptist was founded in 1878; The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church had its beginnings in 1890 and St. Paul was founded in 1900. 

     Three churches are discussed here.

     The First Baptist Church-West has a membership of 600 with 30 ministries under the leadership of Dr. Ricky Woods, 59, who has served as its pastor for 19 years.

     The Ebenezer Baptist Church has a membership of 1,500 with 40 ministries under the able leadership of Dr. Leonzo Lynch, 53, who has served as its pastor for 16 years.      The church has had 12 pastors, with the Rev. Zack Haughton as the first. The edifices at E. Second and S. Davidson Streets and E. Trade and N. Myers Streets were destroyed by fire. 

     The present church is located 2020 W. Sugar Creek Road. It has a program designed for the family, Mission and Christian Education.

     The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church takes its name from the historic Friendship Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia. It has a membership of 8,000 with 80 ministries. Its mission outreach is local and global in nature. Dr. Clifford Jones, Sr. 69, has served as its 13^th pastor for 30 years.