Our Mission

Reverend John I. Mumford (who was a member of New Bethel at the time) moved by the Holy Spirit, felt the need of church in lower Boston Cottage. He called together a group of friends and former members of New Bethel and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Churches and presented his plans. They were pleased with the prospect of having a church in their immediate community and diligently set out to help Rev. Mumford in his plans for organization. Some of the pioneers were C.B. Jones, W.M. Skinner, Vi Skinner, Wade Friday and wife Minnie Mumford, Charlie Glenn, Nora Glenn, Charity Logan, Mag Davis, Emma Robinson, J.P. Robinson, Bertha Turner, Marshall Turner, Deacon West, Hester West, Charlie and Vi Branson, Florence King and Vera Booe.

At that time, vacant buildings were scarce but after a short while Rev. Mumford was able to secure a worship place, a small building that had once been a two room dwelling. Joyously, the new members went to their new worship place that the Pastor named Friendship Baptist Church (located on Cherry Street). The membership at Friendship grew rapidly  and again the group found themselves faced with the problem of an adequate place for worship. Therefore, hoping for better conditions, they set out to build a sanctuary for their growing congregation. 

Literally, the Pastor, members and hired laborers worked shoulder to shoulder and put up the frame structure. In digging the basement for the church, Rev. Mumford persuaded a number of little boys to help him.  With borrowed wheelbarrows they rolled the dirt away and drank lemonade for their pay. As the building was nearing completion, Rev. Mumford worked on making pews for the new church. He worked night and day until he made sufficient pews for the main auditorium and the basement.  Finally, situated in the new building, with a seating capacity of 300, the Pastor and members took fresh courage and labored to broaden their church program.