The impregnation of our church began when on August 26, 1994, our now emeritus pastor, Rev. R. L. McAdory received a hand delivered letter of termination signed by Deacons R. L. Rollins and Aaron Cotton on behalf of the First Missionary Baptist Church, South Bessmer, Alabama that he was terminated as pastor on August 25, 1994, effective immediately. Rev. McAdory returned to First Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday August 28, 1994 accepted his termination and voiced to the congregation that he would be re-organizing in the Bessemer area and those that were interested in a new beginning could give him a call. On Sunday, September 4, 1994 Worship Services were held at the Best Western Hotel, Bessemer, Alabama with 17 in attendance including 12 Charter Members. Namely, Sis. Leola Watkins, Sis. Juanita Thomas, Bro. Lee Curtis Nelson, Dea. Walter Patton, Sis. Lula M. Dickens, Sis. Geneva Nelson, Sis. Eddie B. Lewis, Sis. Annie Scruggs, Bro. Ricco McAdory, Sis. Dorothy McAdory and Sis. Jean Howell. A Planning Meeting was held at the end of the service to choose a name for our church. Our church was unanimous in agreeing on the name, “Faith Missionary Baptist Church” as suggested by Sis. Shirley Watkins. By Wednesday, September 14, 1994 with the help of Mayor Quitman Mitchell, we leased the Davis Heights Community Center for Worship Services on Sunday and Wednesday night.
November 1994 under the lead of our pastor, we closed the purchase on our present property, 1605 15th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020. We began renovating our church in April 1995. Most of the work was done by church members that worked untiringly every Saturday and weekdays were possible. On December 3, 1996, the property adjacent to the church was purchased which included a frame house. In September 2002 the church purchased property at 1527 15th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL which includes a frame house. This extension is used for extended study, dining and fellowship. In August 2006, we purchased our fourth piece of property at 1609 15th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL which included a frame house and three lots. To the glory of God, our church owns more than half the 15th Avenue Block with a total of 8 lots.
In February 2015, the church and all properties which also included two Fellowship/Classroom houses and three lots were paid in full. Our membership continued to grow individually and collectively under the leadership of Pastor McAdory. We looked to the future with confidence that God will bless the efforts of His people as we labor in love together here on earth. After years of pastoring at Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Bessemer, Rev. Dr. Robert L. McAdory decided to retire at the end 2022. But church members were comforted by his decision to continue to stay active in the ministry teaching and preaching from time to time, “I’m retiring from the pastoring, but not from preaching.” McAdory said. By the grace of God, a retirement Celebration Gala honoring Rev. Dr. R. L. McAdory for 28 years of dedicated service as pastor of FMBC was held at the Hilton Birmingham at UAB on December 31st, 2022. McAdory shared that he is very blessed and will continue to be of support to the church as pastor emeritus while the church is in search of the next pastor.
Rev. Dr. Johnny Hicks was appointed interim pastor and served in that capacity for 3 months under the guidance of the church moderator we began taking the necessary step to begin our search process. The Faith Missionary Baptist Church prayerfully and actively searched for our next pastor over the next 8 months formed a pastoral search committee and began accepting resumes and interviewing candidates. After narrowing the field of candidates down to three the committee conducted follow up interviews and notified the congregation of scheduled activities as each candidate visited twice as guest speakers and to teach Tuesday night bible study. The church set a date and a vote was held January 10th, 2024, and by a unanimous vote Rev. Christopher Parson was called to be our Pastor – Elect. Faith Missionary Baptist Church is excited to announce our new Pastor Rev. Christopher Parson. On January 12th, 2024, he preached his first service as pastor of Faith and is making history by being the second pastor in the church’s history.
He has stepped wonderfully into the role as pastor and the transition has been a smooth one, he and his family has been such a blest addition to the church. We thank God for our heritage and the willing spirit of our faithful laborers; by the grace of God, as we continue to work that the membership of Faith will continue to be blessed as we enter into our next phase of Kingdom building for Christ. Under his direction with God’s blessing and guidance we are growing and thriving this 2024, our church has renovated both the men and women’s restrooms and created a new overflow/classroom area, finance office and pastor study.
What a blessing!
Learn more about him by clicking on Meet Our Pastor!