I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
—3 John 1:4Timeline
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC was organized in 1890. Forty members of First Baptist Church, located at 1021 S. Church St., withdrew their membership by letter and organized a new church. Sis. Rosa Watson offered the name FRIENDSHIP, taken from the historic Friendship Baptist Church of Atlanta.
Rev. Allen Lewis, 1st Pastor
Under pastoral leadership of Rev. G.W. Watkins, exquisite stained glass windows were added to the church.
First instrumentalists accompany choir (1920-1930). George Monroe - clarinet; Clarence Rabb, cornet; Clarkson Springs, trombone; Javan Hunter, violin.
Zack Alexander, 1st President, Usher Board
Pipe organ purchased
Hosted Lott Carey Convention, 1st time
Hosted General Baptist State Convention, 1st time
The Friendship Troop was organized in 1933 with Reverend John Lewis Powell serving as the organizati.nal director
Girl Scout - Ernestine McCree, 1st
Rev. Coleman W. Kerry, 12th Pastor
Cub Scout Pack Organized, Reverend J. Fiddmont was first Cubmaster.
Hattie Leeper (Chatty Hattie), 1st black female DJ
1st NAACP Junior Youth Council, President, Kelly M. Alexander, Jr.
1st Nurses Guild, Sadie Covington
Move from Brevard Street to Northwest Junior High School, now, Northwest School of the Arts located on Beatties Ford Road
3301 Beatties Ford Road construction started
1st live recorded album "Songs to Live By"
Friendship Players drama guild organized, Henrietta Rhedrick
1st Black appointed to CMS Board of Education, Rev. Coleman W. Kerry, Jr.
1st Black TV Personality (WSOC), Marvin (Bob) Nicholas
Friendship Day Care Center established
Relocated from Northwest Junior High School to 3301 Beatties Ford Rd.
1st Tutorial Program organized, William A. Smith
1st New Members Class
1st Female Usher Board President, Lelar Caldwell
1st Black Female TV personality, Charlene Price-Patterson WBTV and WCCB/Fox 18
Male Chorus established for Men's Day, Linwood Gerardo Stroud
Coleman W. Kerry, Jr. Scholarship Fund established
Rev. Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Senior, 13th Pastor
1st Black Mayor of Charlotte, Harvey B. Gantt
1st Couples Minister, Rev. William H. Height
1st Church Administrator, James Lawrence
Adult Hand Bell Choir organized, June Smith
1st Quilting Activity; Formal Quilting Guild established 2000, Minnie L. Williams
1st Black College Awareness Day, Cathy Jones
1st Female Deacon, Sarah Blackwell
1st FMBC to become a university Chancellor (NCCU), Julius Chambers
Youth Opportunity University (Y.O.U.) established, C. Brenda Jones, Chancellor and Carolyn Turner, Vice Chancellor
1st Parish Nurse, Charlette Johnson -Smith
1st Youth Dance Ministry - Shabach, Rev. Cheryl Moore
1st Children from South Africa hosted by FMBC families, International Children Outreach Ministry (ICOM)
1st Liturgical Dance Ministry - Vision
1st Female African American City Council member, Ella Scarborough
International Children's Outreach Ministry established, South Africa
1st Orchestra conductor, Duncan Gray
1st female Orchestra conductor, Sonja Smith
Thato Community of Excellence, Mabopane, South Africa. This economic development project in the township of Winterveldt is a community marvel also known as the “The Farm”. It is a church model for missions whereby vegetable and greenhouse gardens, employment and volunteer opportunities are made available in the community. In addition to a sewing facility, to attract women who are infected with HIV/AIDS, was created in order to employ them in hopes of being able to sustain themselves and their families financially. This strong partnership between the ministry and FMBC has been existence since 2001 under the leadership of the family of the late Rev. M. Johannes Mashiane.
1st Homecoming at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
1st Annual theme established - "From Membership to Stewardship"
Great Things opened
Move from 3301 to 3400 Beatties Fd Rd
1st Medical Ministry team to South Africa
FMBC hosts 1st South Africa Honors Chorus Tour
2nd African American Mayor , Anthony Foxx, Esq.
My Sister's House - Transitional House opens
Sister Church in Pretoria, South Africa completed. Friendship Missionary Baptist built a sister church in a village outside of Pretoria, SA called Moiletswane under the pastorate of our long time ministry partner, Reverend Willy Ndala.
NextGen Ministry established