During the early years, from 1964 through 1972, the following pastors guided Steele’s Memorial Baptist Church: Rev. James Wilkerson, Rev. James Phillips, Rev. Luther Jefferies, and Rev. Cato Brooks, Jr. In 1972, under the leadership of Rev. Cato Brooks, Jr., the membership changed the name of the church from Steele’s Memorial to Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.  
 

Under Rev. Brooks’ leadership, the church membership experienced rapid growth in numbers and enormous changes in philosophy. During this time the church ministered through two worship services. A morning worship service and an evening service which was broadcast live over the radio. The change in philosophy came through recognition of the many problems that faced the church community and the city at-large. Through the desire to address these issues the Greater Friendship Care Center, Inc., was organized. The center addressed many needs, particularly in the areas of juvenile and family relationships and drug and alcohol abuse. During this time, a total of 36 men and women accepted the call to the Gospel ministry. Rev. Brooks was pastor until the late 1970s, at which time he moved to Gary, Indiana.

 

Rev. Tyrone Johnson succeeded Pastor Brooks and served Greater Friendship until 1981 followed by Rev. Eric Woods. Greater Friendship continued under the leadership of Rev. Eric Woods until he was succeeded by, Rev. Birttie E. Bennett.

 
Under the spirit-led teachings of Rev. Bennett, the church continued to grow numerically and spiritually. Praise be to God for He has moved on the will of many in the membership to seek knowledge and understanding of His Word. As a result, Sunday School and Bible classes continued to grow, as well as, Sunday morning worship service. Weekly Discipleship and Minister’s Training Classes were formed and more than thirty-eight (38) ministers were ordained to go forth and preach the Word of God.  In 1991, members began a fundraising campaign to build a multi-purpose care center in the neighborhood to provide the following services in response to the needs of the community identified at that time: Youth and family counseling, employment skills training, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, personal development training, and soup kitchen services.

 

During Pastor Bennett’s tenure, the church acquired four (4) acres of various adjacent properties for future growth. In the spring of 1996, Greater Friendship broke ground on a 5000 square foot addition to the church, which included a 2500 square foot fellowship hall, community theatre, commercial kitchen, training rooms, and office space. In 2002, more renovation was completed in the sanctuary and baptismal facilities.  The newly built and the  renovated space was used to house the programs listed above as well as LIFE (Learning Individual Freedom thru Empowerment) Skills Trainings for youth and adults, First Offender Program, Academic Tutoring, Marriage Training and Singles Classes, Parenting Classes,  and Positive Change of Direction -  a support program to help fight addiction. In the late 1990’s, the Greater Friendship Outreach Programs expanded into the community  to include five (5) satellite programs for Academic Tutoring and Gang Prevention/Intervention. In 2006 the church was blessed to pay off the thirty (30) year mortgage in ten (10) years.  A Mortgage Burning Ceremony was held on September 24th, 2006. Also during this time, the entire church body voted to exclude Baptist from the name of the church. Henceforth to be known as Greater Friendship Missionary Church. In 2008 a major external renovation was completed which upgraded the church’s roof, façade, and utility connections. Rev. Bennett would serve Greater Friendship faithfully for thirty (30) years and retired from the ministry as Pastor on December 31, 2008.  Pastor Bennett served as Pastor Emeritus until his death on September 27, 2010.
 

Rev. Michael E. Clayton was installed as Pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Church in February of 2009. During Pastor Clayton’s tenure at Greater Friendship the church began doing business as Greater Friendship Christian Church and the Granite Mountain Four Church Fellowship was birth. Greater Friendship, Pilgrim Rest Baptist #3, Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and Old Landmark House of Prayer grew in love and support of each other. Pastor Clayton served the Greater Friendship Family until his departure in March of 2012.

In October of 2012 Rev. Percy Gilbert, Jr. came on as Interim Pastor of Greater Friendship. Prayers were answered when in January of 2013 Rev. Gilbert became the official Pastor with his installation to follow on April 14, 2013. Pastor Gilbert has returned Greater Friendship to its roots of serving the community by spearheading monthly “Go Fishing” excursions, Annual Praise Fest, as well as re-energizing the Positive Change of Direction Ministry. Pastor Gilbert has strengthened the bond between the other churches in the community preserving the fellowship among the churches in Granite Mountain. Continuing Pastor Bennett’s belief that a church should be debt free, Pastor Gilbert has led the campaign to pay off improvements made to the Greater Friendship façade in the previous years. In 2014 the church, once again, celebrated being debt free! In 2015 Pastor Gilbert, the Deacon Board and the Elders presented the church body with a church Constitution and Bylaws to govern the Greater Friendship family. Since the arrival of Pastor Gilbert some old members have returned and many new faces have come to call Greater Friendship home.

 

Greater Friendship Church will continue to grow and stay faithful to its motto of “Serving God by Serving Man”

Church Historians:  Rev. Charrisse Coates, Elder Patricia Williams & Deacon Alan Thompson