Unity Baptist was organized from a home-to-home weekly Prayer Meeting and Bible study group of eight God-fearing, African American Christians who resided on the west side of Detroit, Michigan. One of the first meetings was held at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Atticus Kemp at 7693 Central. Shortly thereafter, the meetings moved to the home of Rev. and Mrs. Fluker at 7595 Central. The group quickly expanded to eighteen persons. In December 1926 the group saw the need to formalize and establish a church in the community, and from a suggestion by Mrs. Rosebud Smith, the name "Unity Baptist Church" was accepted. Rev. O. C. White was elected to serve as Moderator.
From these humble beginnings, the Unity Baptist Church had its inception and continued to grow. Rev. James S. Murray was elected pastor while the group was still worshipping in the basement of the Fluker's home, and served the congregation as pastor from 1927 until 1937. In 1927, the congregation moved into its first church building, which was located at 7513 Bryden on the corner of Bryden and Roy streets. This first church building was built with the assistance of the membership and friends and without the aid of a contractor. In 1937, Rev. J.H. Hankerson was called as pastor and served the congregation from 1937-1939 and Rev. James Goss from 1939 to. 1945. Rev. Clarence E. Palmer was called to pastorate in 1945 and under his leadership the building located on the corner of Tireman and American, an "Old Bank Building "was purchased and renovated into the new church. In 1947 Rev. Clarence Bolden was called to the pastorate and served the congregation for approximately two years, until the Rev. A. Daniel James was elected pastor in 1948 to serve until 1962.
The latter portion of 1962 found the church without a Shepherd and in great financial crisis. It was during this interim period that Deacon Rufus Jackson and various other officers led the church until a new pastor was called.
On March 17, 1963, Rev. Valmon D. Stotts was called to the pastorate of Unity Baptist Church. By 1964 with Almighty God guiding our new pastor and new determination by the people, the church liquidated its indebtedness by burning its first mortgage. The Sunday morning attendance expanded and necessitated the need for a larger edifice. Pastor Stotts began motivating the congregation toward his vision of a larger and more spacious church facility in order to accommodate the rapid membership growth.
On Sunday, March 28, 1971, Pastor Stotts, along with the Officers, Members, friends and the entire congregation broke ground for our present church edifice, which began construction on Labor Day 1971. On Sunday, June 25, 1972 the mission was more than accomplished and the dream became a fact when the congregation marched into the newly constructed million dollar present edifice. Under Pastor Stotts Leadership, Unity Baptist Church has burned three mortgages.
Pastor Stotts has established New Member
Classes, expanded the Ministerial Staff, established the Altar Circle,
the Junior Church, the Nursery Department, Unity Bible
Institute (U.B.I), and the Scholarship Committee, just to name a few.
He established Unity's participation in several Associations, including
The Metropolitan District Association, Wolverine State Baptist Convention,
and the National Baptist Convention. Under Pastor Stotts leadership, Unity
Baptist Church has extended the sanctuary, added an Educational Wing,
including a library. Unity Baptist Church celebrates 80 years of loving
God and serving the world communities.
The old Unity Baptist Church location on Tireman Ave.
Copyright
©2006 - Unity Baptist Church - All Rights Reserved
7500 Tireman • Detroit, Michigan • 48204 • Rev. Dr.
Valmon D. Stotts, Pastor
Phone: 313.933.9799• Email:
