Faith United Missionary Baptist Church sits on Revels Drive in the Whites Creek Pike corridor of north Nashville, just down the road from the three acres the congregation first called home. Sundays begin with gathered worship at 11 a.m., Wednesdays bring two sessions of Bible study, and the surrounding community knows the campus for its afterschool program, its Food Box Ministry, and the recently renovated Powell Hall Fellowship Center. The church describes itself as "a welcoming pillar of Christ's love and Christian growth," a phrase that doubles as the congregation's vision statement.
From a borrowed chapel to a permanent home
The first worship and communion service of Faith United was held on March 4, 1974, at Riverside Chapel Seventh Day Adventist Church on Youngs Lane. The same day the new body voted on its name, "Faith United." March 1974 was a busy month: the official board was appointed and elected, 122 decision slips for transfer of membership were accepted, and $500 in earnest money secured three acres at the corner of Revels Drive and Whites Creek Pike. The first building fund collection came to $7,000, and Deacon Central Dunn became the first member to pledge $1,000 toward the new sanctuary.
Exactly one month after the organizing service, on April 4, 1974, Faith United was granted formal recognition by the Nashville City Missionary Baptist Association. Before the end of that first year, an envelope system for offerings was put in place, a church van was purchased, and a bus ministry was launched. The dedication and groundbreaking service came on March 2, 1975, with architectural plans drawn by R. Douglas Roberts accepted on March 21 and the second phase of building beginning on April 13 under the slogan "TOGETHER WE SHALL BUILD." On October 31, 1976, the church authorized a $159,682.80 loan from Community Federal Savings and Loan to build the sanctuary. The guiding scripture, drawn from I Corinthians 5:7, has remained the same: "WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT."
A pastor, a first lady, and a shared calling to marriages
Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Walker, Sr., has served as Senior Pastor for nearly twenty years. He is a board-certified pastoral counselor with the American Association of Christian Counselors and holds degrees in business and theology along with a D.Min. in Formational Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary. For twenty-five years he has been a sought-after pastoral caregiver on marriage. He and his wife, First Lady Benita J. Walker, have been married since 1988, have two married adult sons and five grandchildren, and together run Walker With You, LLC, a ministry devoted to serving and saving marriages through Jesus Christ. At Faith United, the Walkers co-direct the Marriage & Couples Ministry, while Benita also leads the Women With Wisdom Ministry and serves as the church's event planner and decorator. Associate Ministers supporting the pastoral team include Alvin Hall, Dr. Christina Zimmerman, Dr. Harry Zimmerman, Dr. Milton Nettles, and Frank Walker.
Worship schedule, livestream, and sermons
Sunday worship begins at 11 a.m. CST and is offered both in person and through livestream on Facebook and YouTube. Midweek, the church hosts "God Study" at noon and again at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, two opportunities for members and visitors to dig into Scripture. A sermon archive on YouTube stretches back through titles that read like a gospel playlist - "I Believe I'll Run On," "Eyes On The Prize," "Don't Miss Your Breakthrough Point," and "51 Years to Celebrate: But Much More to Consecrate" - reflecting the church's traditional, gospel-rooted Missionary Baptist heritage.
What the church believes and values
Faith United's beliefs and values statement is structured around what the congregation calls "WE BELIEVE & VALUE" affirmations. Members affirm that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is Lord and Savior; that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one in essence; that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory; and that Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, lived, died on the cross, and rose on the third day for the remission of sins. Salvation, the statement teaches, comes through a conscious and confessional faith in Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father, and the Bible is held to be the inerrant Word of God. Loving the Lord with all the heart, loving people, and serving the neighbor with courage are set out as the daily shape of that faith.
Ministries for every season of life
The ministry team is broad and intentionally intergenerational. Jonathan Wilcox directs the Music Ministry, and a Hallal Dance Ministry, led by Cheryl Colvin, brings another form of liturgical expression. Jaontisha Fitts Adams leads the Youth & Young Adult Ministry, while Loretta Howell shepherds Kids For Christ and the Newcomers connection point. Dr. Christina Zimmerman heads Christian Education; Dr. Milton Nettles directs Family Life and Discipleship; and Dr. Harry Zimmerman leads the Men's & Prayer Ministry. The Women's side of the house is anchored by the Women With Wisdom Ministry under Benita Walker, the Faithful Ladies Ministry under Louise Woodberry, the Mothers and Deaconess Ministry under Yvonne Myles, and the Bereavement/Kitchen Ministry under Jackie Kelly.
Hospitality is led by Natasha Winfrey, the Usher Ministry by Jimmie Baker, and the Trustee Ministry by Burnice Winfrey, Jr. Cardale Winfrey oversees Finance & Budget, Debra Martin heads Bountiful Giving, and Harriet Rucker leads the Pastor Aid Relations Team. Marsha Baker directs the Food Box Ministry, and the New Comers & Evangelism Ministry is led by Alvin Hall. An afterschool program, run in partnership with Preston Taylor Ministries, is led on the church campus by Jaqueline Clark.
Powell Hall Fellowship Center and community life
Completed in the summer of 2023, the renovation of Powell Hall Fellowship Center added nearly 2,200 square feet of usable space to the church's ministry footprint. The center hosts monthly breakfasts for the congregation, a weekly cafe, and a rotating calendar of ministries and events. True to its practice of serving the neighborhood it grew up in, Faith United makes Powell Hall available to rent for community events.
Giving, contact, and how to connect
Those who wish to support the church's mission can give in person, by mail, through PayPal, or by scanning a QR code on the Give page of fumb.org. Prayer requests, questions, and general inquiries go to connect@fumb.org or (615) 876-9596, and a Connect form on the same site is the easiest way to start a conversation with the church family.