Matthews Memorial Baptist Church is a Missionary Baptist congregation at 2616 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1921, it is known for Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. in the Main Sanctuary and for ministries that extend from children's education and youth development to adult training, worship, care and community outreach. Its motto, "People of Commitment to the Great Commandments and the Great Commission," reflects a long history of education, missions and service.
A Church Born at Carrie Minor's Home
On June 5, 1921, former members of Bethlehem Baptist Church organized Gospel Mission Baptist Church in the home of Carrie Minor under Reverend John T. Marshall. On July 17, they chose Matthews Memorial Baptist Church in honor of Reverend Joseph P. Matthews, the late pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. The congregation was recognized as a Missionary Baptist Church the following year. The original building was completed under Marshall's leadership in 1932. Under Reverend Roosevelt V. Coger, the mortgage was burned, outstanding bills were paid, a new property was purchased in 1959, and the first service in the new location took place in 1960. The MMBC Nursery School was licensed in 1964, and an Education Building was erected in 1977.
Reverend Dr. Wendell P. Russell led the church through the early burning of its second mortgage, 20 years ahead of its maturity date, and introduced the church-wide "A Tithing Church" program. Under Reverend Dr. John H. Kearney, four ministers were ordained and two licensed, a youth pastor was appointed, and the Wendell P. Russell Scholarship Fund and Leadership Training Institute were established. Members completing eight hours of Leadership Training Institute work received an Evangelical Training Association certificate. My Sister's House was dedicated as an outreach ministry providing services and resources to families of Matthews and the community; it later became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Child Development Center, identified with the MMBC Nursery School, was accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. A new sanctuary opened on Palm Sunday in March 1999. Matthews Memorial also became a study location for the Interdenominational Theological Center Extension Education Program, nine members earned its Certificate in Theology, and a 44-member delegation traveled to Senegal and Gambia in Africa.
Under Bishop C. Matthew Hudson Jr., improvements were made to infrastructure, facilities, safety and security, and church finances moved from debt to asset. The evangelism ministry added a weekly broadcast on Radio One 104.1. Ministers in training were licensed and ordained, a Saturday Bible class for men was started, and the Mountain Moving Mighty Men of Matthews and Global Missions ministries were established, including outreach to Haiti and Africa. A senior-housing vision, delayed for 24 years, opened as Matthews Memorial Terrace in 2010. The senior-pastor succession also includes Henry G. Hockett, Howard Hickerson, Reuben W. Hall, Roosevelt V. Coger, Wendell P. Russell, John H. Kearney Sr. and C. Matthew Hudson Jr., whose tenures span 1939 through 2016.
Pastor Turner's Emphasis on Healthy Congregations
Reverend Dr. Joseph D. Turner has served as Matthews Memorial's senior pastor since April 2018. Raised in Chicago, he began following ministry at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, accepted a call to ministry at 15 and served as its children's church minister from 1983 to 1986. He later spent 14 years as senior pastor of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Perrine, Florida. His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Bishop College, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University School of Theology and a Doctorate in Ministry from United Theological Seminary.
Turner works to develop congregational health through family, group and individual Christian counseling, along with related audio and written materials. His Family Matters series considers family dynamics from the perspectives of wives, husbands, parents, children and widowed spouses in titles including I Need You to Love Me, I Need You to Respect Me, I Need You to Obey Me, I Need You Not to Frustrate Me and Before You Say I Do Again. He also mentors aspiring Christian leaders and pursues community partnerships.
Sunday Worship at 9:30 in the Main Sanctuary
Every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the congregation gathers for worship in the Main Sanctuary. The service is livestreamed through YouTube and Facebook. Holy Communion is part of the 9:30 service on the first Sunday of each month, while baptism and baby dedication are observed at 9:30 on the fourth Sunday. The Music and Arts ministries also form a substantial part of the church's worship life.
In-person Sunday School precedes the morning service. Its classes are grouped for adults, young adults, youth and children, with adult classes in the Fellowship and Lecture Halls, the young adult class in the Executive Conference Room, and youth and children meeting in the Senior Citizens Room and Children's Room. Archived sermons, Bible studies and updates can be viewed through Video on Demand.
Faith and Learning by Phone, in the Sanctuary and on Zoom
Saturday's 6:00 p.m. virtual school is part of Matthews Memorial's Faith and Learning schedule. Three telephone classes meet at that time: a class led by Deacons G. Brown and E. Sutton, a class led by Deacon R. Jones, and Sister M. Parker's women's class. Wednesday Bible study begins at noon in the sanctuary for adults. A youth Bible study meets on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays. A telephone prayer line also gathers on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.
Christian education at Matthews Memorial includes the Church School, High Ground Prayer Warriors, Church Exhibition, General Bible Study, Teen Bible Study, Noon Day Bible Study, Children's Bible Study, New Members Class and Vacation Bible School. The church's training legacy includes the Wendell P. Russell Scholarship Fund, the Leadership Training Institute and the theological certificate program developed with the Interdenominational Theological Center. These programs have historically connected classroom learning with leadership preparation and mission.
Youth Empowered to Serve
Matthews Memorial's Youth Empowered to Serve ministry is designed for ages 5 through 19, divided into groups for ages 5-8, 9-12 and 13-19. Its mission is to nurture and equip young people as they grow in faith, discover God-given gifts, and serve their church and community. The church describes the goal as helping youth live Christ-centered lives, develop strong character and become leaders who reflect the love of Christ in all they do.
The vision for Youth Empowered to Serve is a generation that is spiritually grounded, socially responsible and purpose-driven, equipped to serve and transform communities through faith and leadership in Jesus Christ. The broader youth pathway also includes Vacation Bible School, Youth Ministry, Youth on FIYA choir and the church's youth Bible study. These opportunities connect young congregants with learning, worship, music, service and the development of their gifts.
Care, Housing and Community Outreach
My Sister's House grew from a ministry intended to provide services and resources to Matthews families and the wider community. The church's ministry structure also includes Bright Future Tutorial Program, "Behind the Gates" prison missions, Urban Family House of Hope, the MMT/Housing Ministry, the Senior Citizens Enrichment Center and the Carolyn Boone Nursing Home ministry. The long effort to provide senior housing culminated in Matthews Memorial Terrace, which opened in 2010. The J.T. Marshall Missionary Society, Red Circle Missionaries and Evangelism Ministry are also named in the church's ministry structure.
Care is carried through Ministry of Care, Grief Support Ministry/Care Vision, the Widows' Ministry, Pastor Partners, Sisters of Hope, H.O.P.E. Support Ministry, HIV/AIDS Ministry, Minnie Wood Cancer Support Ministry and Nurse's Health Ministry. Christian education also includes High Ground Prayer Warriors. The African American History Ministry and the Commissions for Social, Political and Economic Development reflect the church's stated emphasis on political, social and economic development. Together, these ministries place prayer, history, public engagement and care alongside the church's educational work.
Outreach has also had an international dimension. Global Missions work has included Haiti and Africa, while the delegation associated with Matthews Memorial's theological training traveled to Senegal and Gambia. The African American History Ministry, J.T. Marshall Missionary Society and Red Circle Missionaries add mission and heritage to the local ministries. Mountain Moving Mighty Men, established during Bishop Hudson's leadership, remains another named ministry.
Choirs, Arts and Fellowship for Every Generation
The Music and Arts ministry includes the Children of God Choir, Consolation Choir, Mass Choir, Men Choir, Voices of Christ Choir, Women Choir and Youth on FIYA, with Coger Choraliers Outreach also among the choral groups. Its praise-team ministry includes adult, combined, men's and women's teams, along with the Blessed and Highly Favored Praise Team. The church also supports Drama, Liturgical Dance, Mime and Step Team ministries, giving worship and the arts a visible place in congregational life.
Fellowship ministries cover Children, Youth, Young Adult, Adult Club, Women, Men, Christian Singles and Family/Couples/Marriage groups. Other church-life ministries include the Council of Elders, Hospitality Committee, Greeters Ministry, Culinary Ministry, Usher's Ministry, Deacon's Ministry, Trustees' Ministry, Flower Club Ministry, Pastor Partners and Sisters of Hope. Together they show how education, music, service and fellowship are organized alongside worship.
Mission, Values and a Continuing Legacy
Matthews Memorial states its mission plainly: "People Sharing the Gospel to Transform Unbelievers to Committed Disciples of Christ." Its core value is "Making Every Effort to Meet the Deepest Human Need, Leading Individuals into a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ." The church also summarizes its communal identity with the words, "Where God is praised, Christ obeyed, and People are loved." These statements place evangelism, discipleship, care and the development of leaders at the center of the church's purpose.
Financial support is available through online giving, mailed gifts, text-to-give at 301-895-7889 and the Church by MinistryOne mobile app. Online and app-based contributions may be one-time or recurring and can be made by debit or credit card.
That purpose is visible in the church's long record of building an Education Building, a nursery school, training programs, a new sanctuary and senior housing; licensing and ordaining ministers; supporting youth, singles, couples, widows and older adults; and pairing worship with music, prayer and service. Matthews Memorial Baptist Church remains a Washington, D.C. congregation shaped by more than a century of history and by a broad ministry life that reaches from children and families to the wider community.