From Mount Moriah to Helen Avenue
On July 12, 1918, Reverend and Sister Johnny Wright, Brother and Sister J.G. Smith, Brother and Sister Jack Brim, Brother Jerry Norman, and Brother John Boom met at 11th and Carr Street with a single purpose: to organize a church. Following what the congregation describes as the direction of the Lord, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church was born. By 1923, under the leadership of Reverend Boatman Robertson of Memphis, Tennessee, the church had moved to 1232 North 12th Street. By 1924, with a membership of more than 500 and under Reverend Dan Davis, it relocated again to 1401 Carr. In 1935, the church was renamed Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. On June 17, 1973, under the leadership of Pastor Emeritus William J. Thompson, the congregation purchased new property and a motorcade carried the members to their present home at 5300 Helen Avenue in Jennings, Missouri. Under his pastorate, the church burned its mortgage and laid the cornerstone. He retired in 1988 after 26 years of service. Reverend Leonard D. Dennis was elected to lead the church in 1991, and the church holds his pastorate in loving memory for the renovations, the purchase of additional property for the expansion of the parking lot, and the long-range plan to construct a new edifice to meet growing needs.
A Mission of Praise, Preaching, Reaching, and Teaching
Members describe the church's purpose with a single sentence: "Engaging in our Father's business through praising, preaching, reaching and teaching." The verse that has shaped the church's identity for over a century is 2 Corinthians 5:7: "We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight." The stated goal is to shape and mold members into disciples for Christ and to prepare them for ministry that "brings souls inside." The church is self-governing and a member of the Berean Missionary Baptist Church Association and the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri.
Sunday and Wednesday on Helen Avenue
Worship at Metropolitan centers on a Sunday morning Bible study hour, a Sunday morning service, and a midweek Bible study. Sunday School meets at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 10:45 a.m., with classes offered for all ages. The Sunday service follows at 11:00 a.m. On Wednesday evening, Bible study and a service of the Word begin at 7:00 p.m. The church stands at 5300 Helen Avenue, Jennings, Missouri 63136, and the office can be reached at 314-389-5005.
For those unable to attend in person, services are also offered virtually through Zoom, with dial-in number 1-929-205-6099 and meeting ID 807 251 3697. A YouTube channel carries recorded services, including recent Sunday services and Easter worship.
Sunday School: The Educational Foundation
The Sunday School ministry, with the theme "Transforming Lives Through the Word of God," is described by the church as the educational foundation for all Christians. A teaching staff is dedicated to imparting a deeper understanding of the Bible, and the work is grounded in 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Classes for all ages make it a place where the entire family can grow together.
The H.O.P.E. Youth Ministry
The youth ministry takes its name from an acronym of Honor, Obedience, Pride, and Excellence. It exists to prepare young people for everyday challenges at school, at home, and at church, equipping them for life's journey. The ministry frames itself as opening youth to greater possibilities and giving them H.O.P.E. for the future, helping them know who they are and the values they bring to themselves and to God.
The Music Ministry
Music is central to worship at Metropolitan. The music ministry includes the Mass Choir, the Youth Choir, and the Mighty Men of Metropolitan. Its mission is to magnify the Lord through song and to lift up the name of Jesus. The choir and musicians serve as an enhancement to the worship service, preparing the congregation for the preaching of God's Word, and the ministry welcomes all who have the gift of singing.
Mission Ministry
Modeling its work after Christ, the Mission Ministry is dedicated to reaching and teaching through service. Members study the Word of God to equip themselves to serve the congregation and the broader community. The acronym MISSION sums up the work: Model, Inspire, Support, Sacrifice, Initiative, Outreach, Nurture. The ministry aims to inspire others to follow Christ by example and to become kingdom builders through service to others.
Men's "Locker Room" Ministry
The Men's Ministry is described as a safe haven for African American men to communicate issues that plague the community. Using the proverb "Iron sharpens iron," the ministry brings men together to collaborate on Kingdom building and to sharpen one another as servants of Christ.
Ushers and New Members
The Usher Ministry greets everyone who enters the house of worship with a warm smile, seats worshipers, meets the needs of the pastor and congregation during services, and keeps distractions to a minimum. The ministry's grounding text is Psalm 84:10: "I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness." The New Members Ministry walks newcomers through studying God's Word and applying it to life, with new member pictures taken each fourth Sunday following Sunday School.
Giving, Praying, and Visiting
The church teaches that giving is a lifestyle, not just a financial transaction. Members can give in person or give online through Givelify, with the teaching grounded in Malachi 3:10. Prayer requests can be submitted online, and the office is reachable at mmbc2008@att.net and 314-389-5005 (fax 314-389-0220). Visitors are warmly welcomed, with Sunday School beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the Sunday service at 11:00 a.m. as natural entry points for a first visit.