True Life Missionary Baptist Church is at 275 Chickasaw Drive in the Forestdale area of Birmingham, Alabama. It is known for a Christ-centered mission to reach every individual possible with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and to equip believers with knowledge of Scripture so they can grow spiritually and serve God and one another. That mission shapes a church with worship, education, music, transportation, missions, care for children and seniors, and practical service in Birmingham.
From a Home Meeting to a Forestdale Church
On July 11, 1982, a small group of believers met in the home of Rev. and Sis. Steve Small to seek God's guidance and discuss organizing a new church. After deciding to unite, they chose the name True Life Missionary Baptist Church. An organizing council included Rev. John Mason, Rev. Zonnie Stuckey, Rev. R. A. Anderson and Rev. Steve Small. The official organizing service was held Thursday, August 19, 1982, and the congregation began with 50 members.
On May 12, 1985, Mother's Day, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the move into a new church at 275 Chickasaw Drive in Forestdale. The building became the center for worship, Sunday School, Bible study and an expanding network of ministries. On February 24, 1986, the church was accepted into the Birmingham Baptist Association after being sponsored by Philadelphia Baptist Church of Cahaba Heights and its pastor, Rev. W. Allen Murphy.
True Life has a dual relationship with the National Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Association, giving its members wider realms of service. The congregation is also identified as the first Black church in Birmingham to join the Southern Baptist Convention. Its history is both local and connected, rooted in Forestdale while participating in larger Baptist networks.
A Gospel-and-Scripture Mission
At the center of True Life's identity is a twofold mission: reach every individual possible with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, and equip all believers with knowledge of Scripture so they may grow spiritually, serve God and serve one another faithfully. The church connects that mission to worship, education, service and stewardship throughout its ministry structure.
The church covenant describes members as receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and joining in baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They pledge to walk in Christian love, advance in knowledge and holiness, sustain worship and doctrine, contribute to ministry and relief of the poor, spread the Gospel, study Scripture, educate their children and encourage one another toward reconciliation. The covenant also calls for purity, kindness, justice, prayer, care for the burdens and sorrows of others, and a willingness to seek reconciliation rather than contention.
Sunday Worship and Wednesday Scripture Study
Sunday worship begins at 10:30 a.m. at 275 Chickasaw Drive. Services are biblically sound and Christ-centered, with the congregation designing them to meet community needs. Ushers prepare offering plates, church bulletins, songbooks and Bibles, give each attendee a printed order of service, welcome visitors, answer questions and provide directions. The parking team also assists worshipers with parking. Choir and musicians support the services, while the audio and video ministry ensures that services are amplified and records designated events.
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. brings together a Sunday School lesson and Bible study. The pattern is to study Scripture together, strengthen spiritual growth, encourage service and equip people to live out their faith. Messages from Pastor Small are available in the sermon archive.
Children's Learning and Churchwide Education
Children's Church gives children from birth through fourth grade a child-friendly setting in which to learn the Gospel. Sunday School teachers lead skits, songs and other learning exercises, while the congregation's education leaders provide materials, training and coordination.
Sunday School directors supervise the assistant superintendent, teachers, assistant teachers, substitutes, pianist and devotion leaders. They coordinate classes across divisions, encourage participation and provide for the growth of the Church School. The Board of Christian Education helps the pastor structure ministries, develop leaders, evaluate ministry work and plan for long-range needs.
The Deacons give Sunday School a systematic plan for reaching every family unit, establish priorities, help plan projects and report progress to the pastor and Board of Christian Education. New members are enrolled, introduced to the church family and given orientation as they join.
Children, youth and adults are also connected through the church's Scholarship Ministry, which provides financial-aid information, seminars on obtaining aid, loan information and encouragement to support the scholarship fund. Vacation Bible School has provided concentrated teaching as well, with worker preparation and LifeWay curriculum used in the program.
Mass Choir, Male Chorus and Drama
The music ministry includes the Mass Choir, Male Chorus, other choir members and musicians. Choir members rehearse, participate in worship and outreach, and work closely with the instrumentalists. Musicians support regular and special services, church meetings, weddings and funerals.
The Drama Ministry brings interested members together for rehearsals and planned activities, providing another way to communicate and participate in church life. The music team also keeps robes, music and related supplies organized, while the audio and video team supports the church's recorded events and amplified worship.
Transportation, Welcome and Practical Care
The Transportation Ministry maintains the church's vehicles, establishes routes and provides transportation to worship services for people who need rides. Ushers assist with parking, while deacons maintain the church properties and grounds. Deaconesses and the First Lady help prepare the Lord's Supper and candidates for baptism and schedule the communion utensils for service.
The church secretary and clerical assistants coordinate baptismal services, worship bulletins, ministry meetings, correspondence, records and the arrangements that support weddings and funerals. The Finance Ministry receives and records contributions, keeps deposits and supplies offering envelopes. The maintenance team tends the grounds, keeps floors and restrooms in order and ensures that church equipment remains usable.
Online giving is available through PayPal, and CashApp gifts can be directed to $TrueLifeBaptist.
Men, Women, Seniors and Youth in Ministry
Ministries give church members distinct ways to serve:
- The Brotherhood Ministry enlists Baptist men in mission activities, encourages their participation in Sunday School, worship and Bible study, and organizes practical help with chores, grounds and parking.
- Sisters in the Spirit, the church's WMU women's mission ministry, assists with churchwide missions, supports youth leaders, plans recreation and outings, encourages participation in Sunday School and Bible study, and implements a continuing visitation program.
- Directors of Super Seniors identify the needs of older adults, visit members in hospitals, nursing homes and their homes, plan trips and involve seniors in volunteer work and outreach.
- Youth directors oversee activities, coordinate with other ministries, provide chaperones, promote youth programs and help organize recreation and training for church workers.
Nursing Homes, Scouting and Community Development
Under Pastor Small, the church organized a nursing-home ministry that adopted the Forestdale and Fairview Nursing Homes, established a community outreach ministry and developed Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. The initial land purchase covered three acres for the church and another two and a half acres for a Community Development Center.
Civic and Community Affairs directors represent True Life at community meetings, keep the congregation informed and suggest opportunities for local participation. These ministries place the church's mission beyond its own walls and connect its members with people throughout Birmingham.
A Scholarship for Jefferson County Students
Through True Life Development Center, the Annie Jean Slater Small Memorial Scholarship gives graduating high school seniors in Jefferson County a path to higher education.
Applicants may come from public, private or home-school institutions, need a GPA of at least 2.0 and enter a two-year, four-year or accredited vocational program. The application asks for school and character recommendations, a transcript, certification and an essay. Awards are divided between two-year and four-year study, while the broader Scholarship Ministry helps families understand financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
Pastor Steve Small Jr. and First Lady Twynette Small
Pastor Steve Small Jr. leads True Life after years on the road preaching the Word of God, a calling he describes as keeping him focused even when he stood alone. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education from Miles College, a master's degree in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an Honorable Doctorate in Humanities for Community Service from Birmingham Eastonian Baptist Bible College. He is a trustee of that college and a member of the Birmingham Baptist Association.
His wider service includes Project Impact, the Unmet Needs Committee, coordination for Pratt City tornado recovery and the Jefferson County Commission. He has continued the church's emphasis on practical outreach by organizing its scholarship fund, community outreach ministry and scouting program.
First Lady Twynette Small supports that work by encouraging, praying with and helping Pastor Small. She came to faith at age nine, was baptized and united at Boling Springs Baptist Church in Catherine, and served as a Sunday School secretary, teacher and BTU Congress delegate at Selma University. Her education includes business management and accounting studies, and her professional background spans insurance, hospital service and veteran care.
Together, their leadership and the congregation's work embody a church that organizes service around Scripture and worship. True Life remains rooted in Forestdale, gathering at 10:30 on Sunday and 6:00 on Wednesday while serving children, adults, seniors, nursing-home residents and the wider Birmingham community.