A Church at the Heart of Greenburgh
Union Baptist Church sits at 31 Manhattan Avenue in White Plains, New York, in the Fairview Greenburgh neighborhood, and has anchored that corner of Westchester County for more than a century. The congregation describes itself as "the church in the heart of the community with the people of the community in its heart," a phrase that is printed on its letterhead and repeated by its pastor, the Reverend Dr. Verlin D. Williams. Dr. Williams was called to Union Baptist in March of 1994, installed that September, and has now served the congregation for three decades.
The church's aim is direct. Following the instruction of the Great Commission, members are working to "make disciples for Christ by pursuing lost people to win them for Christ" and "moving new and older disciples into spiritual maturity." Four core values shape the work: spirit-filled worship, developing disciples, developing leaders, and enhancing the quality of community life.
Sunday Worship in the UBC Worship Center
Worship takes place every Sunday at 10:00 AM Eastern Time in the UBC Worship Center Sanctuary at 31 Manhattan Avenue. The service is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, so members who are traveling, ill or at home can worship with the congregation in real time. The music is described as faith-filled, prayers as heartfelt, and the preaching as expository and rooted in biblical teaching. A sermon archive stretches back years and is available online, with recent messages such as "Responding to God's Goodness" on John 12, "The Path Forward" on Isaiah 43, and "The Incarnation" on John 1.
On the first, second and third Sundays of each month, Children's Church meets during the 10:00 AM worship service for children between the ages of 4 and 12, and Teen Church is offered for teenagers between 13 and 18. The Department of Christian Education describes its goal as helping every member be "better equipped to win souls for Christ," to "come to know God, love God, love the word of God," and to be "progressively conformed to the image of Christ." Adult Bible studies are offered alongside, and a Discipleship Handbook is available for those who want a structured path through the faith.
First-time visitors are met by the Hospitality Ministry in the narthex, the church lobby, before the service. Greeters and ushers serve every Sunday, and a "Welcome" packet for newcomers includes information about the church and a card they can return with their contact details. The church explicitly welcomes people with no Christian background and people who have been away from church for years, describing itself as a diverse and welcoming community.
The Building and the Neighborhood
The current Worship Center was completed in 2009. In September 1997, the congregation paid off the mortgage on its previous building and began a building fund for a new church complex. After ten years of praying and planning, ground was broken, and in September 2009 the church family moved into the newly constructed UBC Worship Center. The grounds also include the Deacon Grover Jones, Sr. Fellowship Hall, the room where Tuesday evening food distributions take place, and a credit union, the Union Baptist Greenburgh Federal Credit Union, which is open to members and the surrounding community.
Dr. Williams' approach to the neighborhood is what he calls a priority of "preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and participating in the lives of people." His doors are open to community leaders and local politicians, and the church's calendar reflects that dual focus on word and deed.
Union Food for Life: Tuesday Evenings of Food and Welcome
Every Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Union Baptist hosts Union Food for Life in the Deacon Grover Jones, Sr. Fellowship Hall, distributing food in partnership with Feeding Westchester, which delivers nutritious food to communities across the county. The program is one of the church's best-known outreaches. Reverend Cynthia D. Dorsey, the Minister of Christian Family Life, oversees the broader Food Service Ministry, which also provides meals, clothing, non-perishable items, a monthly food truck, and food cards, all distributed "in a wholesome and Christian environment." Volunteers share Daily Bread devotionals and Bibles with visitors upon request.
The food ministry has been a cornerstone of the church's community work since 2012, when Union Baptist became a leading food distribution center in Greenburgh. The kitchen and fellowship hall open up on Tuesdays, and anyone in the surrounding neighborhoods is welcome.
Caring for the Congregation and the Community
Pastoral care at Union Baptist runs through a dedicated Christian Care and Counseling Ministry led by Reverend Daphne S. Swinton. The team offers confidential short-term counseling, spiritual and mental health assessments, and referrals to licensed mental health professionals, following what the church calls a "3C model" of competence, cost-effectiveness and consistency. Stephen Ministers, lay caregivers trained through the broader Stephen Ministry program, walk alongside people who are going through a difficult time, providing one-to-one, distinctly Christ-like care.
The ministry also hosts mental health education forums such as Soul Shop, focused on suicide awareness and prevention, and Mental Health First Aid. When someone is in crisis, the church points them to 911, the 988 Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Other caring ministries include the Christian Care and Bereavement Ministry, which assists with funeral and homegoing arrangements, sends cards on the first anniversary of a loss, and runs an annual widows' and widowers' event. The Circle of Love is a Christ-centered bereavement support group built around Psalm 119:49-50. The Health and Wellness Ministry provides basic emergent care within the scope of its practice, the Thrivers Ministry walks with people undergoing cancer treatment, and the Security Ministry looks after the safety of everyone in the building during gatherings.
Marriage, Family and Women
The Blessed Together Marriage Ministry holds monthly meetings on the second Friday of each month, walking couples through topics such as marriage according to God, the biblical roles of husband and wife, communication and conflict resolution, investing in the marriage, and building a marriage legacy. Couples meet for open discussions, activities and interactive games designed to build practical skills.
W.I.N.G.S., which stands for Women in God's Service, is the women's ministry. Motivated by the love of God, the group's mission is to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ while "building intergenerational bridges for the edification and encouragement of all women to walk in the light of Jesus Christ." Its purpose is to cultivate relationships, spiritually equip its members, and provide opportunities to serve the diverse needs of women in the household of faith and through missions in the community.
Reverend Cynthia D. Dorsey oversees Family Life ministries more broadly, which is also the home of the Union C.A.R.E.S. program. C.A.R.E.S. stands for Counseling, Advocacy, Resources, Educational Enrichment and Spiritual Support, and the program is built to help young people achieve their academic and educational aspirations.
Youth, Young Adults and Children
The Youth and Young Adult Advisory Committee nurtures young people between the ages of 13 and 19 through a mix of social, spiritual and physical activities, with the aim of inspiring "compassionate leaders who contribute positively to their communities and embrace lifelong learning and discipleship." Children's Church, during the Sunday morning worship service on the first, second and third Sundays, and Teen Church on Sundays provide age-appropriate teaching for younger members, while the Discipleship Handbook offers a structured path of growth for those who want one.
Welcome, Worship and Arts
The Welcome and Fellowship Ministries include the Hospitality Ministry, which serves in the narthex before the 10 AM service, the Flower Ministry, which decorates the sanctuary with fresh flowers throughout the year and especially around Resurrection Sunday and Christmas, and the Greeters and Ushers. Greeters are trained to resolve problems as they arise and ensure a seamless worship experience, with an attitude shaped by love, joy, patience, faithfulness and gentleness. The Music and Arts Ministry invites singers, instrumentalists, dancers and visual artists to serve. The choir is led by Brother Reggie Young, and a worship arts email connects anyone who would like to join.
Reaching the Local Community and Beyond
Home Missions at Union Baptist is the umbrella for the church's local outreach. Beyond the Food Service Ministry and Feeding Westchester partnership, the church partners with My Sisters' Place, a refuge for victims of domestic violence, providing financial and other support. S.O.S., or Serving Our Seniors, makes wellness calls, acknowledges birthdays, and connects members aged 65 and above with resources. G.O.O.D. for Girls, Inc., an organization born out of Union Baptist Church, provides training and education for young girls, with the goal of "mentoring young girls into confident young women."
Ordinances and Milestones
Weddings at Union Baptist are recognized as a sacred institution established by God in Genesis 2:24, and the church offers pre-marital counseling, assistance with program arrangements, rehearsals and the ceremony itself, for both members and non-members. Funerals and homegoing services are coordinated through the Bereavement Ministry. Baby and Child Dedications are offered for children aged two and under, with the dedication itself taking place during the worship service on the fifth Sunday of the month. Both members and non-members may take part.
Baptism is a cherished act of faith at the church, "symbolizing your personal confession and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ." Adult and teen candidates complete the New Disciple Orientation class, and children between 9 and 13 years old first complete a "Preparing for Baptism" class to help them understand the decision. Anyone interested indicates it on the new member registration form or calls the church office.
What Union Baptist Believes
The Doctrinal Statement of Faith begins with a conviction that the Bible is "the verbally inspired Word of God and without mistakes as originally written," and the complete revelation of His will for salvation. The church confesses one God, eternally existing in three co-equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Members affirm the deity of Jesus Christ, His miraculous conception, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His substitutionary death on a cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His personal, imminent return.
The statement also affirms that man was created by and for God, that disobedience brought spiritual and physical death, and that all people are sinners by nature and practice. It teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and that all who believe in Him are declared righteous, that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers and empowers the life and ministry of the church, and that everyone who has lived will be raised bodily, with everlasting blessedness for those in right relationship with God and everlasting punishment for those who have rejected His forgiveness.
Joining the Church Family
Anyone interested in becoming part of Union Baptist can indicate their interest on the new member registration form available through the church office. From there, the New Members Ministry walks new members through orientation, fellowship events and ongoing engagement, with the goal of helping them feel valued, connected and supported as they grow spiritually.
Visitors and members can give online, follow Union Baptist on Facebook and Instagram at @unionbaptist_wp, and watch or revisit services on the YouTube channel. The church office can be reached at 914-948-6439 or by email at ubc.churchclerk@unionbaptistwp.org, and a weekly bulletin is available online for those who want to keep up with announcements and the order of service.