History of Northwest Unity Missionary Baptist Church

 

Northwest Unity Missionary Baptist Church was organized as a mission in 1955 by its founding Pastor, the late Rev. Ozzie Clark.  The mission was organized in the home of the late Deacon John Wesley and  the late Sister Oneda Smith.  The vision was born in the mind of the late Deacon Elmo Gardner and his wife, the late Sister Georgia Gardner.  They discussed it with Rev. Ozzie Clark, who led a small group of people in bringing the church into existence.  It was later organized as a church on May 20, 1956.  The officers were  the late Deacon John Wesley Smith, the late Deacon Lewis Clifton, the late Deacon Elmo Gardner and  the late Deacon Tom Powell. 

 

Our mother church, Twelfth Street Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by the late Rev. E.W. Mathis, blessed the inception of the new mission on May 20, 1956.  He issued letters to the seven charter members of the church:  the late Sister Laura Clark (Wife of Rev. Clark), the late Deacon John Wesley Smith and the late Mother Oneda Smith, the late Deacon and Mrs. Elmo Gardner, the late Rev. Ralph Fuller and his wife Sister Mable Fuller.  They elected  the late Rev. Ozzie Clark as the Pastor in July 1956.

 

The congregation purchased a building at 3028 Midland Street in July 1957.  The 27 members had a ceremonial march into the new church.  They were the late Deacon John Smith Jr. and his wife, the late Sister Dezzie Smith, the late Sister Ruth Turnbow, the late Brother Noland and his late wife Sister Ada Pettway, the late Deacon J.M. Gardner and his late wife Sister Ida Gardner, the late Sister Idell Pettway-Minis, Brother Donald Turnbow, Sister Mandy Lowe-Smith, Sister Gloria Fuller, the late Sister Faye Turnbow, Sister Olivia Pettway-Ingram, and the late Sister Alfredon Pettway-Carter.  

 

Three lots at the corner of LaSalle and Puritan were purchased with the intent of building, but God had a different plan for our church.  We relocated to our present location at 8343-45 Ellsworth.  The plan was to march into our new home on the third Sunday of May 1968.  However, the old building was destroyed by fire in April 1968.  On the first Sunday in May 1968 with the addition of the following members, Deacon James and Sister Elvira Grant, the late Deacon Washington and Sister Mary Samuel, the late Mother Louise Kendrick, the late Sister Maxine Clifton, the late Mother Mary Epps and family, the late Mother Mazie Howard and family, the late Deacon Lewis and Mother Lena Clifton, the late Deacon Eddie Clark, the late Mother Daisy McIntyre, we occupied our current home with a membership of one hundred and fifty.We burned our church and parsonage mortgage on September 28, 1980. The Ozzie Clark Fellowship Hall was dedicated on May 17, 1981 in honor of the late Pastor Clark.   

 

We pay tribute to our founding Pastor who labored here from 1956 to 1993.  During this time, Pastor Clark was President of the Council of Baptist Pastors and Vicinity, he was active in numerous community affairs.  Five ministers were licensed under him.  They were the late Rev. James Posey, the late Rev. Chris Minis, the late Rev. Ralph Fuller, Rev. Joe Brooks and Rev. Robert Bills, retired Pastor of Garden of Faith Baptist Church and one son in the ministry the late Rev. Roosevelt Bradley, Pastor of True Light Baptist Church.   

 

Pastor Clark’s strong belief in God and family made him an example for all.  His devoted second wife, Sister Louise Battle-Clark stood by his side until he departed this life on October 24, 1993.

 

In February 1994, Rev. Willie Downer was elected and installed as Pastor serving until February 1, 2000.  During the time when the Church was without a Pastor, a new Chairman of the Deacon Board was named:  the late Deacon Eddie Nelson was elected Chairman and the late Deacon Paul Mann as Co-Chairman.  The late Deacon Washington Samuel became the pulpit leader until the arrival of our current Pastor, Rev. Dr. Oscar W. King III.

 

On June 27, 2000, Rev. Dr. Oscar W. King III was elected to shepherd this branch of Zion.  Under the leadership of Pastor King, the church has grown.  The following ministries were established or expanded upon: The Ozzie Clark Learning and Computer Center.  In late January 2004, the Oneda Development Corporation, named in honor of our Charter Member, the late Mother Oneda Smith, was established and received its tax-exempt 501© 3 status.  The Northwest Unity Academy was established to provide MEAP training for three school districts in the state of Michigan.  

 

Under the leadership of our current First Lady, Sister Robin Wright-King, the Northwest Unity Financial Seminar was established.  As a direct result of the teaching of our youth on how to invest in the stock market and how to be responsible for their own wealth, the Northwest Unity Renaissance Investment Club was established. Additionally,  over the past fourteen years, she has given leadership and directions in our Annual Christmas Bell Program.  This program has assisted families with the purchase of appropriate winter gear during the Christmas season.  During our last Christmas Bell Program, Northwest Unity adopted a family who had recently been displaced.  Through our efforts we were able to provide the essential for re-establishing a home.  We credit  God and the wisdom of our First Lady for this program which continues to be an outreach  program that provides extra smiles and heartfelt thanks.

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