THE FRIENDLY CHURCH ON THE PARKWAY

In March 1959, thirty-four former members of the Greater White Stone Missionary Baptist Church broke rank with that church and set out with the purpose in mind of organizing a new church. These thirty-four determined souls were without a church facility, and more importantly, without a pastor to call their own. The church name “Monumental” was chosen because of the anticipation of great things to come for these faithful Christians.

The first church services were held in the members’ homes until the suggestion was made that they seek a location that could be rented for services. In May 1959, the Foote Homes Auditorium, located at 578 Mississippi Blvd., was secured as a regular meeting place with Mr. Ira Badger paying the first months’ rent of $15.00. Members sacrificed and gave their time and talents to raise money to pay the additional rental fees.

Rev. H. R. Jelks, former pastor of Greater White Stone Baptist Church, was contacted in Chicago, Illinois. He came to Memphis, helped Monumental to get organized and preached the first service in the Foote Homes Auditorium on May 12, 1959.

The members of Monumental Baptist Church, as followers of Christ must pattern our lives after Christ.  We reach out to bring in the unsaved, revive those who know Christ, visit the sick, the widowed, the bereaved and others in need of prayer.

Our beliefs as a church is grounded in the teaching of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. We believe that he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:4-12