By Asia Nail
The Truth Reporter
When I spoke with Reverend William Charles Foster Sr., the pastor of Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, it was clear that he carries more than a title, he carries a heart for people and a vision for the church’s future.
“I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’m a son, I’m a brother, I’m an uncle, I’m a friend,” he shares. “Relationships probably matter the most to me. I am who I am because of the people that have invested in me, that have nurtured and loved me unconditionally.”
Foster came to Indiana Avenue MBC in a way that feels like a story someone would tell in church, the kind you nod along with and say, ‘Yes, Lord.’
“I was at a point in ministry where I knew God was calling me to pastor, but I didn’t know where,” he says. “I applied to a few churches, but didn’t get them. Then I saw Indiana on the National Baptist Convention website. I prayed and asked God, ‘Is this it?’”
“I applied in April 2022.” Pastor Foster then noted that the first phone call he received to interview was April 19 aka 419. He says, “God had a way of letting me know that this is where I was going from the very first conversation.”
Interestingly, 419 is the original area code for Toledo, making the date feel like a small, divine nudge connecting him to the city he would soon serve.
Before arriving at Indiana Avenue MBC, Pastor Foster had walked a long, winding path of ministry, learning and growing at every stop. He spent years serving in various churches, preaching, teaching and mentoring, always listening to God’s guidance on where to serve next.
Along the way, he faced doors that didn’t open, jobs he didn’t get and moments of doubt, but each experience shaped him into the leader he is today. He describes these years as seasons of preparation, like a potter shaping clay: patient, sometimes messy, but ultimately forming something strong and useful for God’s work.
Every sermon, every prayer, every late-night conversation with someone in need was building the foundation for the ministry he now shepherds at Indiana Avenue.
Following months of visits and preaching, Pastor Foster received a call which changed everything. “November 20, 2022, was the day they elected me as pastor,” he recalls. “It was a long process, but God always knows what He is doing.”
Eighty years is a long time. Eight decades of faith, service and legacy. As Indiana Avenue MBC celebrates this achievement, Pastor Foster reflects on the church’s rich legacy.
“It makes me think deeply about our church’s history,” he reflects. “Dr. Roberts. Mother Roberts. I never met Dr. Roberts, but I was blessed to meet Mother Roberts once before she passed away. Honoring the people who laid the foundation, that’s the heart of this 80-year celebration.”
The 80th anniversary celebration embodies that balance of both honoring history and looking forward. “It’s revival, reflection, celebration,” he explains. “We honor our long-standing members with a Black Tie Gala, but we also keep our eyes on where God is leading us,” Pastor Foster says. “Every generation in our church matters, and our theme, ‘Merging the Generations,’ reminds us that at the foot of the cross, we all stand together with our Father, equal, connected, and focused on what really matters.”
Reflecting on the legacy he has inherited, Pastor Foster says the congregation stands on the shoulders of giants and carries a responsibility to continue Indiana’s rich history. He also believes the church’s work goes far beyond Sunday morning worship.
“The church’s first duty is to make disciples,” he says. “Jesus told us to go and make disciples. We must also take care of the downtrodden, the oppressed, and the unseen.”
Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church provides ministry to real people with real needs. For Pastor Foster, tradition matters, but not at the cost of truth or growth. “Not all tradition is bad, but not all tradition is good,” he shares. “When tradition gets in the way of reaching people or living out God’s calling, spiritual maturity says we must put it aside.”
Jesus was a revolutionary, nothing about Him followed tradition for tradition’s sake, Pastor explains. “We honor the past, yes, but we can’t live in it. Everything we do is guided by our mission and vision, pointing us forward while staying true to God’s purpose.”
Indiana Avenue MBC’s 80th anniversary is a major milestone, but it is also a time of revival and reflection. Revival is something Pastor Foster emphasizes as being for the body of Christ, to uplift and renew those already in faith.
Looking ahead, Pastor Foster’s vision is simple but profound: “I don’t own the vision. God does. I steward it. My prayer is that Indiana will help create disciples, nurture them in Christ, and transform them into servants utilizing their spiritual gifts for the kingdom of God.”
As Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church fully complete its 80th year, this legacy event stretches beyond a single weekend. The traditional anniversary the last weekend in February will honor those who have shaped the church’s story, but the joy and reflection will continue throughout the year.
Guided by faith and fueled by service, Pastor Foster says, “We are stepping boldly into this next chapter, carrying our mission, our legacy, and our vision wherever God leads us.”
Learn more about Indiana Avenue MBC here