By Alexandria Leatherberry
The Truth Reporter
The United Missionary Baptist Church held its annual Heritage Dinner on February 27, 2025. The church hosts this event each year to bring together members and neighbors from the Monroe and Lawrence area. The dinner was held free to the community, as a time for fellowship, learning and celebration, made possible through donations and contributions from church members and supporters.
The event also gives the church a chance to highlight Black history and share current community programs and initiatives. The evening was led by event committee chair and church member, Jeanese Muhammad-Hawkins, under the leadership of Rev. Robert Bass and Rev. Anita Bass. Together, they welcomed more than 50 community members to enjoy dinner, games, and reflection. The Heritage Dinner displays the strong spirit of service that has guided the church for many years.
The church building at the corner of Monroe and Lawrence has been part of the neighborhood for more than 100 years. For nearly 43 of those years, it has been the home of the United Missionary Baptist Church congregation.
The church was officially incorporated in 1984 under the leadership of its founding pastor, Rev. Paul Broaddus. Since then, the church has continued to grow and serve the community under the leadership of Robert Bass, lead pastor, supported by pastoral leaders Anita Bass, Barbie Harrison, and Troy Brown.
During Rev. Bass’s leadership, the congregation has built strong foundations that they continue to stand on. The church has developed youth programs, spiritual leadership training, support groups and strengthened equity access with an early mortgage pay off and expanding the building’s operations.
The United Missionary’s development committee secured $200,000 for investment into building a fellowship hall for church and community events. The hall has since hosted children’s learning programs, food and meal service providers, as well as events for external churches or community organizations.
United Missionary Baptist Church continues to welcome neighbors with open arms. The Heritage Dinner is the reminder of the church’s mission and purpose. As Rev. Bass shared in his closing remarks, “We have to keep history alive.” Through events like the Heritage Dinner, United Missionary Baptist Church continues to honor the past while serving the community throughout the year.