Photos courtesy Abyrdseyephoto
The Truth Staff
Hundreds of congregants, community leaders, elected officials and fellow church leaders joined Pastor William C. Foster, Sr, and other Indiana Avenue MBC church leaders for a night of celebration on the occasion of the church’s 80th anniversary.
The formal affair, held at The Pinnacle on Saturday evening, February 21, was a spectacular visual event, black being the preferred color of the attendees, often trimmed with silver or gold.
Special musical guests Nikki D& The Sister of Thunder and Amy Nicole Meredith got the evening started and the crowd enthused before dinner was served and the evening started in earnest.
Indiana Avenue MBC was founded on February 20, 1946 as a small gathering at 819 Ewing Street, led by Rev. W.J. Stephenson. By 1949, the congregation had moved to their new home at 640 Indiana Avenue and, over the years, the church grew – the congregation expanded, as did the building.
Under Rev. John E. Roberts’ leadership, which began in 1965 and continued for 56 years, the upper sanctuary was constructed, the ground level was finished and the Stephenson-Roberts Hall was competed in 1989.
Rev. Roberts passed in 2021 and in November 2022, Rev. Foster was elected pastor.
“From Generation to Generation, We’re Still Here,” was the theme for the evening, an evening that featured official proclamations after dinner was served. A Toledo City Council Proclamation was presented by Councilwoman Cerssandra McPherson; an Ohio Senate Proclamation was presented by State Senator Paula hicks-Hudson and a Congressional Proclamation was presented by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
After a musical selection by Sis. Jelise Guynn, the attendees were treated to a Tribute to Rev. Dr. John E. Roberts by the Sons of Indiana.
The Roberts’ tribute was followed by 80th Anniversary Reflections offered by Rev. Foster and First Lady Brittany Foster.
Then Sasha Clayborne & Wall Music performed a musical selection and the Preached Word was presented by Pastor Talmadge J. Thomas of City of Zion, the Mt. Zion Church.
Pastor Foster delivered the benediction and closing remarks.
“We are here because God has been faithful. Through seasons of growth and seasons of challenge … we stand on the shoulders of faithful men and women who believed that a church on Indiana Avenue could be a lighthouse in this city,” wrote Pastor Foster about the 80 years of Indiana Avenue MBC’s service to the community.
