MACEDONIA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
CHURCH HISTORY

In December 1953, the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church had its humble beginnings as "The Mission" at the home of Brother Jack Wilson and Sister Addie Wilson, which was located at the corner of Walter and Avenida Cesar Chavez, SE (then known as Stadium Boulevard).

This "Mission" moved to a building on Lead Street, SW, behind the "Old Mount Olive Church". In 1954 at this location, guided by the Holy Spirit, Reverend W.W. Williams called a meeting with 11 faithful believers in Christ to organize a church. Sister Marie Gamble recommended that the church's name should be The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.
In the year of 1955, the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church moved to the Mother Ellington Place, located at 515 Riverside Drive, SW, under the leadership of Reverend W.W. Williams, and the membership outgrew this location. Reverend W.W. Williams suggested that the pastor, deacons and trustees start looking for a permanent church building.

In the year 1957, Reverend W.W. Williams located an "old adobe house" that was up for sale, which was located at 1509 Edith, SE. Reverend W.W. Williams put a $200 cash binder on this property. At that time, the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church purchased this property.

The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church moved into the existing old adobe house and held worship services. While constructing a new church building around the old adobe house, people would pass by, look at the construction job and would remark, "They are worshipping at a hole in the wall!" In the year 1958, the new church building was completed and paid for in full. The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church held their dedication and the mortgage burning service on May 15, 1958. The cornerstone was also laid on that date. The names on the church cornerstone are:

Reverend W.W. Williams, Pastor
Brother Willie Reed, Deacon
Brother Clarence Smith Sr., Deacon
Brother Bemice B. Powdrell, Deacon
Brother Willie N. Austin, Deacon
Brother Herbert M. Stanley Sr., Deacon
Brother Willie L. Smith, Deacon

Over the next several years, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church purchased six additional, adjacent lots:

Purchased January 20, 1958, lot #3 and the current location of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1509 Edith Street, SE.

Purchased April 17, 1962, lot #2, from Deacon Herbert M. Stanley Sr., which had three adobe houses on the property. These houses were located at 1507 Edith, SE. The front adobe house was used as a Pastor office, dining room, classrooms and kitchen.

Purchased September 30, 1964, lots #5 and #6 (the church parking lot area), located at the comer of Dan Street and Edith Street, SE.

Purchased July 1, 1980, lot #4 (the church parking lot area).

Purchased April 5, 1989, lot #1, the location of five apartments at 512 Trumbull, SE.
In the year 1984, groundbreaking was held to add an annex building to the church building. Under the able leadership of the late Brother Elmer Lee Baty, Brother Bobby E. Sparks and through many donations from our church members and friends, this annex building was completed in 1986.

Under the leadership and gospel preaching of Dr. W.W. Williams, the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church grew to a membership of 200, and during this time he also baptized many candidates, ordained ministers, pastors and deacons.

Being an example to other Baptist churches in the state of New Mexico, Dr. W.W. Williams organized other Baptists churches, such as St. John Baptist Church in Deming, New Mexico; St. John Baptist Church in Socorro, New Mexico; Mount Calvary Baptist Church and the True Vine Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   Dr. W.W. Williams also organized the Progressive General Baptist Day Convention of New Mexico.

In the year 1987, Dr. W.W. Williams retired from pastoring after 33 years of faithful service to the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

In the 1988, Reverend N.D. Smith was called as pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. The church continues to grow spiritually and financially under his leadership. In the year 1989, under Reverend N. D. Smith's leadership, the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church purchased the property located at 1501 Edith Street, SE. This property contains five apartments.

Dedication services were held on June 19, 2001, to change the annex building name to the Dr. W.W. Williams Educational Building. Reverend N.D. Smith has organized several church ministries, such as the Grants Women's Prison Ministry, Food Pantry Ministry, and many other outreach ministry programs. Reverend N.D. Smith and the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church still support the St. Luke District Association, the Progressive General Missionary State Convention of New Mexico and Central Arizona, and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.

The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrating their 54th church anniversary on July 6, 2008. Let us pray that God will continue to pour out his blessing upon the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, and that it will be able to stand for many more years. And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18.