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On June 29, 1959 in the home of Rev. Albert Wadsworth, 12 individuals gathered to organize what was named the Wadsworth Mission. Those 12 people were Benjamin Singleteary; Ester White, Leona Taylor, Lavern Wadsworth, William Wadsworth, William Irvin Wadsworth, Rita Cage, Arlene Labon, Willard Smith, Bervis Smith, Bessie Simmons and Edward Cage.
The site of the Wadsworth Mission was 415 W. 39th Street. Six weeks later the mission was organized into a church and was given the name Messiah Missionary Baptist Church. The Messiah church family began to purchase lots at 2701 N. California Street in preparation for the construction of its future church home. In December of 1961 construction began and on October 7, 1962, the church marched into its new building. The church began to secure additional lots in 1969 and in 1970 celebrated its first Mortgage Burning.
As the Lord blessed, the church continued to grow under the leadership of Rev. Albert Wadsworth and expansion was necessary. We purchased several pieces of property surrounding the 2701 location and in August 1973 completed the addition of an Overflow room, classrooms and office space. In 1981 the church celebrated its second Mortgage Burning.
In 1983 Rev. Stephen J. Clay was called as the Assistant Pastor. Rev. Wadsworth passed away December 1985 and on April 1, 1986, the Messiah Church family extended the call to the Pastorate to Rev. Stephen J. Clay.
Under the pastorate of Rev. Clay, God expanded the borders of the Messiah church and its ministries to include the STARR Summer Academy, Latch Key after-school program, Children's Church and Youth ministries. These ministries are focused on not only the young people of MMBC but also the children of the entire community. We also developed under Pastor Clay's leadership a Men's Ministry, Women of Excellence ministry, Singles ministry and a Family Wholeness ministry to focus on the needs of the family. All these ministries capture the Senior Pastor's passion for the spiritual development of the family. The church then expanded its ministry beyond the four walls of the sanctuary to include a weekly radio broadcast and the Lifeline Outreach ministry.
As we prepared to begin construction of a Family Life Center which would be the first of several building projects, the Lord stepped in and redirected our efforts. The church located at 5640 E. 38th Street became available and the leadership of the church entered into negotiations and subsequently purchased and relocated to our current location which seats 1200 and has over 30 classrooms. On March 31, 2002 the church commenced to Celebrate the Victory and marched into its present location at 5640 E. 38th Street with a full caravan of its membership. Since the move we have launched our weekly television broadcast ministry, Growing in the Spirit, and are in the process of developing a full media ministry. We have also begun the operation of The Least of These food pantry to meet the needs of the hungry in our community. God continues to give Pastor Clay greater vision for the Messiah church family and for the people of the Indianapolis community. In 2008 Pastor Clay formed and presented to the church the Board of Directors for the Messiah Cares Child Development Center and appointed Sis. Deborah Benson as its President. In July 2008 the church opened the doors to the Messiah Cares Child Development Center to begin offering Early Childhood Development services to families in our community for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Surely God has expanded our borders. He has His hands on both the Pastor and the people of the Messiah Missionary Baptist Church, and we are standing in tip-toe anticipation of greater things in this church, this community and in this city because HE LIVES!
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