Who We Are
Rooted in Faith. Built on Love. Serving Our Community.
Greater Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church is a faith-filled church family with deep roots in West Baltimore. Known as The Church of Love, we gather to worship, grow in faith, care for one another, and serve the community around us.
Greater Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church began when a group of believers gathered in the home of Rev. and Mrs. R. B. Nicks. Rev. R. B. Nicks became the church's first pastor.
The church took its name from the biblical account of Bethesda in John chapter 5 — the pool where the hurting waited and were made whole. That story gave Greater Bethesda its identity as a place of healing, and it still shapes everything we do.
The first worship service was held on October 7, 2001 at 3:30 PM. The first sermon, drawn from John 5, was titled “You Can Walk.”
Through changes in leadership and seasons of challenge, Greater Bethesda has kept serving its congregation and the surrounding Baltimore community. Pastor James Woods has played an important role in revitalizing the church and continuing that work of healing and service today.
Milestones
- First gathering
- The home of Rev. and Mrs. R. B. Nicks, our first pastor
- First worship service
- October 7, 2001 at 3:30 PM
- First sermon
- “You Can Walk” — John 5
Our Mission
Extending the compassionate ministry of Jesus through faith, love, hope and service.
Greater Bethesda is committed to caring for the physical and spiritual well-being of our West Baltimore community — loving those who feel unloved, providing hope for those who feel hopeless, and serving those who need it most.
Our Vision
A ministry where love is exercised freely.
Inspired by God's love, we are building a ministry where spiritual gifts and love can be exercised freely — strengthening our members, our families, our friends and our local community in the name of Jesus.
Our Legacy
Still Here. Still Healing.
Greater Bethesda has moved through many seasons — seasons of ministry, of leadership, of challenge and of renewal. Through every one of them, this church family has stayed committed to the same calling: caring for one another and serving the Baltimore community around us.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.”2 Corinthians 5:17