The Welcome Friend Baptist Church was organized in 1923, when a band of Christians gathered with recognition of the Church as the House of the true and living GOD, the pillar and ground of truth. The first pastor was Rev. P.T. Steel. The worship services were held twice a month in the Barber Shop on Crumbley Street. Worship was later held in Brother O’Neal’s basement until a building was obtained in “the Bottom.” The Bottom bordered Little Street, Conally Street, Ami Street and Georgia Avenue. A storm later claimed that location.
Rev. Harry Lester was called to pastor Welcome Friend Baptist Church. The Lord blessed them with a better worship location at 714 Fraser Street. After moving to this location, the first choir, Choir #1 was organized by Mrs. Robbie Mae Humphries. Rev. Harry Lester was a dedicated servant of GOD’s people for 30 years until his health declined. Once again our church was without a Pastor and Sister Humphries recommended to the Board of Deacons to give Rev. John H. Smith, Sr. a hearing. The 4th Sunday in October 1970, Rev. John H. Smith, Sr. was granted a hearing. On Thanksgiving Eve in 1970, the church called Rev. John H. Smith, Sr. as Pastor. Rev. Smith and Mother Sarah F. Baker teamed up again and diligently searched until they located the Landmark Pentecostal Church, located at 1430 Bouldercrest Road in Atlanta, Georgia. The Welcome Friend Baptist Church celebrated the grand entrance day on August 28, 1977.
Due to the tremendous growth at the 1430 Bouldercrest Road location, worship service grew from one to two worship services per Sunday, the Lord endowed Rev. Smith with a vision to build a new edifice. The search team went out and located 12+ acres of available property with a beautiful serene lake at 3198 Bouldercrest Road in Ellenwood, Georgia. The church family agreed to purchase this land for the erection of the new church home. The 1430 Bouldercrest location was put up for sale, and quickly sold to Community Bible Chapel. On Sunday, July 1, 2007, the final worship service was held at 1430 Bouldercrest Road. Worship was temporarily held at Israel Missionary Baptist Church, 2071 Hosea L. Williams Drive, SE, Atlanta, Georgia, where Rev. William Smith is the Pastor. Welcome Friend worship services began Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. The Welcome Friend Church Family will always be forever grateful to Israel Baptist Church for their hospitality and free will.
The Grand Entrance Day and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony began promptly at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday, December 13, 2009. GOD has tremendously blessed Welcome Friend to complete the building project, making our Vision into a Reality. And the Welcome Friend Family is abundantly grateful to worship and give praise to our GOD in such a magnificent edifice at our new location, 3198 Bouldercrest Road, Ellenwood, Georgia 30294. To GOD be the Glory!!!
