A message from Pastor Torrence…

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 16:16) This statement was divinely inspired revelation uttered by Peter in response to Christ’s searching question, “But whom do you say that I am?”  Christ was well pleased with Peter’s response. “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.  And I say unto you, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:17-18).

Christ was telling Peter that church.  Hence, His Church was built on faith and truth.  In John’s gospel, John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

​These two scriptures are important to reflect upon and to pray upon when we consider what the church is supposed to be about.  The church belongs to Christ Jesus. It does not belong to man. The church is not an organization, but an organism.

In the message to the church at Philadelphia, Christ expressed His approval of the church’s work, because thou “hast kept my work, and hast not denied my name.”  It was within this scriptural context that a band of determined Christian soldiers assembled in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s “frat house” for prayer. The Christian soldiers asked for God’s guidance and wisdom.

​By the end of the summer season in the year 2000, this band of Christian soldiers was led to remain together and worship in a commonplace.  Rev. Roderick Torrence, Sr. was chosen as the pastor. Committees were selected. Much enthusiasm ensued and on the third Sunday, October 22, 2000, the Alternative Worship Experience held its first Sunday School and Church services at the medical clinic of Deacon and Sister Charles and Vye Watson.  Forty-seven (47) Christian soldiers worshiped at this initial service. (Incidentally, the term “soldiers” is appropriate in that opposition was encountered.)

​This body of faith grew rapidly and after three weeks, the attendance rose to seventy-five (75) worshipers.  With the help of Brother Charles Watson, a rental agreement was reached with the Embassy Suites Hotel. The Alternative Worship Experience held its first services at the Embassy Suites on November 19, 2000.  The church was incorporated as a non-profit group on December 22, 2000, under its temporary name AWE (Alternative Worship Experience). The name was changed by a vote of the church on March 18, 2001. The new name of the church became Christway Missionary Baptist Church, which was consistent with John 14:6, and serves as a reminder to keep the church focused.  This name was among several offered for consideration along with its scriptural reference. The church body enthusiastically adopted the proposed name.

​The leadership of the church decided that it would be appropriate to activate a constitution committee.  This committee began its work during the summer of 2001, with the idea that God’s word, the Bible governs Christians’ behavior.  What we needed to do was to seek His guidance in crafting a document that would be consistent with the biblical principles. After much give and take, the document was subjected to a three-month “reading period” and adopted in January 2002.  Affiliations with the local, state, and national Baptist groups have been finalized.

The church, realizing that it would unlikely increase its membership as long as it held Sunday worship in a hotel, made an offer on a church building at 16th and Cleveland Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.  The offer was eventually rejected. Many of the members realized that it was not God’s will that we move into that particular building.

​In early 2002, a few members received information that the church building at 4324 Potter Street had advanced through the foreclosure process and was available for sale.  An offer was made by Christway and accepted by the company to purchase the entire six lots facing 4300 Potter Street and 53 feet of three lots immediately behind and west of the church building.  After several months of renovation and updating, the congregation moved into the building on July 13, 2003.

​As has been the case since the body of believers started worshiping together, we know that we have been truly blessed by God.  He has heard our Wednesday night prayers. God has heard and answered our individual prayers. Our response should be obedience to His holy will and worship of His Holy name.

We pray that God continues to bless Christway Missionary Baptist Church.