MIAMI — A Miami church older than the city itself celebrated its 130th anniversary with a lively service on Sunday.
Members at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, located in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood, say they love their church, its rich history and each other.
For more than a century, “the little church on the side of the road” has stood at the corner of Douglas Road and Charles Avenue.
Founded in 1895, before the city of Miami even existed, Macedonia Missionary Baptist became the first Black church in what was then just Dade County.
Inside the aging building, prayer, faith and song filled the sanctuary as the congregation celebrated 130 years.
“The oldest church in Miami-Dade County — we celebrate that proudly,” said Pastor Lance Bailey.
The keynote speaker was Capt. Winston Scott, a Navy pilot who went on to become an astronaut. He grew up in the church.
“My whole history and background is in this church. I love the family nature of the entire church,” Scott said.
His Sunday school teacher from the 1960s, Dorothy M. Wallace, remembered him well.
“You cannot forget a student like that. I didn’t know he’d become an astronaut, but he had the background and the support system,” she said.
Scott went on to fly on two space shuttle missions and complete three spacewalks, logging 24 days, 14 hours, and 34 minutes in space.
At 75, he says his faith never wavered and recalls the life-changing perspective of seeing Earth from space.
“I don’t think you can fly in space and see the Earth from that perspective and not have it change your perspective, because you can see out past the boundaries of the Earth,” Scott said.
For many, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is a living monument, its rooted history growing deeper every Sunday.
Members say they hope for another 130 years of prayer, unity, and community — and they’re also hoping to get a new elevator soon, especially for older members who have been attending for 70 or 80 years or more.
They’ve set up a GoFundMe page to help do just that.
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