How it all started...
On Friday night before the first Sunday in May 1885, in the rear of the present church lot, a small group of people made their first start toward organizing a church. The members were: Jeremiah Fitzgerald, Thomas and Annie Ransome, Wilmore Johnson, Alexander Barbour, William Dangerfield, Samuel Loveless and Amanda Holmes. On the first Sunday in May, 1885, the church was set apart by the White Baptist Church, in the 6400 block of Penn Avenue and was called the Salome Baptist Church. On the last Thursday in August, 1885, the Salome Baptist Church was reorganized by the White Baptist Association of Pittsburgh with John Crom as Moderator, Rev. West as Secretary, and Chathan Thomas as Catechizer.
In October, 1885, Rev. Willis Duvall of the North Side of Pittsburgh was called to pastor the newly-formed church. He accepted the call and served approximately 3-1/2 years. During his service to the church, trouble arose resulting in a split. Rev. Duvall and his followers went to Liberty Hall, which was located at Penn and Center Avenue. The other part of the congregation remained at the Armory on Frankstown Avenue. Later in the year, Rev. Duvall moved his congregation to Carrone Street, while the Salome congregation moved to Liberty Hall and called Rev. D. S. Haywood of Louisiana as the interim pastor. After about 6 months of service, Rev. Haywood resigned and was succeeded by Rev, R. S. Gibson of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Rev. R. S. Gibson of Charlottesville, Virginia, accepted the call to serve as the Pastor of Salome Baptist Church. He serviced a short time, serving only three years before accepting a call to Plainfield, New Jersey. For the next three months, the pulpit of Salome Baptist Church was vacant. In the summer of 1894 at the age of 27, Rev. Dr. Oliver S. Simms arrived from Halifax, Virginia, to serve the Salome Baptist Church. Upon his arrival, Rev. Simms found his new congregation without a church home and worshipping in an old hall which had been leased for that purpose. Within one year of accepting the leadership, the aggressive visionary moved the congregation from an old leased hall to a newly erected frame building on a church lot secured by Rev. Simms on Rodman Street for which the church was renamed, Rodman Street Baptist Church, which is the site of the present church site.
In October, 1885, Rev. Willis Duvall of the North Side of Pittsburgh was called to pastor the newly-formed church. He accepted the call and served approximately 3-1/2 years. During his service to the church, trouble arose resulting in a split. Rev. Duvall and his followers went to Liberty Hall, which was located at Penn and Center Avenue. The other part of the congregation remained at the Armory on Frankstown Avenue. Later in the year, Rev. Duvall moved his congregation to Carrone Street, while the Salome congregation moved to Liberty Hall and called Rev. D. S. Haywood of Louisiana as the interim pastor. After about 6 months of service, Rev. Haywood resigned and was succeeded by Rev, R. S. Gibson of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Rev. R. S. Gibson of Charlottesville, Virginia, accepted the call to serve as the Pastor of Salome Baptist Church. He serviced a short time, serving only three years before accepting a call to Plainfield, New Jersey. For the next three months, the pulpit of Salome Baptist Church was vacant. In the summer of 1894 at the age of 27, Rev. Dr. Oliver S. Simms arrived from Halifax, Virginia, to serve the Salome Baptist Church. Upon his arrival, Rev. Simms found his new congregation without a church home and worshipping in an old hall which had been leased for that purpose. Within one year of accepting the leadership, the aggressive visionary moved the congregation from an old leased hall to a newly erected frame building on a church lot secured by Rev. Simms on Rodman Street for which the church was renamed, Rodman Street Baptist Church, which is the site of the present church site.
Expanding the vision...
In 1960, Reverend George L. Bowick assumed the leadership of Rodman. In 1971, eleven years after Rev. Bowick’s call to this historical church and 2 weeks after observing the 86th Church Anniversary, an arsonist set fire to two churches in the East Liberty area, Emory Baptist Church and Rodman Street Baptist Church. On the morning of June 8, 1975, Rev. Bowick returned his devoted members to their new church home in a symbolic march from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to the Rodman Street Baptist Church. Under his leadership and vision, numerous milestones including the burning of the church mortgage were met and new ministries were formed. Among them, the New Members Fellowship, the Progressive Club, the Youth Fellowship, the Junior Missionaries, the Rodman Choir, the Young Adult Unit of the Women’s Friendly Club, the Young Adult Usher Board and the Scholarship Committee. A Day Care Center was also formed under Rev. Bowick’s leadership. God called his faithful servant home on February 27, 1982, after 22 years of dedicated service.
In 1984, Reverend Delano R. Paige assumed the leadership of Rodman. Under his leadership, the membership grew rapidly, tripling the membership and the dawning and installation of over 50 ministries. Under the calming nature of the sophisticated, enthusiastic and accessible minister, 31 sons and daughters accepted the call to preach the gospel to God’s people. Rev. Paige was the first Rodman Pastor to ordain and accept women in the ministry. During the 100th Anniversary celebration, Rev. Paige examined the original charter and discovered the official church name was the Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church and since May 1985, the church has assumed its entire proper name. Under the administration of Rev. Paige, the church’s vision focused on strengthening and repairing the fabric of the African American families in the surrounding neighborhoods. In this, the Naomi’s Place was established, a transitional house for women and children. A myriad of ministries originated and his love for the young people took center stage as Youth Ministers and Leaders were designated to render services to future generations providing knowledge in the areas of finance and education. With the growing membership, the church services were expanded to a two-service format. In addition, a multi-million dollar educational and administration wing was added. This space allowed for additional classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, an elevator, and the Rodman After School Program (RASP). On October 26, 2008, after 24 years of faithful, loving and dedicated service, Pastor Delano R. Paige decided to retire.
In 1984, Reverend Delano R. Paige assumed the leadership of Rodman. Under his leadership, the membership grew rapidly, tripling the membership and the dawning and installation of over 50 ministries. Under the calming nature of the sophisticated, enthusiastic and accessible minister, 31 sons and daughters accepted the call to preach the gospel to God’s people. Rev. Paige was the first Rodman Pastor to ordain and accept women in the ministry. During the 100th Anniversary celebration, Rev. Paige examined the original charter and discovered the official church name was the Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church and since May 1985, the church has assumed its entire proper name. Under the administration of Rev. Paige, the church’s vision focused on strengthening and repairing the fabric of the African American families in the surrounding neighborhoods. In this, the Naomi’s Place was established, a transitional house for women and children. A myriad of ministries originated and his love for the young people took center stage as Youth Ministers and Leaders were designated to render services to future generations providing knowledge in the areas of finance and education. With the growing membership, the church services were expanded to a two-service format. In addition, a multi-million dollar educational and administration wing was added. This space allowed for additional classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, an elevator, and the Rodman After School Program (RASP). On October 26, 2008, after 24 years of faithful, loving and dedicated service, Pastor Delano R. Paige decided to retire.
Where we are headed...
Living by the words, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain”. Rev. Dr. Darryl T. Canady was installed as the new pastor of Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church in 2010. A fiery, innovative orator, who has affectionately nicknamed Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, “The Street”, is a passionate man with a desire to make an impact in the community he is adopting as his home. Pastor Canady has implemented the Community of Hope Vision where our strategic focus is to uplift the people in our church and community through meeting their spiritual needs; generating physical and recreational opportunities; engaging in educational support; providing social and entertainment venues; creating employment and economic development opportunities; and offering health and emotional well-being support. These six pillars lay the foundation of our vision: spiritual, physical and recreational, educational, social, economic and employment, and health and wellness.
Pastor Canady instituted Men Only Revivals (H.B.O, - Home Boys Out) in an effort to bring men into the security of God’s covering. He started Women’s Only Revivals (S.H.O. – Sistas’ Hanging Out) to empower women to be all that God has called them to be. He has also established Rodman’s Equipping Leadership Academy Year-round (R.E.L.A.Y) that is developing leaders in all areas of service and discipleship. He also established the Shepherd’s Care Ministry, where lay people provide pastoral care to members of the church and the community. Additionally, we have established online giving, live-streaming of services, Virtual Church, a weekly television broadcast, Operation In-As-Much Mission Blitz, Micah 6 Pastors and Community Leaders Coalition, Justice on Both Sides with Law enforcement officers and other first responders, and “Church Without Walls” to build bridges and trust with other races and denominations. So far during his tenure over 1,500 persons have joined God’s Army at Rodman and we are still growing.
Pastor Canady instituted Men Only Revivals (H.B.O, - Home Boys Out) in an effort to bring men into the security of God’s covering. He started Women’s Only Revivals (S.H.O. – Sistas’ Hanging Out) to empower women to be all that God has called them to be. He has also established Rodman’s Equipping Leadership Academy Year-round (R.E.L.A.Y) that is developing leaders in all areas of service and discipleship. He also established the Shepherd’s Care Ministry, where lay people provide pastoral care to members of the church and the community. Additionally, we have established online giving, live-streaming of services, Virtual Church, a weekly television broadcast, Operation In-As-Much Mission Blitz, Micah 6 Pastors and Community Leaders Coalition, Justice on Both Sides with Law enforcement officers and other first responders, and “Church Without Walls” to build bridges and trust with other races and denominations. So far during his tenure over 1,500 persons have joined God’s Army at Rodman and we are still growing.
