About Us
Check out who we are and what we believe. Better than that, come by for a visit. We'd love to see you!
The history of people of an institution is very important in that it focuses on what transpired at the beginning and continues down through the years. This knowledge can impact positively and provide the impetus for further growth and development. The growth in the Inkster Springhill Missionary Baptist Church truly reflects that course.
Rev. Esaias F. Lee was elected pastor of Springhill on December 21, 1946. The Sunday School was organized on the first Sunday in February 1947. Elected superintendent was Brother James Nelms. The first teachers were the late Brother Henry E. Fortson, Brother William Clark, and the late Mrs. Carlotta Lee. The church continued to grow and this small but determined group of dedicated Christians worked faithfully to serve the community and encourage discipleship for Christ.
As in all endeavors, there is need for assistance to execute effectively the multiplicity of duties involved. Assistant pastors have been the late Rev. James Overman, the late Rev. Arthur Scotland and Rev. Beecher Daniels, Associated Ministers have been the late Rev. Wesley Douglas, Rev. Chester Wells, Rev. Chester Washington, Rev. Johnnie Harrison, and Rev. Michelle Leaphart.
The decade of the eighties brought us to the end of one era and the beginning of another. The Rev. Esaias F. Lee, our beloved founder and Pastor for thirty-six years, retired and passed the torch on to Rev. Larry O. Hines.
In December of 1982, Rev. Larry O. Hines was installed as Pastor. In December 1985, the pastorate of Rev. Hines ended.
After much searching and praying, Springhill's prayers were answered. On October 26, 1986, Rev. Oscar R. Carter became pastor.
Under the dynamic leadership of Rev. Carter, several noteworthy accomplishments were achieved: The City-Wide Institute, which is now Christian Education week; Moments with the Children; Master Life Discipleship class; and, Save-Our-Afro-American-Boys, a mentoring program otherwise known as SOAAB. We were blessed with a church van and the purchasing of choir robes, as well as a new organ. Under the direction of First Lady Bessie Carter, the Voices of Joy and Brothers in Christ were formed.
With insight for the future, Rev. Carter began the official five-year building fund for Springhill in 1991, which included having $200,000 by 1995. This was the first phase. The second phase was the planning and construction. In 1995 we purchased three lots toward the construction of our new church building and contracted an architect for the building program.
On the first Sunday in August 1998, we marched into our new sanctuary while praising the Lord. Under the leadership of Pastor Carter, the church's mortgage was paid in full. We celebrated the mortgage burning on Sunday, January 15, 2015. Later, in the year 2015, Pastor Carter retired with his wife, Sis. Bessie Carter, moved to the state of Texas.
After much prayer, Rev. Johnnie Harrison was installed on October 30, 2016. As we, a people of 'becoming' continue to grow, we must lay before God all circumstances that make us anxious and continue to trust Him. He will not leave us, for in all ways we must acknowledge Him and He will give us the strength to do all things.
