A Cathedral on Woodward Avenue
For nearly a century, the Neo-English Gothic cathedral at 9000 Woodward Avenue has been one of the defining landmarks of Detroit's North End. Designed by the architect George D. Mason, the building is the home of Historic Little Rock Baptist Church, a Missionary Baptist congregation that gathers roughly a thousand members each Sunday beneath 12 stained glass windows containing more than 1,500 square feet of hand blown glass that depict the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Capital improvements over the decades have added air conditioning, a passenger elevator, lower auditorium renovations, and spiral staircases inside the sanctuary. The church and its congregation carry city, state, and national historic designations, along with a State Historical Marker, and more than 6,000 digitized documents of its history are preserved at Michigan State University's Detroit Black Church Project.
From a Willis Street Parlor to a North End Institution
Little Rock Baptist Church was established in April 1936, under the founding pastorate of Rev. Robert E. Tate. Six worshippers gathered at the home of Brother and Sister Hooks at 1214 East Willis Street in Detroit. The charter members included Brother and Sister Ernest Robinson, Mother Della Brown, and Mother Gaillard. As the membership grew, the congregation relocated several times, moving to 3734 Russell Street under Tate's successor, then to 7639 Mack Avenue under Rev. Theodore R. Provost, and on to 4903 Maxwell under Rev. Clarence Townsell. The church moved to its current home at 9000 Woodward Avenue on August 13, 1978, during the pastorate that would carry it into its ninth decade. In April 2020, the congregation completed its mortgage campaign in less than a year, extinguishing its debt on the historic building.
A Ministry of Liberation: The Legacy of Rev. Jim Holley
Rev. Jim Holley, Ph.D., shepherded the church from 1972 until his retirement on December 31, 2021, building it into one of Detroit's largest congregations and pioneering what he calls a Ministry of Liberation, focused on freeing people through Salvation, Education, and Economics. Raised in Tennessee and West Virginia, Holley earned a PhD in Education from Wayne State University, a Doctorate of Ministry in Economic Development from Drew University, a Master of Divinity in New Testament, and a Master of Science in International Relations. As a classmate of Rev. Jesse Jackson at Chicago Theological Seminary in 1966, Holley marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Cicero, Illinois demonstrations in 1966 and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers' strike. He later helped bring Nelson Mandela to Detroit in support of the anti-apartheid struggle and has remained active through the National Action Network and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Under his leadership, the congregation founded a K-8 charter school, ran a Family Life center, oversaw job training and placement, low-income housing projects, men's empowerment conferences, adult education and GED courses, distributed more than 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need, and drew over $50 million in community business ventures and partnerships. Now serving as Pastor Emeritus, Holley is recognized with the 2010 Trumpet Award for Religion/Business.
New Beginnings Under Rev. Antoine T. Colvin
Rev. Antoine T. Colvin, M.Div., M.S.W., became the seventh Senior Pastor in 2022. A native of Baltimore who accepted Christ at age 12 under Rev. Johnny N. Golden Sr. at New Unity Baptist Church, Colvin is a former student-athlete at N.C. State University and a graduate of Towson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies in 2006. He preached his first sermon in November 2008 and went on to complete his Master of Divinity at Howard University with high distinction in 2019. He previously served as Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church of Guilford and as Executive Pastor at Christian Unity Baptist Church under Rev. Dr. Antione J. Hutchins Sr., before leading Missionary Union Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, and draws daily strength from Hebrews 13:8. He and his wife Errin Tucker Colvin married in 2014, and the couple have two sons, Andrew and Austin. Pastor Colvin has framed his tenure as a year of "New Beginnings," centering the church's vision on "Connecting Communities to Christ" and committing to reach, reclaim, rebuild, and revive disciples through worship and the Word.
Sunday Worship and the Noonday Hour of Power
Sunday mornings begin with Sunday School at 8:30 a.m., followed by the main worship service at 10:00 a.m. The third Sunday of each month is set aside as "Soul Sunday," when members are encouraged to pray and to invite three guests to share in morning worship. Children's Church meets on the second and third Sundays in the lower level of the sanctuary. The service is supported by a creative team that includes Minister of Music Bro. Demetric Jones, the Voices of Praise choir led by Bro. Neal Morrison, and a Media Ministry that operates under Bro. Bennie Tate, Bro. Joseph Hunter, and Sis. June Williams. For those unable to enter the building, the service is broadcast on 89.7 FM within one mile of the church so worshipers can listen from their cars on the parking lot, and is also livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. Wednesday study offerings are built around the Noonday Hour of Power, a noon phone-in Bible study led by Assistant Pastor Rev. Dr. Joy P. Creel at 929-352-3458 (access code 100 488 01#), followed by evening Bible study with Pastor Colvin at 6:00 p.m. in person. A "Faith That Holds Fast" summer Bible study series is also available on demand through the Christian Education Ministry.
Faith and Service: The Ministries
More than 36 auxiliaries and ministries serve the congregation, anchored by seven core areas: Stewardship, Discipleship and Education, Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship, Youth and Young Adults, and Outreach. Discipleship includes Christian Education under Sis. Wanda Stallworth, evening and noonday Bible study, Sunday School led by Sis. Theresa Gray, Vacation Bible School under Sis. Tazlynne Leonard, and a New Member Assimilation Ministry led by Sis. Jeanett Griffin. Evangelism encompasses the Deaconess Board, Mother's Board, and Mission Board, with Sis. Pamela Smith leading missions. Fellowship gathers the Men's Ministry under Deacon Rodney McDowell, the Women's Ministry under Rev. Brenda Smith, the Ushers under Deacon Robert Allen and Sis. Mary Jackson, the Nurse's Ministry under Rev. Beverly Garner Ellis, a Communications Ministry, baby dedications, and a Decorating and Culinary team. Stewardship is led by an active Board of Trustees under Chairperson Trustee Maurice Morton, alongside the Deacon Board chaired by Deacon Ronald Brown.
Children, Youth, and the Next Generation
The Children's Church is led by Sis. Trish Herbert and Deacon Greg Harris, with the Children's Usher Board under Sis. Diane McGinnes and a Mime Ministry also directed by Sis. Trish Herbert. Youth and Young Adult ministry is rooted in Ecclesiastes 12:1, encouraging the younger generation to honor the Lord early. The church runs Vacation Bible School each year, partners with schools to collect supplies, and grows its next generation of leaders through Sunday School and the Children's Church on second and third Sundays.
Feeding the North End: Forgotten Harvest and Community Partnerships
Outreach is among the most visible of Historic Little Rock's ministries. Rev. Joe and Sis. Saretta Carter lead the Prison Ministry, visiting and corresponding with the incarcerated. The Forgotten Harvest Food Distribution, coordinated by Sis. Tonya Stones, takes place on the church parking lot on the second and fourth Friday of each month at 8:00 a.m., providing up to 70 pounds of food to as many as 500 families. The church also partners with Gleaners Community Food Bank and Wayne County Community College District on a GED program for adults, continuing a tradition of economic empowerment that long predates the current pastorate. Rev. Holley summarizes the calling this way: if there can be a vibrant downtown and midtown, there can also be a vibrant North End, and Historic Little Rock is one of the anchors and catalysts of that vibrancy.
Building on the Rock: A Capital Campaign for the Next Century
To prepare its historic cathedral for another generation of ministry, the congregation launched the "Building on the Rock" Capital Campaign in May 2025, with a $1 million goal to be reached over three years by May 1, 2028. The work addresses roof restoration, structural reinforcement, accessibility upgrades, and modernization of facilities so that the building can remain safe, accessible, and welcoming. Contributions can be pledged or paid in a variety of ways: online through the church's secure giving portal, by texting GIVE to 313-631-2900, by mailing a check to the church's Business Office, or in person during Sunday worship through the offering plate, with envelopes available from the ushers and credit or debit card gifts accepted through a trustee in the Holley Chapel. The campaign runs alongside a steady rhythm of scripture memorization, the annual church anniversary concert, and the renewed call to "Reach, Reclaim, Rebuild, and Revive" that defines this season of the church's long witness from Woodward Avenue.