Eighty years. That’s how long Decatur Heights Baptist Church has stood as a beacon. It shines God’s light. It shares His love. Located in Bladensburg Maryland, it is just outside the Nation’s Capital. The church sees itself as a little city set on a hill.
Decatur Heights Baptist Church continues its ministry. It proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. They focus on serving as a Great Commission church. This is based on Matthew 28:19-20. The church desires to cultivate an environment. People can learn and grow there. They can adequately serve as dynamic members of Christ’s body.
Whether you enter the doors or watch online, the church wants you to know God is present. They want you to enjoy the music. They want you to enjoy the fellowship. They want you to enjoy the preaching. Most importantly, they want you to experience God’s blessings. They want you to experience His goodness and love.
Decatur Heights Baptist Church believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the eternal Son of God. He became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was born of the Virgin Mary. He did this to reveal God. He did this to redeem sinful men. This is supported by John 1:1-2, John 1:14, Luke 1:35, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Philippians 2:5-8 and Galatians 4:4-5.
The church believes the Holy Scriptures are the inspired Word of God. It is the final authority for faith and life. It is without error in the original writings. It is infallible and God-breathed. This is supported by II Timothy 3:16-1, II Peter 1:20-21, Matthew 5:18, John 14:25 and John 16:12-13.
Decatur Heights Baptist Church believes in one Triune God. He exists eternally in three persons. These are Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are co-eternal in being. They are co-identical in nature. They are co-equal in power and glory. They have the same attributes and perfections. This is supported by Deuteronomy 6:4 and II Corinthians 13:14.
The First Lady of Decatur Heights Baptist Church is Maria Smith. She was born and raised in Washington DC. As a child, she attended Bethesda Baptist Church. She was baptized at age 13. After high school, she moved to Atlanta GA. She pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Spelman College. She volunteered and was involved in campus activities. One of the most prolific moments was when she went to gut and clean houses in New Orleans LA after Hurricane Katrina. She obtained her degree in 2009. She returned to the DC area to begin her career. She reunited with her family.
Lady Smith holds a M.A in Strategic Communications and Public Relations from Trinity Washington University. She is married to Pastor JJ Smith. Together they have three children. Their names are Elijah, Victoria and BoVon.
One of the most fulfilling joys in her life is educating and encouraging young minds. She supports them. She has a passion for youth ministry. She helps students succeed biblically and academically. That passion is reflected in her role as Director of Children’s Ministry at the church. It is also reflected in her career. She works with non-profit organizations. They support the advancement of children and teenagers in underserved communities.
Decatur Heights Baptist Church is a community-based organization. It focuses on making the world a better place. They organize fundraisers. They host community-building events. They provide training sessions for volunteers. You can volunteer your time. You can spread their mission through word-of-mouth.