Open Door Baptist Church

In 1962, a seed of faith was planted in Detroit. This seed would blossom into the Open Door Baptist Church. Dr. Robert E. Mayer began a small Bible study group. It met in a humble home. After six months, the group grew into a congregation. Regular services began in a rented storeroom at Fifth and Locusts Streets. The Open Door Baptist Church officially took root in November 1962. A year later, the church moved to a larger building on Fourth Street. The Open Door Baptist Church continued to grow. Dr. Mayer saw a need to educate the next generation. In 1978, Lebanon Christian Academy was founded alongside the church. Both moved to a grand stone mansion on East Walnut Street. The final move came in 1980. The Open Door Baptist Church and the school found their permanent home at 875 Academy Drive. This newly constructed facility still serves the community today. Dr. Mayer led the church for 35 years. He resigned in 1997. Reverend Craig L. Griffith became the second pastor. In 2001, he officially changed the name to Open Door Baptist Church. This clarified their doctrinal position. Pastor Griffith served faithfully for 23 years until his passing in 2020. The church then called upon Reverend Jeffrey D. Bateman. He had served as Pastor Griffith’s assistant for six years. Pastor Bateman became the third pastor of the Open Door Baptist Church in 2021. His goal is to honor the church’s founding principles. These are to uphold God’s Word, love and serve the Savior, and nurture God’s people. The Open Door Baptist Church stands as a testament to faith and community. It has journeyed from a small Bible study to a thriving congregation. It continues to serve Detroit under Pastor Bateman’s leadership.