Divine Reflections: A Photo Gallery of Faith and Spirituality

As beneficiaries of the saving grace of Christ Jesus, let us be encouraged to keep pressing in the light of GOD. May the blood of Jesus speak always for us and may our lives be encapsulated in Him.  May we be victors at all times over the challenges life throws at us AND may the church withstand and conquer every force contrary to that of Christ.

In the rainy days and the sunny times, in the times of scarcity and the days of plenty, let us ALWAYS place our trust in GOD and cast  our cares upon HIM.

There shall be NO limitations for we who are in Christ Jesus

Our prayers shall not be of OUR will but by the help of the Holy Spirit, we shall pray as we ought to and shall make manifest the glory of GOD on earth.

May the Lord strengthen the church to deliver upon the great commission.

John 12:32

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto ME.

In fellowship, activate your support to launch FMBC-Carver City into a bigger capacity towards winning souls into the Kingdom

On the street corner of Hubert and Green, Tampa, Florida, sat a 3 bedroom wooden house owned by (unwittingly soon to be Deacon) Sandy "Bud" Hamilton & wife Rosa. 

In 1952, the yard was gathering place for families, friends and neighbors.

One day, Reverend Abraham Turner was passing through the neighborhood and noticed the gathering of people and stopped to chat.

In his conversation, he asked if anyone in the crowd attended church, and if so, where? The neighbors stated "...they did not have a neighborhood church..."

After hearing these words, Reverend Turner, led by the Holy Spirit, continued to visit the old meeting grounds at the Hamilton's.  On many evenings they would talk, sing old church hymns and pray at every gathering.  The property where the Hamilton's lived was on several lots. And before long Deacon Hamilton began to have church services in his yard. 

Deacon Hamilton offered his property to friends to build a little wooden church and named it "Friendship Missionary Baptist Church".

Rev. Abraham Turner was the FIRST Pastor. As money was scarce back then, for many years, many pulled together as a community  and made a way by the selling of fish and chicken sandwiches, roasted peanuts, homemade lemonade and old fashioned churned ice cream. Being creative, diligent, empowered and moved by God's Holy Spirit, these were ways of helping to care for the needs of the church as the little church on the corner began to grow in God's presence.

After a year of leadership, Reverend Turner became ill. in 1953, while riding by Deacon Hamilton's home a man by the name Rev. Eramus Ellis was looking for a place to worship. After coming to worship Sunday after Sunday, Friendship had the need to call him to pastor services due to the illness and subsequent passing of Reverend Turner.

Reverend Ellis was born in Albany, Georgia. He and wife Emma Eramus had 2 sons and a daughter.

Soon, with God's blessings, there was a need for more worship space. The church family had grown from the church yard, to the little wooden house, to the need of a church itself.  On the corner of Lois Ave and Nassau St sat a brick building waiting to be occupied by Friendship's members. Friendship was blessed with a gift from county to build a church in the community.

By God's grace, the little church named Friendship found it's space and was able to expand & renovate to meet the congregation's needs.

Rev. Ellis worked very hard in leading his flock in worship & praise of God.  Oct 21. 1975, Rev. Ellis was called from labor to reward following his illness.

In the interim, Deacon Qvod Dexter had become an ordained Minister. Married to Elvira Dexter and having 3 sons, Rev Dexter poured his love and faithfulness into God's Gospel and a vision for a sanctuary for Friendship . On Sept 6, 1987, the purchase and completion of the sanctuary was accomplished.

Glory to the highest, July 18, 1993, Friendship celebrated a mortgage burning.

Friendship's History of Pastors

Reverend Abraham Turner

Reverand Eramus Ellis

Reverend Qvod Dexter Sr

Reverend Gary McNealy

Reverend Bobby Jones

and presently

Reverend Frank M. Watson, Jr

Growth in the Spirit of rejuvenation, communion, and saving souls for GOD by the blood and through the Gospel & Holy Spirit