United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, under the pastorate of Reverend Prince Raney Rivers since 2005, is the worship center for more than 800 parishioners.
In close proximity to downtown Winston-Salem, NC, the church is a three floor, 50,000 square feet complex, which is located east of the Highway 52 north/south expressway between Fourth and Fifth Streets at 450 Metropolitan Drive.

The combination of its inviting worship services, warm-hearted members, well appointed facility, programmatic thrusts, and the continuity of extraordinary and visionary leadership have kept United Metropolitan particularly relevant and thriving during the course of its illustrious 115-year history.

A unanimous vote on August 15, 1965 to merge the then, forty-one year old
First Institutional Baptist Church and the seventy-three year old West End Baptist Church resulted in the formation of the United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church..

Spearheading the merger, founding, and construction of a new edifice for the fledgling church was Reverend J. Donald Ballard.

Through the years, United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church has been
A work in progress! The initial edifice, which was begun in 1966, was completed
in 1968. The first service was held on June 9,1968. In 1980, the church body began an additional phase of church construction by adding a chapel and educational assembly.
Decorative dormers were added to the roof and the existing educational wings were air-conditioned. By 1998, other internal renovation and expansion had also been completed.

The current church edifice, the fulfillment of a campaign referred to as Restoration, was begun in 1999 and completed in 2001. For the twenty-two months’ hiatus, the Sarah Y. Austin Head Start Center was used for worship services. On Sunday, July 22, 2001, the congregation experienced The Ribbon Cutting and The Initial Entry Service. The physical structure of United Metropolitan has undergone numerous modifications over the years, but the church has always enjoyed the stability of having learned, progressive and visionary pastors at the helm. Dr. J. Donald Ballard, for more than forty-one years, provided exemplary spiritual guidance, pastoral leadership and exceptional preaching. His 2004 retirement and Pastor Emeritus designation ushered in at United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church an era of New Beginnings.

Immediately following the retirement of Dr. Ballard, a Search Committee was formed to begin the formidable process of identifying a new pastor. Chaired by Deacon Board Chairman, Peyton T. Hairston, Sr., the Committee worked judiciously and on Sunday, May 15, 2005, presented Reverend Prince Raney Rivers to the congregation. Following his sermon, the congregation elected Reverend Rivers as only the second Pastor in
the history of United Metropolitan. Pastor Rivers, his wife Monica and the entire

congregation continue to expand the Metropolitan outreach, service and missions to the glory of God.

1892 – Organization of the West End Baptist Church

1924 – Organization of the First Institutional Baptist Church

1965 – August 15th, WEBC/FIBC voted to merge congregations

1966 – 2nd Sunday in June, United Metropolitan Groundbreaking Ceremony

1968 – June 9, First Service held at United Metropolitan

1980 – Construction of chapel and assembly was begun

1989 – Chapel, other additions, and renovations were completed

1999 – September 24, Restoration Groundbreaking Service

1999 - September-August, 2001,Worship, Sarah Y. Austin Head Start Center (22 months)

2001 – July 22, Ribbon Cutting/Initial Entry Service

2001 – August 19th–26th, Restoration Dedicatory Services

2002 - 110th Church Anniversary Celebration

2004 - February Church Conference, Dr. Ballard announces plans to retire

2004- -February 4th Sunday, Pastoral Search Committee elected

2004- December, Dr. Ballard Retires

2005 – May 15, Reverend Prince Raney River was elected Dr. Ballard’s successor

2005 – 3rd Sunday in August, Reverend Rivers preaches 1st sermon as pastor

2005 – November 19th-20th Reverend Prince Raney Rivers’ Installation Programs