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John E. Roberts has been
an active member of Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church
since its inception in 1946. He has served the church as
custodian, usher, Sunday school teacher, president of the
Baptist training union, choir member, secretary of the
Trustee Board and deacon. He began preaching in 1962 and
received his certificate of ordination in December 1964 and
in January 1965 he was named pastor of Indiana Avenue.
During his tenure as
pastor, Indiana Avenue has expanded its parking facilities,
built the Stephenson-Roberts Fellowship Hall and established
the Hall of Farmers.
Roberts has been a leader
in the church and in the Toledo area community having been a
part of the Coalition of PTA Toledo Public Schools, the
Interdenominational Ministers Alliance, the Baptist
Ministers Conference, the execiutive board of Northwestern
District Association, the NAACP, the board of SASI, the
board of the J. Frank Troy Center and the board of the Urban
League, to name a few.
Born in Bryant,
Mississippi to George and Melvina Roberts, the pastor moved
to Toledo in 1944 after his mother moved here. He worked for
Martin Box for 21 years and then for Toledo Steel. He drove
a school bus for 10 years. His jobs enabled him to put aside
funds to contribute to the building of the church structure.
John and Bernice Roberts
have been married for 65 years and have three sons –
Derrick, Jeffrey and Tracy – five grandchildren and three
great grandchildren.
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