About Friendship Baptist Church

Serving God

Meet the Pastor & First Lady

Pastor James Allen Terrance Jr
&
First Lady Prentice A. Horton Terrance

Biography

Pastor James A. Terrance Jr

Pastor James Allen Terrance, Jr. is a prophetic pastor, passionate leader, and powerful teacher committed to preaching and teaching the Word of God. He has dedicated his life and ministry to empowering individuals to cultivate their God-given gifts through developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, while also touching and transforming the lives of those who are often marginalized within the community.


Pastor Terrance’s vision for the people of God is clear: “Fulfilling the Great Commission by sharing the love of God in Christ Jesus with every person through Evangelism, Discipleship, Fellowship, Ministry, and Worship.” His heart for all people is demonstrated through active outreach ministry and international mission work, including trips to Haiti and Southeast Asia.

In 2003, Pastor Terrance accepted the call to serve as the seventh pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. For more than 22 years, he has faithfully preached and taught under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Under his servant leadership, the ministry has experienced significant growth not only numerically, but also in its influence within the community and local government, particularly in the areas of social justice and advocacy. Friendship Baptist Church remains committed to reaching individuals from all walks of life while intentionally addressing the spiritual and practical needs of the
surrounding community.

Throughout his tenure, Pastor Terrance has impacted lives across the Greater Kansas City area and beyond through his powerful, anointed preaching and teaching of the infallible Word of God. God has also blessed him to serve as a newspaper columnist within the Kansas City community, and he has been honored as one of The Kansas City Globe’s 100 Most Influential African Americans.

Under Pastor Terrance’s leadership, Friendship Baptist Church continues to expand its community footprint through transformational initiatives. Most notably, the Emanuel Lisk Youth Center, a new building project dedicated to youth development, education, and empowerment, is scheduled to open in 2026, further demonstrating his commitment to investing in future generations.

Pastor Terrance is a member of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., the Kansas City Baptist Ministers’ Union, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, and the NAACP. He also serves on the Beeson Divinity School Southeast Regional Bible Institute Advisory Group. Additionally, he is an instructor for the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri, and the New Era Baptist District Association and he is the President of the Missouri Baptist State
Congress of Christian Education.

Pastor Terrance earned a degree in Liberal Studies from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He received his Master of Divinity Degree with Honors from Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Kansas, and he also holds an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Western Bible Baptist College.

Pastor Terrance and his devoted wife, Prentice Adrian Horton Terrance, are the proud parents of two sons, Jalen (Jasmine) Ashton and Tyler James.
He remains committed to serving God and others by proclaiming the Gospel message of restoration and reconciliation through the liberating power of Jesus Christ.

History

Our History

In November 1914, Pastor G. W. Boyd and about ten members left Highland Avenue Baptist Church to form a new congregation. The new church first worshiped in a storeroom in the 1500 block of East 12th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1915, during a meeting convened by Rev. J. M. Booker, Moderator of the New Era District, the congregation was formally organized and named Friendship Baptist Church. Rev. Boyd was officially elected as the first pastor. The church later worshiped in a tent at 14th and Vine and then moved to 17th and Tracy. 
 
After Rev. Boyd’s death in 1918, Rev. Silas Charles Doyle became the second pastor. Under his leadership, the church grew in membership, Sunday School, youth work, music, and ministry activities. In 1926 the church relocated again, first worshiping under a tent and later meeting at Lyric Hall until a new building at 17th and Tracy was completed. That building was destroyed by fire on December 15, 1939. In 1940, Friendship purchased the Scottish Rites building at 1024 East Truman Road. After Rev. Doyle’s death in 1941, Rev. E. J. Johnson briefly served as the third pastor. 
 
In March 1944, Rev. Isaiah Hilkiah Henderson, Jr. became the fourth pastor and served for thirty-nine years. During his ministry, the church expanded its auxiliaries and outreach and later relocated to 43rd and Montgall in 1961. In January 1985, Rev. Clifford Eugene McLain was elected as the fifth pastor. Under his leadership, Friendship purchased thirty-six acres of land and moved into its current location at 3530 Chelsea Avenue on October 7, 1989. 
 
Dr. Manual Lamont Dillingham became the sixth pastor in February 1993 and served for seven years, helping complete the kitchen and gymnasium. After his resignation in 2001, Friendship elected James Allen Terrance, Jr. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as the seventh pastor. Installation services were held on March 22, 2003. Under Pastor Terrance’s leadership, Friendship has continued to grow in worship, prayer, bible study, discipleship,ministry impact and facility expansion.
 
 

Contact

3530 Chelsea Drive Kansas City, Missouri 64128.

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