1941-1964

Dr. Robert Parr began Gilead Baptist Church in 1941 in Dearborn, Michigan in a rented school, eventually the church moved to a permanent location in Detroit. During the 1950’s when the population was shifting away from downtown to the suburbs, Dr. Parr moved the church to Allen Park where he served until his death in 1964.

1964-1987

Dr. J. Thomas Downs followed Dr. Parr as the next pastor of Gilead. The bus ministry was known nationally as one of the strongest and progressive of its kind and thousands of children were introduced to faith in Jesus Christ through ‘The Big Blue Bus ministry. Dr. Downs also began a mission’s philosophy that emphasized supporting national pastors in their native countries. The church moved to Taylor in 1973. It was here that the Baptist Park School ministry took place from 1974 to 2016, educating the youth of the Downriver community.

1986-Present

In October of 1986, Pastor Thomas R. Downs was called into leadership. Since Pastor Tom had a strong desire to serve God and a specific burden for the ministry at Gilead, he was uniquely qualified for the position. His ministry is marked by his genuine love for people and his passion for communicating God’s Word in an understandable and encouraging fashion. Our name Gilead, taken from scripture, was a physical location in Israel that was known as a place where healing balm was found. It is truly the heartbeat of this ministry to help people find spiritual healing through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

On July 13, 2025, Gilead Church enjoyed our first church service at our new Brownstown Township location. By God’s amazing grace, Gilead is a dynamic ministry made up of people from all walks of life. We focus on helping people to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose and Make a Difference. Our warm and friendly atmosphere makes just about everyone feel welcome. The worship services, programs for all ages, Small Groups and Growth Track give many opportunities for spiritual growth, ministry involvement and fellowship. Those who desire to worship Jesus Christ, be guided by the teaching of His Word, and grow in faith, can find a home here. We invite you to join us!