Shiloh Baptist Church invites all to "come home"
Homecoming Sunday, with music, poetry, and community fellowship, is both a celebration of heritage and a commitment to the future.
The following was submitted by Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade of Shiloh Baptist Church of Medford.
Shiloh Baptist Church, a cornerstone of West Medford’s Black community for more than a century, invites neighbors, friends, and former members to Come Home to Shiloh on September 14 at 11:30 am. The service will welcome home preacher and poet Pastor Terry E. Carter, a son of Shiloh whose prophetic voice was first nurtured within its walls.
“Shiloh is more than a building—it is a living history of resilience, faith, and community care in West Medford,” said Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade, who has been supporting Shiloh’s leadership during a season of transition and renewal. “As we welcome Terry back to share God's message of grace through prophetic poetry that tells the story of this wonderful Medford neighborhood, we also invite all who have been away to come home to God’s love and to Shiloh’s embrace.”
Shiloh has always been more than walls and windows—it is family, it is home, it is the embrace of a God whose love never lets go.
Founded in 1890, Shiloh has long stood as a beacon for West Medford’s Black community—offering spiritual guidance, civic leadership, and a safe space for generations. Today, Shiloh is moving forward with fresh energy and partnerships to become a broader community resource, expanding its mission to include a child-care center, new partnerships, and neighborhood engagement. Through collaborations with local organizations, Shiloh is reclaiming its role as a gathering place for worship, creativity, and service.
Homecoming Sunday is both a celebration of heritage and a commitment to the future. With music, poetry, and community fellowship, Shiloh extends an open invitation to all: whether you’ve been away for a week, a year, or a lifetime, there is a place for you here.
All are welcome to come home to the historic Shiloh Baptist Church, 1 Holton Street, West Medford.
For information, visit www.SBCofMedford.org/worship or contact Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade at revwdmiller@gmail.com.
