“We’ve Come This Far By Faith”
True Light Baptist Church was founded in 1922. Reverend Perry Mallet opened a small mission on Bartlett and Ney Streets. The mission was open to serve the few Christians in the neighborhood. But after a few months of prayer meetings, they felt the need to organize a church.
Reverend Mallet and a few Elders approached the Pastor of Messiah Baptist Church, the Reverend William Norcross to assist in the formation of the church. As a result, he graciously sent two representatives to aid them, Deacons Thomas Jefferson and J. G. Brown. Along with these fine men, those who were in attendance were Reverend and Mrs. Mallet, their daughter, Lena, Mrs. Sarah Brown, Mrs. Ophelia Moody, Mrs. John Bowman, and Mrs. Sarah Glover (Nee Sarah Carter). Mrs. Sarah Glover served as the acting secretary and Lena is recognized for giving True Light Church its name.
Reverend R. L. Woodson was selected and served as pastor of True Light from 1922 to 1924. During his tenure, a building was purchased at 221 Williams St. SW at a cost of $2,000.00.
Reverend M. P. Parish was called in 1924 and served through 1932. During the transition, Reverend S. L. Paul, the Assistant Minister, led the membership until Reverend L. D. Bunn accepted the call to pastor in 1933. He served as pastor for two years. After Reverend Bunn’s tenure, Reverend M. D. Ware accepted the call to pastor from 1935 to 1937.
In January 1938, Reverend H. C. Toliver and his wife, Elizabeth, served as Pastor and First Lady until 1954. 
During this time, the church moved from the Williams Street site to a new location at 305 Wealthy Street. The building was purchased at the cost $10,000.00. To the Glory of God, it was paid for within a year.
In June of 1954, Reverend W. L. Patterson, along with his loving wife, Ruth, of Memphis, Tennessee, accepted the call to serve as Pastor of True Light Baptist Church. Under his leadership 
and spiritual guidance, the church experienced continuous growth. Many achievements and accomplishments were made during his forty-one year tenure. Most noticeably, he was instrumental i 
n propelling the church to purchase property at 900 Thomas SE, where the church building was erected. On August 26, 1967, the True Light members marched into their new church, which today continues to serve as their place of worship
In honor of this wonderful man and woman of God, in July 1995 the True Light members, friends and the Grand Rapids community paid tribute to Reverend and Mrs. W. L. Patterson with a momentous retirement banquet and honorarium service held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. 
In that same year, August of 1995, Reverend H. C. Patterson served as Interim Pastor and was later elected as Pastor in November 1996.
In the year 1997, two momentous events took place. The first son of one of True Light’s pastors was installed as Pastor on January 26, 1997 and on August 16, 1997, the church celebrated its 75th Church Anniversary.
During Reverend H. C. Patterson and his lovely wife Ruby Jean Haggerty Patterson’s tenure, there had been many improvements made to the church. Reverend H. C. Patterson introduced the Bridge Building Ministry, which he attended and learned under the teaching of Evangelist Luis Palau. From this body of Ministry, other Ministries were formed. Pastor H. C. Patterson served until the year 2006.
As part of the transition, True Light members elected Reverend Clyde Sims, one of the Associate Ministers to serve as Lead Minister for approximately a year. 
After much consideration, in August of 2007, the True Light Baptist Church family elected its 8th pastor, the Reverend Jovan T. Davis, M.Div. of Passaic, New Jersey.
Just within Pastor Davis’ first few years of service, True Light has witnessed significant growth physically and more importantly spiritually. Under his leadership, the church now has an established 501c3 Corporation known as Promise of Hope, Inc., an online travel agency, a Housing and Economic Development Initiative, True Light Commons Project, Schools of Hope After School Program, Children’s Church, Community Task Force, an increasing number of youth and young adult membership and well over forty ministries.