About Us

Little Bethel Missionary Baptist Church is a Christ-centered, community-rooted church in Indianapolis, Indiana, committed to being “The Place Where Love Is Exalted.” For generations, Little Bethel has served as a place of worship, biblical teaching, spiritual growth, outreach, and community impact. Under the leadership of Pastor Shalmon T. Radford, we continue to build a ministry where truth is taught, people are loved, families are strengthened, and lives are transformed through the power of Jesus Christ.

Our Mission

At Little Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, our mission is to exalt the love of Christ by teaching God’s Word, reaching people with compassion, and building a Christ-centered community where lives are transformed, families are strengthened, and every person is welcomed, valued, and empowered to grow in faith and purpose.

Our Values

What We Believe

At Little Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. We believe that through His life, death, burial, and resurrection, all people have the opportunity to receive salvation, forgiveness, and new life.

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and our guide for faith, truth, and daily living. We are committed to teaching and applying Scripture in ways that help people grow spiritually and live with wisdom, love, and purpose.

We believe in the power of prayer, worship, and the Holy Spirit to transform lives, strengthen believers, and draw people closer to God.

We believe the Church is called to be more than a place of worship—it is a community of faith, a place of healing, discipleship, service, and belonging. We are called to love God, love people, and share the Gospel in both word and action.

We believe every person is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and love. Therefore, we are committed to being a church where love is exalted, faith is nurtured, and lives are changed.

Love

We believe love is the heart of the Gospel and the foundation of everything we do. At Little Bethel, we strive to reflect the love of Christ in our worship, service, fellowship, and outreach.

Community

We are called to build authentic relationships and a strong spiritual family where people of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages can belong, grow, and serve together.

Compassion and Care

We value the whole person—spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically—and seek to create a church culture where healing, encouragement, and support are available.

Excellence in Service

We believe everything we do should be done with excellence, faithfulness, and a spirit of stewardship that honors God and blesses His people.

Biblical Truth

We are committed to teaching and preaching the Word of God with clarity, integrity, and relevance so that people can grow in faith and live according to God’s truth

Outreach

We believe the Church must be active beyond its walls—meeting needs, serving the vulnerable, and sharing the love of Jesus in practical ways through ministry and community engagement. This is reflected in the church pantry, “Meet Me Under the Bridge,” and broader neighborhood work.

Justice and Advocacy

We believe the Church has a responsibility to speak truth to power and stand in the gap for the invisible, voiceless, and underserved, reflecting Pastor Radford’s stated ministry convictions.

Worship

We believe worship is more than a Sunday experience—it is a lifestyle of honoring God in how we live, serve, give, and love others. This aligns with the church’s current website language about worship being expressed in everyday life.

Youth and Family Development

We are committed to raising up the next generation through spiritual formation, mentorship, discipleship, leadership development, and family-centered ministry. The church’s Youth Ministry, children’s programming, and rites-of-passage work support this emphasis.

Growth and Transformation

We believe God changes lives. We are committed to helping people grow in Christ, discover purpose, and become all that God has called them to be.

About Our Pastor

Pastor Shalmon T. Radford has faithfully served as Senior Pastor of Little Bethel Missionary Baptist Church for over 11 years, leading with conviction, compassion, and a heart for God’s people. His theological training includes studies at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

A respected leader in Indianapolis and beyond, Pastor Radford has served on numerous boards and in key leadership roles with the Union District Missionary Baptist Association, Inc., the General Missionary Baptist Convention (including serving as President of the Pastor’s Conference), the Black Church Coalition of Faith Indy, and the Indianapolis Urban Pastor Coalition. He is deeply committed to the Church’s call to speak truth to power and to advocate for those who are too often unseen and unheard.

Known as a trusted and dynamic preacher, Pastor Radford has a gift for “cutting it straight”—delivering God’s Word with clarity, boldness, and relevance. This powerful calling has opened doors for him to share the Gospel across the nation.

Above all, Pastor Radford is a devoted husband and family man. He has been married for 26 years to his high school sweetheart, Roshun, and together they are the proud parents of three children: Sean, Jada, and Reis.

Theological Training:

American Baptist College, Nashville, Tennessee
Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia
United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.

Affiliated Organizations:

Union District Missionary Baptist Association, Inc.
General Missionary Baptist Convention (including serving as President of the Pastor’s Conference)
Black Church Coalition of Faith Indy
Indianapolis Urban Pastor Coalition

Our
Story

God called together a few of His people to form a new church in 1955 called Little Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Ollie James Reeves was led by God to become the 1st Pastor of Little Bethel. The services were held at the home of Charles and Ivy Malone every Sunday and Wednesday.

As the congregation grew, Little Bethel began the search to expand and in 1971, the church moved from 25th and Winthrop to our current location 3276 N. Winthrop Avenue.

In 1983, Rev. Reeves folded up his tent and went to be with the Lord, and in 1984 Rev. Dr. Troy E. Ladd became the 2nd Pastor of Little Bethel. Under Dr. Ladd, the church was able to expand the building to have additional classrooms and a fellowship hall which was completed in 1990. Furthermore, in 2005 Little Bethel started construction on the Little Bethel Crosstown Community Center which was built to be a haven and an opportunity to minister to those in the community.

After 30 years of pastoring, Dr. Ladd decided to retire, and in 2015 Little Bethel’s 3rd and current pastor. Rev. Shalmon T. Radford was called by God to lead the church.

Since Pastor Radford's leadership, we were able to maintain our church and membership through COVID and have paid off the Community Center and burned the mortgage as of March 23, 2025. Through Pastor Radford’s leadership, we are taking more approaches to reach out to the community and focus on ministering to the needs of others.

Little Bethel continues to be compelled by the word of God and strives each day to be “The Place Where Love is Always Exalted”.