Featured photo: Rev. A. J. Pointer, photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Baptist Historical Committee
Written by Tanya Terry
A street in Flint is now named in honor of one of the most innovative and influential pastors in Flint history: Rev. A.J. Pointer.
In 2023 ,the Flint City Council unanimously approved a resolution to recognize Reverend Doctor A.J. Pointer with an honorary street sign on one block of East Myrtle Avenue, between Industrial Avenue and North Street.
Now that dream has come to life!
Rev. Freelon Threlkeld of Faith Baptist Temple referred to Pointer, who died in April 23, 2008, as like an “Eric Mays” in his day.
Threlkeld recalls Pointer running for Flint’s mayor in 2002 after Former Mayor Woodrow Stanley was recalled. Threlkeld told the Courier systemic racism in the city bothered Pointer to the point it drove him to pursue the mayoral seat as a write in candidate.
“One of his friends was Don Williamson before Don Williamson became mayor,” said Threlkeld of Pointer. “He wasn’t that political – because being a Baptist preacher, your calling is to teach God’s Word.”
Still, Pointer’s plan, if elected, was to have meetings every Monday morning with the chief of police, the county sheriff and the prosecutor. The meetings were to be held for the purpose of finding out about all the confiscating of monies of the north end of Flint through raids and giving that money to “the people.”
According to Threlkeld, Pointer was not pleased with some of the things that had went with the local government.
“Mayor Cronin and some of the ‘handkerchief council people’ were busted gambling in the Durant Hotel (now known simply as the Durant),” Threlkeld said.
The New York Times also reported in 1970 that Cronin and two other city officials were indicted on charges of attempting to solicit a bribe from a construction company.
“People in high places that sit high, and especially Western Europeans, orchestrated by the white man, they prey on the Black people on the north end. Reverend Pointer said it’s got to stop.”
Although Pointer was beaten in his run for mayor by James W. Rutherford, Threlkeld told the Courier he is glad forward-thinking Black individuals are finally starting to get some of recognition they deserve. To Threlkeld, there is still quite a ways to go. However, he feels naming a street in honor of Pointer and a library in honor of Gloria Coles in the city are steps in the right direction.
Pastor Stephen L. Murphy Sr. now pastors the church Rev. A.J. Pointer once pastored: Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle.
Murphy pointed out approximately 175 people came to the street renaming ceremony. Pointer’s life and actions, however, impacted many, many others.
“We just wanted to make sure the Pointer family would be able to be there,” said Murphy regarding the scheduled ceremony day.
According to Murphy, it was very important Pointer’s son, PJ Pointer, and daughter, Joan Pointer, were present. Murphy told the Courier seeing the amazed and elated expressions on the family member’s faces was the most rewarding part of the ceremony!
Murphy first shared his vision for naming the street in Rev. A.J. Pointer’s honor in January 2023.
“So many people loved them beyond him just being their pastor,” Murphy said.
Pointer served on the executive board for WFLT AM 1420 radio station. Today, Metropolitan, along with Macedonia Baptist Church, still are majority stakeholders for the gospel radio station and have been for over 30 years. A small share is privately owned.
Murphy pointed out Pointer lived where he was assigned. In fact, the church built a parsonage across the street from the church, which Pointer resided in. So, Pointer actually lived on the street that is now named in his honor for years!
Speakers for the ceremony included Dr. Henry Fuller of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Pastor Allen C. Overton Sr. – Moderator of the Great Lakes District Baptist Association and pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church and Pastor Wallace Hill III of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, LaTasha Simpson – a lifelong of Metropolitan, Rev. Freelon Threlkeld, Mayor Sheldon Neeley, PJ Pointer, Mr. Ed Taylor and Rev. Floyd Fuller of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church. Mrs. Rochelle Threlkeld sang a beautiful selection. Several other Flint pastors were in attendance. The first African American female mayor of Saginaw, Wilmer Ham McZee, was also there for the joyous occasion.
“The overarching theme was that Pastor Pointer cared for people and that he was not just a spiritual leader who cared for people, but he cared for the holistic person…He was a minister to the whole person – mind, body, soul and spirit.”
According to Murphy, the administrative system at Metropolitan, which Pointed instituted, has been working out very smoothly for well over 50 years.
Pointer did not believe in taking out loans from financial institutions so it would not have any overall, overarching debts.
Another thing Pointer did that was considered very progressive was buying land. So, Metropolitan currently owns many parcels of land within the community.
Metropolitan’s 501 (c)( 3) nonprofit organization, Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation, has a home health care company. The company provides health care for both seniors and disabled citizens.
Metropolitan also receives residual income from a Verizon cell phone tower in its parking lot.
So, Murphy stated Pointer was a catalyst for many things that are still instituted to this day.
