Shrunken Akron Baptist Temple Sells Its Property

BBF church of Dr. Dallas F. Billington at one time had the largest Sunday School in the nation.

Once-segregated Akron Baptist Temple sold to The Word Church

"The Baptist temple, appraised at $40 million, was put up for sale in 2015 for $3.3 million, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. It recently sold to the Word Church for $1.5 million, which The Word's lead pastor, Dr. R.A. Vernon, called a 'heyday'."

"The Word Church...is predominantly black....Akron Baptist Temple Rev. Ed Holland, who has served as pastor for 11 years, informed the congregation about the sale of the church during his May 13 sermons....In the video, Holland talks about the first Rev. Billington's prejudice, saying he was a product of his Kentucky roots, which 'slanted him to segregation.' 'It's something our church has repented of,' Holland said. However, the sale of the church to The Word would likely not sit well with the original Billington. 'I can't be honest and say that man would be overly thrilled,' Holland said."