Black Miami church installs first-ever female pastor in nearly 70-year history
By Faith Francois | The Miami Times
July 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM EDT
Faith, fellowship and family collide at the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, a tightly knit congregation tucked just off the roads of Gladeview. For decades, the pulpit at this historic Black church had only been occupied by men — that is, until last Sunday, when the church installed its very first female pastor, Tonia Menzies. Her appointment marked a new chapter in the church’s enduring legacy.
Union Grove Church has served as a place of worship in the community since it was founded in November of 1957, with 11 men leading religious services throughout its more than 60-year history. While appointing a woman as pastor felt unprecedented for the church, for Pastor Menzies, this moment was long in the making.
A childhood in Union Grove
Menzies was born and raised in Miami as an only child. She began attending the Union Grove church with her uncle and aunt in 1977, when she was just 7 years old. Upon her first visit, she instantly felt a spiritual connection that would only deepen over time.
Menzies continued to attend the services regularly, her devotion eventually inspiring her parents to join the congregation as well. Her father, Eugene Frazier, went on to serve as the chairman of trustees, while several of her uncles became deacons. Her cousins and aunt were also actively involved in church life. Before she knew it, Union Grove didn’t just feel like a church; it felt like home.
Over the years Menzies has served in several roles within the church, including as an usher and a member of the youth choir, which she joined around the age of 8. Her captivating voice quickly stood out.
“I started singing, and when I realized God had given me a voice, I kept going forth,” said Menzies. “And as time grew, God would put more ministry in me. He would put more revelation of the word in my spirit so that I would know what to say.”
Encouraged by the congregation, Menzies was soon guided by the deacons to lead the church in hymns and participate in praise and worship. With their support, the young girl soon grew into a confident worship leader. She eventually became the lead of the choir, even writing original holiday plays for the church to perform. From then on, Menzies trusted in her abilities to guide and uplift others.
Accepting her ministry
Since those early days, Menzies’ journey through ministry has been a steady progression. In 1993 she was ordained as a missionary, then in 2014 she was ordained as an evangelist, and most recently, in 2025, she was ordained as a reverend. Menzies has served as a leader within the church since July of 2024, but it was only last Sunday that she was officially appointed as the church's first female pastor, marking a historic milestone.
“I never knew God would be putting me in this place, even though I've been ministering for a long time, but to be the leader? That’s another level,” said Menzies.
The installation service was deeply meaningful, centered around the theme “She’s walking in her purpose, on purpose.” Menzies felt overwhelming support from the community, which filled the church building in support of her installation.
She began her acceptance speech by stating, “Who would’ve known?” As a young girl, she never imagined that one day she’d lead the church that captivated her heart.
“I love what I'm doing; it's a calling on my life, and I know that God is the one that called me,” said Menzies. “I love the people of God, I love studying, and I love being able to minister to the people of God.”
Looking back, Menzies now believes her path to ministry was a natural extension of her passion for helping, healing and nurturing those around her.
Educated to heal, called to lead
Carolyn Russell, Menzies’ mother, believed her daughter’s calling had been clear from the very beginning. Throughout Menzies’ childhood, her mother witnessed her natural connection with others, her ease in teaching and her love for people.
“I know what she would do her best to do: make disciples for Christ, and for sure she's going to preach the word, the true word,” said Russell. “She loves our people, and she would do her very best for anybody.”
Menzies attended Holy Redeemer Elementary and Archbishop Curley High School before continuing her education at Bethune-Cookman University, Barry University, and ATI Technical School. She found her calling in respiratory therapy, a field that allowed her to merge her compassion for others with her skills in healing.
She began her medical career as a nurse’s assistant and went on to become a certified respiratory therapist. Over the past 28 years, she’s worked her way up to director-level positions, including leadership in pediatric units. Even in the hospital setting, she views her job as a ministry, often praying for her patients.
Today, she continues to work overnight shifts of 12 to 16 hours, all while devoting time to her church family. Despite the demands on her schedule, she still carves out space for spiritual discipline.
“God still allows me to find the time to get in his word, to pray for the people, and to keep moving, and I’m grateful,” said Menzies.
Eventually, she hopes that her strides in ministry will allow her to move out of the corporate world and fully dedicate her time to the church.
A wide-reaching impact
The congregation shares a close relationship with Pastor Menzies, who has always instilled the idea of the church as one big family. She believes this allows for the congregation to feel comfortable in sharing their grievances and lean on each other for support. She also wants to ensure that all members of the congregation feel loved, cared for and supported.
“This is what I want them to gravitate to, knowing that they have not only me but family,” said Menzies. “If we know that we are family, then when God sends people through those doors to join with us, they will join into a family.”
Allison Fulton Taylor, a member of the congregation of 18 years, has long admired Menzies’ work ethic, dedication and passion towards the church. It’s why she eventually became the new pastor’s mentee.
“She’s doing God’s work,” said Taylor. “She knows you by name, she’d be at your bedside at the hospital, and she prays for my children and my mother — those things that you would want a church mother to do.”
Over the years, Pastor Menzies has preached at several churches throughout Miami, including Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church, Millrock Holy Missionary Baptist Church, Soul Saving Missionary Baptist Church, and Salem Missionary Baptist Church. These experiences have broadened her ministry and allowed her the honor of touching the hearts of multiple congregations.
The future of the church
With Menzies at the forefront, Union Grove is positioned for a new era of growth and revitalization. Menzies hopes to expand the church’s ministry by implementing more outreach programs.
She also looks forward to a brighter future for the members of the church, wishing for their success and the implementation of God’s word in their lives. Eventually Menzies plans to incorporate the idea of a ministry within a ministry, through which the congregation is led to help each other and the surrounding community.
“This is what we all are for. All of us have a ministry in us, and we’re supposed to be helping God’s people,” said Menzies.
Union Grove Church has served as a place of worship in the community since it was founded in November of 1957, with 11 men leading religious services throughout its more than 60-year history. While appointing a woman as pastor felt unprecedented for the church, for Pastor Menzies, this moment was long in the making.
A childhood in Union Grove
Menzies was born and raised in Miami as an only child. She began attending the Union Grove church with her uncle and aunt in 1977, when she was just 7 years old. Upon her first visit, she instantly felt a spiritual connection that would only deepen over time.
Menzies continued to attend the services regularly, her devotion eventually inspiring her parents to join the congregation as well. Her father, Eugene Frazier, went on to serve as the chairman of trustees, while several of her uncles became deacons. Her cousins and aunt were also actively involved in church life. Before she knew it, Union Grove didn’t just feel like a church; it felt like home.
Over the years Menzies has served in several roles within the church, including as an usher and a member of the youth choir, which she joined around the age of 8. Her captivating voice quickly stood out.
“I started singing, and when I realized God had given me a voice, I kept going forth,” said Menzies. “And as time grew, God would put more ministry in me. He would put more revelation of the word in my spirit so that I would know what to say.”
Encouraged by the congregation, Menzies was soon guided by the deacons to lead the church in hymns and participate in praise and worship. With their support, the young girl soon grew into a confident worship leader. She eventually became the lead of the choir, even writing original holiday plays for the church to perform. From then on, Menzies trusted in her abilities to guide and uplift others.
Accepting her ministry
Since those early days, Menzies’ journey through ministry has been a steady progression. In 1993 she was ordained as a missionary, then in 2014 she was ordained as an evangelist, and most recently, in 2025, she was ordained as a reverend. Menzies has served as a leader within the church since July of 2024, but it was only last Sunday that she was officially appointed as the church's first female pastor, marking a historic milestone.
“I never knew God would be putting me in this place, even though I've been ministering for a long time, but to be the leader? That’s another level,” said Menzies.
The installation service was deeply meaningful, centered around the theme “She’s walking in her purpose, on purpose.” Menzies felt overwhelming support from the community, which filled the church building in support of her installation.
She began her acceptance speech by stating, “Who would’ve known?” As a young girl, she never imagined that one day she’d lead the church that captivated her heart.
“I love what I'm doing; it's a calling on my life, and I know that God is the one that called me,” said Menzies. “I love the people of God, I love studying, and I love being able to minister to the people of God.”
Looking back, Menzies now believes her path to ministry was a natural extension of her passion for helping, healing and nurturing those around her.
Educated to heal, called to lead
Carolyn Russell, Menzies’ mother, believed her daughter’s calling had been clear from the very beginning. Throughout Menzies’ childhood, her mother witnessed her natural connection with others, her ease in teaching and her love for people.
“I know what she would do her best to do: make disciples for Christ, and for sure she's going to preach the word, the true word,” said Russell. “She loves our people, and she would do her very best for anybody.”
Menzies attended Holy Redeemer Elementary and Archbishop Curley High School before continuing her education at Bethune-Cookman University, Barry University, and ATI Technical School. She found her calling in respiratory therapy, a field that allowed her to merge her compassion for others with her skills in healing.
She began her medical career as a nurse’s assistant and went on to become a certified respiratory therapist. Over the past 28 years, she’s worked her way up to director-level positions, including leadership in pediatric units. Even in the hospital setting, she views her job as a ministry, often praying for her patients.
Today, she continues to work overnight shifts of 12 to 16 hours, all while devoting time to her church family. Despite the demands on her schedule, she still carves out space for spiritual discipline.
“God still allows me to find the time to get in his word, to pray for the people, and to keep moving, and I’m grateful,” said Menzies.
Eventually, she hopes that her strides in ministry will allow her to move out of the corporate world and fully dedicate her time to the church.
A wide-reaching impact
The congregation shares a close relationship with Pastor Menzies, who has always instilled the idea of the church as one big family. She believes this allows for the congregation to feel comfortable in sharing their grievances and lean on each other for support. She also wants to ensure that all members of the congregation feel loved, cared for and supported.
“This is what I want them to gravitate to, knowing that they have not only me but family,” said Menzies. “If we know that we are family, then when God sends people through those doors to join with us, they will join into a family.”
Allison Fulton Taylor, a member of the congregation of 18 years, has long admired Menzies’ work ethic, dedication and passion towards the church. It’s why she eventually became the new pastor’s mentee.
“She’s doing God’s work,” said Taylor. “She knows you by name, she’d be at your bedside at the hospital, and she prays for my children and my mother — those things that you would want a church mother to do.”
Over the years, Pastor Menzies has preached at several churches throughout Miami, including Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church, Millrock Holy Missionary Baptist Church, Soul Saving Missionary Baptist Church, and Salem Missionary Baptist Church. These experiences have broadened her ministry and allowed her the honor of touching the hearts of multiple congregations.
The future of the church
With Menzies at the forefront, Union Grove is positioned for a new era of growth and revitalization. Menzies hopes to expand the church’s ministry by implementing more outreach programs.
She also looks forward to a brighter future for the members of the church, wishing for their success and the implementation of God’s word in their lives. Eventually Menzies plans to incorporate the idea of a ministry within a ministry, through which the congregation is led to help each other and the surrounding community.
“This is what we all are for. All of us have a ministry in us, and we’re supposed to be helping God’s people,” said Menzies.