Jeff Street History

The Early Holcombe Mission (1881 - 1900)

Steve Holcombe (1835 – early 1900s) began The Holcombe Mission in 1881.  For details of this start from a reformed gambler and murderer, click here. 

After Holcombe (~1900 - 1941)

After Rev. Holcombe resigned from the Union Gospel Mission, a woman by the name of Elizabeth Cardwell took his place.  She served as director for 24 years and then passed the torch to another woman named Maude Abner, who served for seven years (their stories can be found in the book, The Story of the Union Gospel Mission 1886-1944; Mayes Printing Company, 1944).

The Long Run Years (~1941 - 1991)

After Maude Abner resigned in 1941, the Long Run Baptist Association came in and "took over” the Mission.  For more insight into the growth of the community during 50 years with the Long Run Baptist Association, click here.

Jeff St Baptist Community at Liberty (1991 - Today)

Rev. Cindy Weber, who became our Associate Pastor in 1984, was installed as Pastor in 1991.  The Long Run Baptist Association had threatened to kick us out of the building if we called a woman pastor, which they did.  After having dealt with this particular issue for four years, it was a healthy move for us to step away from the Association and from the Southern Baptist Convention.  We found our new home, which was a machine shop one block away on 800 East Liberty Street. Rev. Cindy Weber remained as pastor of this intrepid little community until her retirement in 2023

Throughout Jeff Street’s history, we’ve never been a large church - mostly averaging fewer than 80 in attendance on any given Sunday.

We’ve never been a rich church, being made up of the homeless, the mentally ill, the working poor, and – more so in these last 20 years – teachers, mental health workers, social workers, labor and justice organizers, and those working in environmental fields: sort of the seamy side of the working class.

What we have been is there.  We’ve consistently been there, on the frontlines of Louisville’s poverty issues, homeless concerns, and justice and peace issues.  What a blessed history to remember! What a future yet to tell!

Now, a new pastor arrived in June 2025 ready to join this merry band of Jesus-followers. Rev. Amy Armstrong fell in love with the people of Jeff Street as people who take God's justice VERY seriously, but do not take themselves too seriously. Her refrain remains; "Together on the Journey" Join us on the Journey!