About the First Response Center   

   Metropolitan Interdenominational Church held its first Sunday celebration on February 1, 1981.  From its inception, this congregation has attracted a broad cross-section of people cutting across all of the barriers that fragment and divide believers. This faith community is known for being inclusive, reconciling and engaged. Because the Church too often allows particular aspects of a person’s being to define them out of the circle of fellowship, we choose to emphasize the “whosoever” in John 3:16 as a mandate for inclusion. Metropolitan Interdenominational Church has been involved in HIV/AIDS ministry since its early years when one of the twelve founding members of Metropolitan died from AIDS-related complications. This event sparked the congregation’s awareness of and commitment to addressing this epidemic. The First Response Center, established in 1994 is comprised of nine ministries in critical areas of need where persons, especially African Americans, are either currently underserved or no services exist in Davidson County, Tennessee. The ministries of the FRC are: The Wellness Center (HIV/AIDS), the Dinah Project (response to sexual violence), Parents Assisting Children to Achieve (child advocacy program), Davidson County Harm Reduction Program (outreach to IDUs), MetroCan (HIV outreach prevention), Imani Coalition (HIV linked network service), MICTAN (faith-based HIV capacity building assistance), Men of Faith, Men of Color (HIV outreach to gay, bisexual men),  and the Alcohol and Drug ministry. The First Response Wellness Center is the oldest and largest ministry of the First Response Center. It evolved in response to the manner in which HIV/AIDS is devastating the African American community, knowing that a non-traditional method of identifying need and delivering service was necessary to combat the devastation. The Wellness Center operates on the premise that the African American Church as a cornerstone institution in the African American community provides the first response to persons in need or in crisis. Therefore we are committed to providing a caring and confidential environment where anyone can receive service and information.

Our Mission

Providing culturally relevant services in a safe, compassionate, non-judgmental environment that enhances the quality of life for all persons.