In the late 1800s, German-speaking immigrants began moving into southwest Detroit.^[3] The Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Military Street was established in 1882 to service this influx of people.^[3] The new congregation quickly swelled, and in 1890, the elders of Zion started a daughter congregation, commissioning the architectural firm of Spier & Rohns to design a wooden structure costing no more than $2000 to build.^[3] This building is the only known example of a wooden church designed by the firm.^[4]

The church was completed in 1891; a wooden parsonage was added the next year and a brick school was built in 1923.^[4] The latter two building are included in the city historical listing, while on the church is on the National and state listing.^[4]

The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church was built in 1891; the congregation used the building until 1976, when they went defunct. The building was purchased by the Motor City Missionary Baptist Church in 1978.^[2] The Motor City Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1967 by Rev. John W. Haynes and his wife Inez.^[4]

The Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church is a wooden, Carpenter Gothic chapel.^[2] It is frame construction with gables at the ends, a central tower, and vestibule in front. The original clapboard siding still clads the building,^[2] although white paint has replaced the original cream-and-gold with red-and-blue accent^[3] color scheme. Each side has five tall lancet-arched, stained-glass windows, and the eaves are trimmed with hollow curved brackets and a paneled frieze.^[2][3]

The interior is unusually well-preserved.^[2] The interior walls feature vertical board wainscoting, with the area above covered in cream painted canvas.^[4] The church organ is located on a rear balcony.^[4]

The altar from Gethsemane is now used by Christ our Savior Lutheran Church in Livonia, Michigan.