|
St, Paul Missionary Baptist Church was organized in August 17, 1983,
under the direction of God, through the Rev. Charlie Beale, Jr., our
founding Pastor. The church held its first worship service on September
4, 1983 at Mount View Assembly of God Church located on Highway 90 and
Columbo in Sierra Vista. At our very first service there were
thirty-five people in attendance. At that same service, three people
became members and over the next two Sundays, fourteen more people made
St. Paul their church home.
The late Rev. Robert B. Wilson of Mount Olive Baptist Church of Douglas,
AZ formally organized St. Paul on Thanksgiving Day 1983. We shall never
forget! Rev. Warren Anderson, Jr., Pastor of the Gideon Missionary
Baptist Church of Tucson and the Southern District Moderator, installed
our Pastor. The following members were present: Mark and Zina Myer,
Darlyne Perry, Hattie Barnett, Viola Beale, Kenneth Beale, Terrance
Beale, and Michelle Beale.
We remain at Mount View until December 1987, and became forty-five plus
strong. Our prayer was that God would bless us with a building of our
own, and He did! On December 31, 1987, (New Year’s Eve Night) we held
our first service at 227 N. Carmichael Avenue, where we now reside.
Pastor Beale and his Associate Pastor, Rev. Ceola Curley, Jr, conducted
Service. The dedication service for the new building was held in March
1988.
Over the next few months, pews, a piano and organ, hymnbooks, bibles,
and carpet were purchased. The roof was also replaced. We were blessed
with many donated items from friends and members. One such friend was
Bro. Karl Karl Ashford who donated the neon cross that adorns our church
each day and evening as it illuminates the neighborhood. We pause to
rejoice and say thank you to the many friends who have supported St.
Paul over the years and some have even become members. Rev. Beale
resigned as Pastor in May 1990.
In August 1990, we were blessed to install Rev. Dewey Kelly as our
second Pastor. His tenure was a short four months. His resignation was
accepted in January 1991, and consequently, the active membership roster
dropped to seventeen. By faith, those seventeenth members were
determined to keep St. Paul alive and embarked on an intense search for
a Shepherd of God to lead his people.
In February 1001, God answered our prayers and joined us together with
Rev. Felix Gilbert, an associate of the Trinity Missionary Baptist
Church of Tucson. After an interim period of six months he became our
third Pastor and was officially installed in August 1991. St. Paul, from
that point on has never been the same. Under his dynamic leadership
character by his “Vision For the Mission” the membership grew from those
faithful 17 to approximately 123.
In October 1991, the liquidation of our mortgage note for our church, in
the amount of $30,000.00 was witnessed. We are the proud owners of our
building and have much to be thankful for. After much prayer and
thought, Pastor Gilbert regretfully resigned as Pastor on July 23, 1993
to attend a Theological Seminary and pursue his career goals in Denver,
Colorado. However, prior to his departure, he worked diligently to
secure a Shepherd for our flock before he left. After much prayer and
searching, on Saturday evening, July 24, 1993, Pastor Gilbert introduced
our new Pastor to the church and community.
Rev. Shawn L. Buckhanan of the Faith Missionary Baptist Church of
Phoenix became our fourth Pastor. He is our first full-time Pastor and
we are blessed to say we have a full-time ministry in this community. He
was installed at Buena High School on Sunday, October 24, 1993, and
celebrated his First Anniversary on Sunday, 21, 1994.
Since his coming, we have added 125 plus members of which 21 were
candidates for Baptism. Several ministries, based on the needs of the
church and community have been established to include a Male Chorus,
Teen Choir, Children’s Choir, women’s Chorus, Youth Usher Board,
expanded Men’s, Women’s, Youth and children’s Ministry, Ministers In
Action, Single Ministry, Marriage Ministry, and on-going Christian Bible
Training program. The Church has undergone a physical face lift under
his leadership, to include: new exterior lighting, increased safety
standards throughout the building, new steps on the front, new steps and
door in the back, and the most recent debt-free renovations which
brought about a more spacious sanctuary with improved lighting, upstairs
kitchen facility, and dining area. A Hammond organ, children’s church
chairs, and much office and church furniture has been donated based on
the needs visioned by our Pastor. The church is now operating a
full-time ministry by the grace and mercy of God.
Our constant prayer is that God will anoint our Pastor with more wisdom
and knowledge as he leads us. And that we continue to be the church that
God intends for us to be. Most of all may each member of St. Paul
acquire a depth of spiritual growth under our new leader
|