PONTIAC HISTORY--INTERESTING TIDBIT OF HISTORY--FROM ANOTHER FB GROUP--YOU KNOW YOU FROM PONTIAC WHEN...(GROUP) Pontiacs first Negro Baptist Church was started in November 1917 with the aid of a white congregation named Memorial Baptist Church at South Saginaw and Prospect streets in Pontiac. The Rev. Gulley, whose first name has unfortunately slipped from our records, was Gods man for the starving Negro Christians in this city. One of the earliest Sunday school gatherings at TMBC. On a chilly November Sunday afternoon, a perfect day for a warm fellowship with other Christians, the Rev. Gulley and several others came together to worship our Lord and Savior. Others present included: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Noble, Mr. John R. Wilson, Mrs. Lula Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Garling, Mrs. Mattie Turner and Miss S. Octavia Robinson. The services were held at 3 p.m. Sundays, a time when the white congregation wasnt using the building. It didnt take long for the small Negro congregation to realize the need to start saving for its own house of worship and during its first rally, $9.50 was collected. Wanting to obey Gods word, $5.00 from that rally was given to Rev. Gulley and $4.50 was deposited in a local bank for a future church site. The records and monies were kept by Church Clerk Ernest Noble and Church treasurer John F. Wilson. Before the end of December 1917, however, the doors of Memorial Baptist Church were closed to the Negro Christians because of a fuel shortage. A proclamation was issued by the fuel administrator, a Mr. Prudden, demanding that all Michigan churches and theaters limit their fuel use to 24 hours per week so fuel could be conserved in the state. Memorial Baptist Church members wanted to use all 24 hours allotted them for their services and therefore the Negro congregation was forced to discontinue worship services there and for a while disbanded. Charter Members Rev. Ford B. Reed, Organizing Pastor * Herman Binga * Frank Cheathem * William Foster * Thomas Franklin * William H. Garling * Maggie O. Hall * Fannie Jackson * Willie Jackson * John Leonard * Charles W. Long * Ernest Long * Mary Long * Clara Noble * Ernest Noble * Alice Reed * Ella Smith * Sadie G. William * John F. Wilson Important Events 1918 — Church organized, receives charter in October 1929 — Church completes basement Sanctuary for worship services. 1944 — Church moves into finished Sanctuary built above basement. 1950-1958 Rev. Richard H. Dixon, Jr. leads Trinity to new heights; the church experiences spiritual and congregational growth stepping unto the national scene with visits by such luminaries as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1958. 1975-2005 Dr. Robert E. Baily I Pastors Trinity Church through a period of unprecedented growth, establishing Trinity Church as a nationally recognized resource for Christian leadership, as well as, leading in the cause of Christian Charities. 1980 — Education Facility Opened 1985 — New Sanctuary Opened June, 1988 — Trinity Child Development Center Opened September, 1991 — Trinity Christian Academy begins classes for Kindergarten and 1st Grades. September, 1992 — Trinity Church begins Black College Sunday. A tradition that has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to traditional Black Colleges and Universities. In the spirit of keeping the dream alive. 2005- 2011 — The Rev. Dr. Drew E. Marshall returns home to his birthplace; Pontiac, MI. He becomes the 17th Senior Pastor of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church 2011 – Present --- Reverend John D. Tolbert was called to service as the 18th Senior Pastor at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church on December 12, 2011. Pontiacs first Negro Baptist Church was started in November 1917 with the aid of a white congregation named Memorial Baptist Church at South Saginaw and Prospect streets in Pontiac. The Rev. Gulley, whose first name has unfortunately slipped from our records, was Gods man for the starving Negro Christians in this city. One of the earliest Sunday school gatherings at TMBC. On a chilly November Sunday afternoon, a perfect day for a warm fellowship with other Christians, the Rev. Gulley and several others came together to worship our Lord and Savior. Others present included: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Noble, Mr. John R. Wilson, Mrs. Lula Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Garling, Mrs. Mattie Turner and Miss S. Octavia Robinson. The services were held at 3 p.m. Sundays, a time when the white congregation wasnt using the building. It didnt take long for the small Negro congregation to realize the need to start saving for its own house of worship and during its first rally, $9.50 was collected. Wanting to obey Gods word, $5.00 from that rally was given to Rev. Gulley and $4.50 was deposited in a local bank for a future church site. The records and monies were kept by Church Clerk Ernest Noble and Church treasurer John F. Wilson. Before the end of December 1917, however, the doors of Memorial Baptist Church were closed to the Negro Christians because of a fuel shortage. A proclamation was issued by the fuel administrator, a Mr. Prudden, demanding that all Michigan churches and theaters limit their fuel use to 24 hours per week so fuel could be conserved in the state. Memorial Baptist Church members wanted to use all 24 hours allotted them for their services and therefore the Negro congregation was forced to discontinue worship services there and for a while disbanded. Charter Members Rev. Ford B. Reed, Organizing Pastor * Herman Binga * Frank Cheathem * William Foster * Thomas Franklin * William H. Garling * Maggie O. Hall * Fannie Jackson * Willie Jackson * John Leonard * Charles W. Long * Ernest Long * Mary Long * Clara Noble * Ernest Noble * Alice Reed * Ella Smith * Sadie G. William * John F. Wilson Important Events 1918 — Church organized, receives charter in October 1929 — Church completes basement Sanctuary for worship services. 1944 — Church moves into finished Sanctuary built above basement. 1950-1958-- Rev. Richard H. Dixon, Jr. leads Trinity to new heights; the church experiences spiritual and congregational growth stepping unto the national scene with visits by such luminaries as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1958. 1975-2005 Dr. Robert E. Baily I Pastors Trinity Church through a period of unprecedented growth, establishing Trinity Church as a nationally recognized resource for Christian leadership, as well as, leading in the cause of Christian Charities. 1980 — Education Facility Opened 1985 — New Sanctuary Opened June, 1988 — Trinity Child Development Center Opened September, 1991 — Trinity Christian Academy begins classes for Kindergarten and 1st Grades. September, 1992 — Trinity Church begins Black College Sunday. A tradition that has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to traditional Black Colleges and Universities. In the spirit of keeping the dream alive. 2005- 2011 — The Rev. Dr. Drew E. Marshall returns home to his birthplace; Pontiac, MI. He becomes the 17th Senior Pastor of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church 2011 – Present --- Reverend John D. Tolbert was called to service as the 18th Senior Pastor at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church on December 12, 2011.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:30:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015