Greater St. Matthew Church

Charter members included: Rev. Gusta Booker, Jr., Sis. Theola Booker, Ronnie Booker I, Sis. Maud Booker Cooper, Sis. Monica Booker, Sis. Hermalynda Booker, Sis. Carmen Booker, Bro. Sylvester Duckens, Sis. Essie Duckens, Deacon Raymon Johnson Sr., Sis Marsha Johnson, Bro. Raymon Johnson, Jr., Achey Johnson and Sis. Martha B. Johnson. Rev. S. H. Weaver presided.

The congregation met and held their second services in a house at 5301 Northridge where they continued to meet for about six months. Pastor Booker and the congregation then moved to Jutland St. Baptist Church were Rev. Don Primm was pastor, there they continued to hold services for another six months. After a year, the congregation moved to a new edifice, where Rev. Booker baptized twenty-two new converts.

In 1971, the Greater St. Matthew membership continued to grow until it became necessary to double the size of the sanctuary. God continued to bless this church both spiritually and numerically and in 1981 it became necessary to enlarge the current structure. They then relocated the restrooms to make the sanctuary bigger, constructed a lobby in the front of the building; placed new pews in the back of the church and installed pews in the choir area. Two houses on Jutland St. were connected to make an Educational building that then connected to the main sanctuary. Landscaping begun on the exterior grounds with flowers and shrubbery. A parking lot on Kenilwood was purchased and the balance paid off in 1984. Existing building were remodeled to accommodate approximately twenty classrooms.

With Pastor Booker being blessed with the knowledge of the needs of the congregation and community, many church ministries grew to accommodate those needs. These ministries include: Children's Church, which encompasses God's teaching and training for ages thirteen and under, during 10:30 a.m. worship service. Greater St. Matthew Outreach Ministry, that Includes Television Ministries on Channel 39 and in Austin, Texas. Our Deaf Ministry includes over twenty members. Our Bus Ministry supports the transportation needs of the Deaf Ministry as well.

God's love is also spread through the Prison Ministry and our Meals-On-Wheels Ministry, which provides meals everyday for our Senior Citizens. Grocery items are distributed daily through our Food and Clothing Ministry - "The Food Pantry".

Our Singles and Marriage Ministries impresses Gods way for His peoples everyday living along with our Evangelism Ministry on Sunday Mornings. The youth of this church community are always remembered by Pastor Booker, through activities like the Young Ambassadors for Christ, Junior Brotherhood, The Save Our Sons Mentoring Program, Acteens and the Greater St. Matthew Christian Steppers Drill Team; Through the Music Ministry with choirs like the Angelic Voices, Heavenly Voices and Little Angels; Through the Young Adult and Junior Ushers as well as through sports activities like basketball and softball teams.

Community involvement like the SPARK School Park Program initiated to erect new parks facilities at elementary schools. Also the citywide Love Our Kids Program that links at-risk children with volunteers of which Greater St. Matthew is actively involved. We are now worshipping in our new edifice that seats 1,300. A gymnasium and a Christian School up to the fifth grade are planned for the near future.