St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church

HISTORY OF THE ST. MATTHEW M.B. CHURCH
(PAST HISTORY & PRESENT)

According to the records, the St. Matthews Church was organized in the year 1885. The St. Matthew Church was originally a part of the Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Sardis, Ms. A group of deacons, whose names are as follows: Bro. George Turner, Bro. Colonel Barton, Bro. James Gordon, and a group of brethren and sisters withdrew membership from the Mt. Zion M.B. Church and were organized as a fellowship of Baptist believers in Christ crown as the St. Matthew M.B. Church of Christ.

Their first meeting was held in the Green Hill School building. Later the V.B.F organization built a two story frame building across the road north of the school building. For a period of time, the church held services in this building. In the meantime, the church purchased a lot north of the school building and began to build. The framework was blown down two times, and somewhere between 1890 and 1898, they decided to erect a partnership building with the masons. Under the leadership of Rev. E.W. McCoy as Pastor, and the following deacons were added to the board namely: Bro. Frank Butler, Bro. Silas Sutzer, Bro. Dallas Covington and Bro.Monroe Miller.

Following Rev. E.W. McCoy, the Rev. Sidney Williams was elected pastor and the church continued to grow in membership and spiritual strength. After Rev. Williams, the church elected Rev. C.P. Bohaman. During his pastoral, Bro. Dan Jackson, Bro. Calvin Harden and Bro. Anzy Lee were added to the deacon board. After a few years, the church decided to sell their interest to the masons and built on the lot near where the Bill Jones Filling Station stood. With Rev. Bohaman, being the architecture the church made rapid progress under his administration. When we think of his leadership we envision him as a Moses, and because of his failing health Rev. Bohaman told the church he could no longer serve as pastor. The church accepted his resignation and elected the Rev. Ed. Hall. Under his leadership, the church moved to its present location, and Bro. W.M. Toliver and Bro. Sylvester Armstead was added to the board of deacons and the church continued to grow. After Rev. Bohaman there was, Rev. Ed Hall, following Rev.Hall’s administration was Rev. G.W. Short of Memphis, TN. After a short period, the church deemed it necessary to make a change and the Rev. R.B. Fleming was elected Pastor.

Rev. Fleming was a dynamic leader and he kept the church in contact with all of the work in the district, under his leadership, the church grew spiritually, financially, and in membership. And Bro. Joshua Thomas, Bro. Willie Lee Wilson, Bro. B.G. Garden and Bro. Neil Jefferson were added to the board of deacons.
After Rev. Fleming fulfilled his ministry, Rev. L.S. Biles was elected, he was a courageous leader. Following Rev. Biles the church elected Rev. H. Jones who was a powerful preacher. Following Rev. H. Jones, the church elected Rev. E. Meads, under the Rev. Meads the church continued the district work and members were added. After Rev. Mead the church elected Rev. C.A. Dawson, after he served three years the church thought it was necessary to make a change. In 1946 Rev. R.G. Gates of Blythersville, Ark. was chosen Pastor, he was a powerful Pastor. Under his administration the Baptismal, pool was erected on the east side of the church on the lawn. Also under his leadership Bro. Jack Dunlap and Bro. Ivory Hayes was added to the deacon board. Following 8 ½ years of Rev. Gates pasturing, In 1954 Rev. B.L. Higgins of Memphis was elected. Rev. Higgins possessed a friendly disposition and was interested in making the place of worship beautiful and comfortable Following Rev. Higgins, the Rev. J.L. Lamar of Marks, MS was elected, and Bro. Major Childs was added to the deacon board, after a change deemed necessary in 1963 the church elected Rev. James E. Kelly of Memphis, Tenn. to be Pastor. He was a strong and well dressed man. The church grew in membership, under his leadership of two years and four months, being convinced that the Lord had called him to a new field of labor; his resignation was given and accepted.

On Dec. 19, 1965 Rev. Ezra Towner of Marks, MS was elected as pastor, Truly, he was a great leader; he was a man of wisdom, a leader with a vision, a powerful Gospel preacher who was determined to preach God’s word.

Under Rev. Towner administration there were many renovations that were made. The bell monument was moved from the back of the church to the front; new pews were added to the church. For a long period of time in the summer months the only means of comfort we had in the church was threw the two window a/c units. Moreover, at this time the church was without any Brethrens to follow and to assist the under Sheppard, so Rev. Towner deem it necessary to mentor and guide some of the brothers to discipleship. In addition, in 1979 Bro. Harry Dunnigan was crown deacon and added to the deacon board in the later years Bro. Lorenzo Gipson and Bro. Henry Hill were added to the board. Later the church bathrooms were installed on the front of the church, and the church entrance was moved from the southeast side of the church to its present location. The Inside baptizing pool was installed on the north end of the church, Rev. Towner were very active in the district where he served as moderator for over twenty years. He was a strong leader locally and nationally upon serving as pastor at St. Matthew for 29 years, Rev. Towner Health began to fail and he resigns as pastor, after the bricking of the church began. In 1994 for a period of time, the church was again without a leader and prayers were sent up to God, asking him to fill the shoes of the fallen Sheppard. And in March of 1995 Rev. Clifton Ward responded to Gods call, as pastor of St. Matthew M.B. Church. Rev. Ward seen that there were still work that needed to be done, so he preached his first sermon as "lord work on me". Meanwhile the church continued to grow. under Rev. Ward leadership we completed the bricking of the church, and later the church deacons deemed it necessary to give the church inside a face lift, so under the leadership of Rev. Ward new carpet was added, also a kitchen was added to the church, along with new paneling in the church, new complete central air units, and on the outside a new church sign has been erected. New ceiling fans in classrooms, the church have gone from part time to full time service, choir robes purchased, and Rev. Ward aired the first radio broadcast in the church history also in the year 2007 a new computer and copier was purchased along with a new computer room built in the church. On November 7 2010, Rev. Clifton Ward resigned as pastor. so the church went in search for a new leader, there were many that tried to answer the call, but before the search began the brothers of the church decided on asking a man of God to help assist in the search. so the Rev. James Roberson the associate pastor of Simon chapel #1 was asked to assist the church in carrying on service and guiding St. Matthew in the process. Rev. Roberson did a great job, and he was very dedicated to the church. The search went on for over 9 months meanwhile Bro. Jeffrey Dunnigan answered the call to discipleship and was put on trial; for the office of deacon, meanwhile, the church had began to grow weary in the process of the search for a pastor and finally it were agreed up on to listen to one more message from those that had applied, that’s when the Rev. Matthew R. Jackson SR. inspired the church and brought a message from God intiled “We need to pray”, his text came from Daniel 6th chapter verse 10 his message reminded the church to never cease praying because Daniel being a man of God prayed three times a day and sometimes in order to get Gods attention we must be consistent in our payer life. After listening to two more messages the church was ready to make a decision on selecting a leader so on Wed. August 17, 2011 the church selected Rev. Matthew R. Jackson SR. of Horn Lake MS as pastor of the St. Matthew M. B. Church. After much prayer and fasting we the members of the St. Matthew M. B. Church believe that God has lead us to follow the leadership of Rev. Matthew R. Jackson SR. already the churches bible study class has increased and there's a sense of togetherness in the church.

Today, The St. Matthew Church Family looks back with pride and hold precious memories of many faithful Christians soldiers who have gone on, the list is long but just look around the church today, there are still family members present today whose ancestors help paved the way for us today. We thank God for those faithful and steadfast soldiers in the church today who will forever be a part of us here at St. Matthew. We charge the members today to be faithful to God and to the church.
The Bell Monument on the front lawn speaks in silent tones; all who pass by say, a leader with a vision has passed this way