Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church
8775 Flagship Dr.
Houston, TX 77029
P: 713-674-4435
F: 713-674-7959

 

A Church With A Fellowship...

And A Pastor With A Message

On August 12, 1951, twelve people met in the beauty shop in the Pleasantville Shopping Center with Rev. S. J. Johnson presiding. A prayer band was organized and ultimately the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church came into being. The charter members were: Rev. and Sis. Shepherd J. Johnson, Sis. Mattie Davis, Bro. Daniel Franklin, Bro. Willie Randall, Bro. Bernie Robertson, Sis. Estella Sagers, Sis. Alma White, Sis. Bertha White, Sis. Cora White, Bro. Grant White, and Bro. Reuben White.


On January 22, 1952, this organized group purchased four lots at 1621 Pleasantville Drive, Houston, Texas for the sum of $3,500.00. They paid $400.00 down and completed the balance in monthly payments of $200.00. The groundbreaking service was held on March 30, 1952, with Rev. A. A. Lucas, presiding. In August 1952, the first service was held at the new site although the structure was not completed. The final payment on this note was made in 1958.

The original officers of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church were Bro. Grant White, Superintendent of the Sunday School, Sis. Estella Sagers, President of the Mission, Sis. Bertha White, President of the Choir, Sis. Mattie Davis, President of the Usher Board, Bro. Grant White, Chairman of the Deacon Board, and Rev. S. J. Johnson, Pastor. Rev. Johnson’s tenure as Pastor was from August 1951 to February 1953. Rev. J. C. Wilson succeeded him and served as Pastor until June 1954. Rev. H. A. Ratcliff, Jr., was elected the third Pastor of Gethsemane on September 20, 1954. Under his leadership, the church continued to grow and prosper. On August 12, 1962, a new edifice for Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church located at 1621 Pleasantville Drive was dedicated. Rev. Ratcliff’s pastorage ended in October 1963.

The Gethsemane family, never giving up hope, worked together in a unified spirit, seeking and serving faithfully as we sought God’s guidance prayerfully searching for another spiritual leader. In His infinite wisdom, God joined together the Rev. Hayward Edward Joseph Wiggins and the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church family on April 13, 1964.

Under the inspired leadership of Pastor Wiggins, the membership grew tremendously. The church was blessed spiritually and financially, thus realizing unprecedented growth during the 33 years that Rev. Wiggins served with valor and uncommon distinction as our Pastor. Those serving on the Board of Deacons at the time of Rev. Wiggins’ arrival were: Brothers Murphy Blow, Raymond Gayle, Louis Hampton, Leon Myres, Marvin Pearson, Talmadge Sharpe, Sr., Donnie Shephard, Louis Washington, Reuben White and Stafford White, Sr. Trustees at that time were: Brothers Carl Brooks, John Carter, Jr., George W. Gibson, Edward Johnson, Edward Randle, Fred Sweeney, D. W. Thomas and Willie Watson.

Deacons ordained by Rev. Wiggins were: Brothers Leo Aaron, John Abraham, T. J. Anderson, Van Blueitt, Moses Bolden, Herndon Bradford, Lonzo Brewer, Jr., Charles Brooks, James Campbell, Hisikies Carey, John Chachere, Russell Chachere, Floyd Clark, Frank Crawford, Judson Demby, Leo Denmond, Jr., Lucius Dixon, Emmitt Drumgoole, Jeffrey Ellis, Willie Evans, Charles Ferguson, Samuel Golden, George Hall, Livingston Hampton, Napoleon Harlan, Willie Harris, Henry Howard, Mossie Hunt, Leroy Hunter, Albert Jackson, Arthur Jackson, William Jones, John Lattin, O. L. Lattin, Austin McNack, William McGregor, Roy McGruder, Eddie Means, Joel Merritt, Sr., Levert Mills, Leroy Mitchell, James Neal, William Parker, James Page, L. J. Peters, Johnnie Polk, Hurley Ratcliff, Willie Thornton, Sr., Robert Strather, Fredrick Thomas, Sr., Robert Thompson, Leon Watson, Horace White and Tyrone Williams. Trustees added under Rev. Wiggins were: Brothers P. N. Bailey, Anthony Bates, W. D. Cooper, Alton Harrison, Edward Jackson, Henry Lewis, Algia McWashington, Thomas Roquemore, Cleophus Sharpe and Ben Winslow.


Ministers licensed and ordained under Rev. Wiggins were: Reverends Richard Bradley, James Brooks, A. Calloway, Henry Carey, III, Frank Chaney, Michael Currie, Heaward Davis, Sr., Michael Fowler, Ronald Gaston, Earnest Hines, James Jones, John Robinson, Hilton Sams, Lorenzo Scott, Sylvester Scott, Amos Spencer, David Walker and Hayward R. Wiggins.


The church note of $80,000.00 was liquidated in October 1969, three years ahead of schedule. The Educational Building and renovations to the existing structure were dedicated in May 1972. The basic church program and ministries were expanded and enhanced during Rev. Wiggins’ tenure. They included the establishment of the following: Tutorial-After School Learning/Computer Training Program, development of the Junior Women’s Auxiliary, Girls in Action, Educational Board, Brotherhood, Culinary Committee, Youth Department, Drill Team, the Hayward Wiggins Golf Classic, Annual Educational Board Tea, the Gethsemane Christian Learning Center, Summer Enrichment Program, Career/Scholarship Day, Martha Circle, Young Women’s Auxiliary, Women’s Intermediate Auxiliary, Jail Ministry, Food and Clothing Ministry, Sunday Nursery Ministry, Evangelism Outreach, Hospitality Ministry, and the Men’s and Boys’ Conference. Two Sunday services were instituted, 7:00 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. The church adopted the motto “A Church with a Fellowship and A Pastor with a Message.” We became active affiliates of the Independent Missionary Baptist General Association of Texas, Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas and the National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated. The church was moving upward and onward!

The Lord gave Pastor Wiggins a vision that would result in the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church moving from 1621 Pleasantville Drive to its present location at 8775 Flagship Drive, Houston, Texas. In 1985, the church purchased property at Loop 610 and Flagship Drive; the initial step in building the current edifice that includes a sanctuary, a family-life center/gym, an educational building, and the Gethsemane Christian Learning Center. The purchase price for the property was $690,000.00. The Faust Distributing Company, Ken and Linda Lay, Conn’s Appliances, Inc. and Christmas Furniture Company helped in making our vision a reality through their generous donations. The second phase of the vision was to have constructed a tower for senior citizens.

A most significant day in the historical annals of our church was Sunday, May 17, 1996, which was the Groundbreaking Services at 8775 Flagship. What a time! What a time! What a time! The vision had taken another giant step toward reality. Following the groundbreaking ceremonies, a delicious dinner was served on the site. The entire membership worked on numerous committees and had input into the design, the building and the furnishing of our new church. The contractors began work September 1996 and we watched our new church home rise up before our very eyes.


The Gethsemane Church family faced a critical juncture in its illustrious history with the passing of our beloved Pastor of 33 years, Rev. Hayward Edward Joseph Wiggins, on Friday, August 8, 1997. We mourned for a season and then resumed the work of making the “vision a reality.” Gethsemane has a proud legacy, great tradition, and heritage. We stood on God’s word and Pastor Wiggins’ memory and prepared to enter the next chapter in our church’s history.


Another milestone in Gethsemane’s history was Sunday, October 19, 1997. We celebrated the dedication of our new building at 8775 Flagship Drive. This was also the 46th Church Anniversary. The vision was now a reality!


The journey continued but we needed a leader. The Lord heard our cry. On April 11, 1998, Rev. Dennis Carl Jones of Shreveport, Louisiana was elected the 5th Pastor of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. His first sermon at Gethsemane was May 2, 1998 and his investiture service was on June 14, 1998. What a day of rejoicing in the Lord. The ministerial staff upon Pastor Jones’ arrival included: Reverends Amos Spencer, Henry Carey, III, Michael Currie, Heaward Davis, Sr., Wilbert Edwards, Earnest Hines, James Jones, Sylvester Scott, Sammy Siverand, David Walker and Hayward R. Wiggins. Ministers licensed under Pastor Jones are: Reverends Paul Ervan, Morris George, Dale Gulley, Henry Hollis, Jr., Stacy Lindsey, Reginald Murray, Otis Petteway, III, Courtney Shoals and Darrell Williams, Sr. The Deacon ordained under Pastor Jones is Brother Cicero Sneed, Jr.


Since the arrival of the present Pastor, Rev. Dennis C. Jones, the cornerstone for the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church was laid on July 11, 1999 and the Dr. Hayward Wiggins Multi-Purpose Center was dedicated on December 10, 1999. Under Pastor Jones’ leadership, our membership has increased to approximately 3,000 with an increased budget of $1,515,500.00. The general church program and finances are sound. Pastor Jones has a dual focus for the Church, to address the needs of the community both spiritually and physically. Highlighting these needs include: increasing attendance at Thursday Night Live Bible Study, the C.A.R.E. Ministry (Christian Assistance Relief Endeavor) which provides clothing and food to those in need and increasing participation in evangelism through the S.W.A.T. Ministry (Soul Winning Action Team) supported by five ministries including: Door-to-Door, Prayer, Homeless, Hospital, Nursing Home and Shut-In, and Prison; as well as the Joshua Generation , formerly called the MICAH Ministry (Young Adult Ministry), Can-Cer-Vive Ministry (Cancer Support Group), Cell Ministry, Deliverance Ministry (Substance Abuse Support Group), and the Couples In Christ (Marriage Ministry). Pastor Jones, with his unique foresight of oneness, combined the men and women auxiliaries into one unified purpose of service and servitude focusing on work and witnessing. The Master’s Men Ministry and the Women of Work, Worship and Witness (W.O.W.) ministries were organized.


In honor of Gethsemane’s 50th Anniversary, Pastor Jones provided inspirational leadership in this “Jubilee Celebration” emphasizing the twelve tribes of Israel. What an exciting time at Gethsemane! We have entered the new millennium being led by Pastor Jones with prayer, preparation, persistence and participation. The fellowship surrounding the twelve tribes of Israel led Pastor Jones to organize a Cell Ministry on June 30, 2002. This ministry, through the tribes, will meet the needs of the church family through sharing the word of God, prayer, visitation, and finance during times of bereavement, illness, and other special needs.


God, in His own will, purpose and time, gave the vision of expansion to our pastor and once again the Gethsemane Family wrote another chapter in the history of the church. This chapter contained the purchase of 3.3 acres of land adjacent to the present church edifice. On October 10, 2004, a note burning and dedication ceremony was held in conjunction with Homecoming Services, “A Day of Faith, Fellowship and Fun”. Guided by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, history continued to be written that would serve as a legacy for those who follow.

In September 2005, Pastor Jones and the church family wrote another page in history. The Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church became a Hurricane Relief Center. The Servants In Action Ministry provided food, clothing and shelter for more than 38 families during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. One day before the Hurricane Rita evacuation, the last family in the GMBC Relief Center was placed in their own permanent housing. “Give God the Glory!”

The Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church continued to press toward the mark of advancement in 2006 with the introduction of the first annual Rev. Dennis C. Jones Scholarship Bowl-a-thon. The 2006 Bowl-a-Thon provided over $8,000 in additional funding for scholarships. Through the vision given to Pastor Jones, the advancement did not stop there. Two new ministries, the Prayer Ministry and the Singles’ Ministry were formed. The Deliverance Ministry was reformed as the Helping Others Prosper Emotionally Ministry (H.O.P.E. Ministry).


As Gethsemane continued in God’s will, Pastor Jones announced the Victory Campaign for the church at our Vision Night 2007. The purpose of the Victory Campaign was to extinguish the Church note in 2009 with a Note Burning Celebration to follow.


On April 27, 2008, Gethsemane celebrated 10 years of our Pastor laboring in the word and preparing the table for us. In addition, we celebrated our Pastor’s 30th year of preaching God’s uncompromising Gospel.


Gethsemane experienced the effects of Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008. The inconveniences experienced on that day brought us closer to God. Many were displaced for the following Sunday, however, on September 21, the congregation assembled in front of the church and worshipped God for His goodness and His mercy in sparing us from what could have been a catastrophic disaster. Pastor Jones began an appropriate series of sermons entitled “Road to Recovery”.


Pastor Jones’ vision of the Victory Campaign became a reality; the Note Burning Ceremony was celebrated on March 8, 2009. Also, Pastor Jones moved forward with moving the edifice to a new level by acquiring a loan to start the Sanctuary Upgrade Project.

Embracing Pastor Jones’ vision of moving forward in the Spirit of Excellence and God’s Providential Power, the Sanctuary Upgrade Project began in October 2009. Over the following nine months, Sunday Worship and Bible study were conducted in the Dr. Hayward Wiggins Multi-Purpose Center. This experience provided the membership with an opportunity to share a closer fellowship that enhanced a spiritual renewal of relationships.

Constructtion blueprints brought about major remodeling, structural changes and upgrades to the sanctuary. The upgrades included the expansion of the pulpit area, new configuration of the choir loft and balcony, new pews, flooring, lighting, a sound system with large projection screens, refurbished restrooms, a new ornate jewel chandelier and the new marketing room “The Garden”, that has relocated to the front foyer.

This phase of Gethsemane’s history concluded with Pastor Jones leading the membership in a celebration procession into the upgraded sanctuary. As the beginning of the project started with fasting and prayer, it was only fitting to end in fasting, prayer and praise to give God the glory for all He has done in the life of Gethsemane. 


We will continue to be that beacon that emanates from Loop 610 and Flagship Drive in Houston, Texas. Gethsemane continues to be “A Church with a Fellowship and A Pastor with a Message.”