History | SMMBC

Brief Church History

For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all

received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor,

and gift heaped upon gift].

John 1:16 (AMP)

The historic journey began on the Sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord and Savior, Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-Seven,

when the idea of organizing the St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church was conceived in the mind of Rev. Walter Emmett Jones.

The place where the founding patriarchs and matriarchs initially assembled was merely a house that was moved to a lot facing Stalcup Road. It was in dire need of repairs and a few minor repairs were done. In spite of the repairs that were made, the building still was

inapt for worship.

With a desire to press forward Pastor Jones and the charter members purchased another building south of the first structure.

This was a blessing from the initial structure, but there were still inadequacies. During inclement weather adjustments had to be

made in an effort to protect congregants from the weather. Seven years later in December 1964, the Lord blessed us with still another building which was on the same lot but it faced Berry Street. After moving into our new sanctuary there were many modernizations needed. There was no natural gas in the vicinity. The Lord moved upon a neighboring family to loan us a butane gas tank.

In 1968, the Lord saw fit to call our leader from labor to reward. Pastor Walter Emmett Jones ceased from life mortal to

immortality on January 13, 1968 and was laid to rest January 20, 1968. The congregation was grief stricken by our lost, but we were

blessed with another able man of God to continue the work Pastor Jones initiated. Looking to the future a new light dawned on the

horizon for the church as Rev. Troy William Pope accepted the call to pastor on February 10, 1968. Under his leadership with the

leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit and the support and cooperation of the membership the church moved onward.

Our advanced focus and next undertaking were to build a new sanctuary and renovate the old facility for an educational

building. Pastor Pope was divinely inspired with the vision for our present edifice. Amid doubt, criticism and adversity, Pastor Pope

with God’s guardianship and the collaboration of visionary members and networks of friends and laborers we triumphed.

March 24, 1985, we entered into the new sanctuary DEBT FREE, with the support of those who labored and made our founder’s

dream an actuality and our leader’s aspiration a reality.

After that time other projects, tasks and ministries ensued.

1991 - Sound system was installed in the fellowship hall, a commercial stove and commercial vent-a-hood were installed, fellowship hall was

equipped with a cooling & heating system, two 15-passenger vans were purchased

1992 - New flooring installed in the fellowship hall

1993 - We were blessed to have an annual out-of-state fellowship with Greater True Light MBC and Ambassadors For Christ MBC both located

in Los Angeles, CA. until 2004.

1994 - Pastor Pope was the speaker for the Foreign Mission Board during the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America which

convened in Dallas, Texas

1995 - Payments were completed for both passenger vans

1998 - Youth Bible Study was initiated

1999 - Outreach Ministry and Evangelistic Team was organized

2000 - Liturgical Dance Ministry commenced

2001 - Youth Worship & Praise Leaders for Christ originated

2002-2010 - Lighting fixtures in the hallway and the foyer were upgraded, ladies’ lavatory was renovated, Women’s Conference instituted

2010 - Present our Women’s Ministry with the support of the membership have provided food to the Tarrant County Food Bank, provided

clothing and household items to the Women’s Shelter, donated blankets and toiletries to the Presbyterian Night Shelter and meals to the

Union Gospel Mission.

2016 - A new church sign was purchased

2017 - Fellowship hall was renovated and re-equipped

2018 - New exterior doors installed, new security system installed, wrought-iron fence purchased

2019 - Pastor T.W. Pope retires after fifty years of service

2019 - Sanctuary renovated and updated

2020 - February 16, Dr. Lester E. Singleton received the call to pastorage and formally accepted the call on February 20th.

February 23, Pastor Emeritus T.W. Pope transitioned from life mortal to life immortal and was laid to rest on March 7, 2020