St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church was organized in August 17,
1983, under the direction of God, through the Rev. Charlie
Beale, Jr., our founding Pastor. The church held its first
worship service on September 4, 1983 at Mount View Assembly of
God Church located on Highway 90 and Columbo in Sierra Vista. At
our very first service there were thirty-five people in
attendance. At that same service, three people became members
and over the next two Sundays, fourteen more people made St.
Paul their church home.
The late Rev. Robert B. Wilson of Mount Olive Baptist Church of
Douglas, AZ formally organized St. Paul on Thanksgiving Day
1983. We shall never forget! Rev. Warren Anderson, Jr., Pastor
of the Gideon Missionary Baptist Church of Tucson and the
Southern District Moderator, installed our Pastor. The following
members were present: Mark and Zina Myer, Darlyne Perry, Hattie
Barnett, Viola Beale, Kenneth Beale, Terrance Beale, and
Michelle Beale.
We remain at Mount View until December 1987, and became
forty-five plus strong. Our prayer was that God would bless us
with a building of our own, and He did! On December 31, 1987,
(New Year’s Eve Night) we held our first service at 227 N.
Carmichael Avenue, where we now reside. Pastor Beale and his
Associate Pastor, Rev. Ceola Curley, Jr, conducted Service. The
dedication service for the new building was held in March 1988.
Over the next few months, pews, a piano and organ, hymnbooks,
bibles, and carpet were purchased. The roof was also replaced.
We were blessed with many donated items from friends and
members. One such friend was Bro. Karl Karl Ashford who donated
the neon cross that adorns our church each day and evening as it
illuminates the neighborhood. We pause to rejoice and say thank
you to the many friends who have supported St. Paul over the
years and some have even become members. Rev. Beale resigned as
Pastor in May 1990.
In August 1990, we were blessed to install Rev. Dewey Kelly as
our second Pastor. His tenure was a short four months. His
resignation was accepted in January 1991, and consequently, the
active membership roster dropped to seventeen. By faith, those
seventeenth members were determined to keep St. Paul alive and
embarked on an intense search for a Shepherd of God to lead his
people.
In February 1001, God answered our prayers and joined us together with Rev. Felix Gilbert, an associate of the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church of Tucson. After an interim period of six months he became our third Pastor and was officially installed in August 1991. St. Paul, from that point on has never been the same. Under his dynamic leadership character by his “Vision For the Mission” the membership grew from those faithful 17 to approximately 123.
In October 1991,
the liquidation of our mortgage note for our church, in the
amount of $30,000.00 was witnessed. We are the proud owners of
our building and have much to be thankful for. After much prayer
and thought, Pastor Gilbert regretfully resigned as Pastor on
July 23, 1993 to attend a Theological Seminary and pursue his
career goals in Denver, Colorado. However, prior to his
departure, he worked diligently to secure a Shepherd for our
flock before he left. After much prayer and searching, on
Saturday evening, July 24, 1993, Pastor Gilbert introduced our
new Pastor to the church and community.
Rev. Shawn L. Buckhanan of the
Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Phoenix became our fourth Pastor. He is our
first full-time Pastor and we are blessed to say we have a full-time ministry in
this community. He was installed at Buena High School on Sunday, October 24,
1993, and celebrated his First Anniversary on Sunday, 21, 1994.
Since
his coming, we have added 125 plus members of which 21 were candidates for
Baptism. Several ministries, based on the needs of the church and community have
been established to include a Male Chorus, Teen Choir, Children’s Choir, women’s
Chorus, Youth Usher Board, expanded Men’s, Women’s, Youth and children’s
Ministry, Ministers In Action, Single Ministry, Marriage Ministry, and on-going
Christian Bible Training program. The Church has undergone a physical face lift
under his leadership, to include: new exterior lighting, increased safety
standards throughout the building, new steps on the front, new steps and door in
the back, and the most recent debt-free renovations which brought about a more
spacious sanctuary with improved lighting, upstairs kitchen facility, and dining
area. A Hammond organ, children’s church chairs, and much office and church
furniture has been donated based on the needs visioned by our Pastor. The church
is now operating a full-time ministry by the grace and mercy of God.
Our constant prayer is that God will anoint our Pastor with more wisdom and knowledge as he leads us. And that we continue to be the church that God intends for us to be. Most of all may each member of St. Paul acquire a depth of spiritual growth under our new leader.