OUR CHURCH

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In October 1937, the year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church 5th Ward was organized in the home of Rev. Elmore Simpson and wife, Sis. Fannie Simpson, 1918 Yates Street in the Fifth Ward section of Houston, Texas.  Rev. Morris Goodman was elected as pastor and twenty-six loyal and faithful members, Bro. Forest Perry, Bro. Tom Jones, Bro. Tom Haverly, Bro. Ed Perry, Bro. A. D. Perry, Bro. Will Lewis, Bro. S. H. Roberson, Bro. Scott Simpson, Bro. Bailey, Sis. Fannie Simpson, Sis. Marjorie Perry, Sis. Fodie Perry, Sis. Alberta Harris, Sis. Lizzie Hooper, Sis. Josie Bailey, Sis. Mary Houston, Sis. Mable Jennings, Sis. Katie Wynn, Sis. Rosie Jones, Sis. Georgia Jones, Sis. Dora Halley, Sis. Roxie Johnson, Sis. Annie Perry, Sis. Amelia Washington, Sis. Leola Lewis and Sis. Sina Harris - founded our church.  They have all been called from this earthly toil to their home in glory with our Lord and Savior.

Rev. A.J. Kemp was conducting Religious Service in the cafeteria of Charles Atherton Elementary School at 2011 Solo Street. Pastor Goodman and the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church 5th Ward joined in with them and here the Spirit of Co-operation, fellowship, love and understanding was carried out with the two God-called Ministers and their congregations. We were engaged in Sunday School, Morning Worship, Training Union, Evening Worship and special programs. We did not have the use of the cafeteria during the week, therefore our mid-week prayer services were held in the home of Rev. and Sis. Elmore Simpson. We met there each Wednesday night to pray, sing and study God’s Words together with Pastor Goodman teaching.

We as Christians believed that we should always pray and not faint. This small, but sincere group realized that the prayers of the righteous availeth much. So within a few months a piece of property was located and purchased on the corner of Waco and Hershe streets.

We believed as Paul did when he wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”.

Eleven months after purchasing the property we were blessed to go into our church home with the continued blessing of Our Savior Jesus Christ.

In the year of 1941, Rev. Goodman resigned and we were without a visible head, but God kept an all-seeing eye on us. Bro. S.H. Roberson, chairman of the Deacon Board, did a splendid job in keeping the members together and urged us to continue to pray and have faith in God, entreating Him to send us a pastor.

God moved in a mysterious way. Rev. Kemp and his congregation came in to worship with us and again these two congregations worked together setting an example of Christian fellowship and love.

Under the leadership of Rev. Kemp, church offices were held by Bro. S. H. Roberson as Superintendent of the Sunday School and Training Union, and Chairman of the Deacon Board and Brotherhood. Bro. Forest Perry served as the Church Treasurer, Bro. Harrison was President of the Choir and Bro. Bailey served as the Church Secretary, Sis. Lizzie was the President of the Usher Board, Sis. Marjorie Perry was President of the Mission.

On January 18, 1942, Rev. A.J. Kemp was called to the pastorage of the church. The Lord continued to bless us and some improvements were made. Rev. Kemp faithfully served us as a pastor until he was called to the Armed Forces. On January 17, 1944, he asked that he have a leave of absence and that Rev. I.S. Wright, Sr. be called to the pastorage. Under his leadership the church continued to grow.

We are mindful of one of the first Bible lessons Pastor Wright taught one Wednesday night in prayer service, “Perseverance of the Saints: Continuing in the Salvation given by God through Christ Jesus”. We are ever thankful to God for His Goodness to us.

We remained at 4321 Hershe until the church property was purchased by the City for a proposed highway, making it necessary for us to move. The move did not affect the God sent Pastor and the group of faithful and loyal brothers - we set out to relocate. After unsuccessful days of search and inquiries, Pastor Wright called a prayer meeting. We knew that when prayers were sincere and earnest, we would see the results. Not many days passed after the prayer meeting when we heard good news of two lots on the corner of Noble and Dan streets still in the Fifth Ward area of the city. We purchased the lots and rebuilt our new church home.

God continued to bless us. Now we have three lots extending from Dan to Yates and Nichols streets which we use for parking, picnics, etc., with a steel fence surrounding the property. The auditorium was re-furnished with new pulpit furniture and pews. The kitchen has been remodeled and well equipped.

Under the leadership of Pastor Wright we now operated the Deacons and Trustees, Brotherhood, three singing groups: the Junior and Senior Choir, Youth Choir and Mission Chorus. We had Mission I and Mission II, the Junior and Senior Usher Boards and the Nurses, the Pastor’s Aide, Benevolent and Educational Funds. The Improvement Fund and other worthwhile committees were established under Pastor Wright.

Also under Pastor Wright’s leadership many of our young people who started out here have gone on to achieve success in many different fields as Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Pharmacists, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Secretaries, Draftsmen, a State Representative, Social Workers, Nurses, Beauticians, Postal Workers, Electricians, Computer Operators, Real Estates Agents, Musicians, different types of Engineers, Business Management and Computer Science. At that time the Mother of the Church was the late Sis. Fannie Simpson.

Many souls were brought to Christ by candidate for baptism, Christian experience, letters and restoration and couples were united in Holy Matrimony under Pastor Wright’s administration. Several men accepted the call to the ministry: Rev. Greg Campbell, Rev. Person, Rev. Caldwell, Rev. Grace, Rev. Hardison, and they have gone on to receive their reward. 

May we repeat that we are thankful to God for his manifold blessings, his leadership, and his guidance and for the peace and love that He supplies. He gave us our Church Motto: Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. That scripture was used to close out all of our worship services.

Mt. Ararat prospered in love, growth in the Lord, wisdom and finance under the leadership of Pastor Wright for 44 years. Pastor Wright was called home to glory on June 8, 1989. Our love and respect for him will forever linger in our hearts.

During this mourning period, the church work was carried on my two of Mt. Ararat’s own sons, Rev. Jimmy Paul and Rev. Kenneth Murphy. In the year 1990, Mt. Ararat received Rev. Carl L. Green. Pastor Green’s pastorate was for a short time, but under his leadership the Lord blessed us in paying (in its entirety) for the beautification of our church.

In the interim of being without a Pastor, we prayed continuously. Then in 1992 Rev. Elvin Glenn Grant, Jr. became our Pastor, architect and builder. He inherited a church whose assets were invaluable and liabilities minimal. The congregation was hungry and thirsty for righteousness and the church was mortgage free. Under his leadership and with guidance from the Holy Spirit, Mt. Ararat continues to progress and grow in the ways of God. Pastor Grant’s vision for this church is ‘Bridging the Gap between Family, Church and Community’. Through his vision, we strive hard to build the family through this church and reaching the community by equipping God’s people to do God’s work. We are committed to this vision until all are unified in the faith and knowledge of God’s Son. 

Pastor Grant is a profound teacher of sound Biblical principles and works diligently at cultivating, motivating and empowering God’s people to faithful stewardship and kingdom building. He is a great advocate for the need of studying God’s word in a Christian’s life. That is why our Sunday Morning Worship Service and Wednesday Night Church School/Bible Study is the very heart of this church. This important area of our church helps to pump life to the other ministries and auxiliaries: Men of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (Striving in Unity with Commitment to Christ, our Eternal Sovereign Savior), Women of P.O.W.E.R (Prayer, Obedience, Wisdom, Evangelism and Righteousness), our Youth Department consisting of PAC (Participating As one in Christ) and NGD (New Generation Disciples), Music Department, Ushers and Nurses, Seasoned Saints, Hospitality and Culinary, Pastor’s Provisioners and Special Laborers. In every walk of life Pastor Grant challenges us put Christ first, to study and obey God’s word and to do all we can for others.

The name Mt. Ararat originates from scripture, Genesis 8:4. Noah’s ark came to rest on this Mountain exactly five months after the great flood began. As the waters receded, Noah, his family and the animals remained on board the ark for approximately eight months before stepping onto dry land. Because of such rich history, we believe this church is the church of new beginnings and the place of second chance for all who attend. And it is at this church one can rest from their ‘floods in life’ only to start life renewed, refreshed and regenerated.

Mt. Ararat, we must thank God for keeping us another year. To every member – we should be proud to be a beacon light in this Fifth Ward area of Houston. It is our prayer that God will continue to use us to ‘Bridge the Gap’ between family, church and community. May we be found worthy of the faith of our ancestors and eager to win new victories for righteousness sake. May we be worthy recipients of past blessings and ready helpers in the tasks that lie ahead.

We are so very fortunate and blessed to still have some of our members who have lived their entire lives with us. We would like to thank them for their perseverance. We love and pray for them daily.

Be with us Oh God, as we celebrate this day and the 78th years of Christian fellowship shared as a loving family and congregation. May your kingdom come and your will be done in splendor and perfect fellowship. Continue to guide us in the future as you have in the past – this is our prayer. Amen.