By Faith, and by Faith only, it was the 16th of October 1975 when a group of twenty-five Christian Believers assembled in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Fernandez for the primary purpose of organizing a church hopefully under the leadership of Reverend E. A. Pleasant.  Realizing that the formation of a church is a matter of grave moment, the Reverend Pleasant postponed the idea until he consulted with God pertaining to this matter.  Reverend Pleasant stated, "God had not yet led him in that direction, therefore it would not be necessary for him to pray over the matter in order to get direction."  He encouraged the group assembled to "Wait on the Lord."  Sister Clotiel Ross then asked the question as to whether he would consider organizing the group as a Mission and instruct them in the Bible each week?  In answer to the question, the Reverend replied that didn't see any reason he could not organize a Mission.  Agreement having been reached that this new group is instituted, after a careful and prayerful consideration Reverend Pleasant accepted the challenge of instructing the group weekly in the Word of the Lord.  It was further by common consent that the group would assemble each Friday evening; not having a place of assembly, Sister Gertrude Baptiste offered her home, which was readily accepted.  Here "By Faith" the group met each Friday evening, continuing in prayer and fasting.  After much prayer and supplication, Reverend Pleasant under the compulsion of the Holy Spirit accepted the call to the pastorate of the newly formed group and offered the name "Greater New Bethel Baptist Church" on October 31, 1975.  Deacon Cleveland Baptiste was appointed Chairman of The Board of Deacons, Deacon A.D. Rainwater, Chairman of The Board of Trustees, Sister Ethel Dillon, Church Clerk, and a Finance Committee was nominated with Deacon A.D. Rainwater as its Chairman.

 

December 23, 1975, GREATER NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH held its organizational service at First Missionary Baptist Church, host Pastor R. R. Williams and Reverend M. V. Wade, Sr. of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, as Moderator of the organizational procedures.  On Sunday, December 28, 1975, our first Sunday Morning Worship Service was held at Imperial Grand Council Hall located at 7101 South Menlo Avenue, here two services were held each Lord's Day until. . . . Sunday, June 13, 1976.  Our auxiliary meetings were held in the various homes of the membership each week, and God blessed abundantly.  On Sunday, June 20, 1976, God gave to us a building formerly known as Centinela Baptist Church located at 601 East 99th Street in the beautiful City of Inglewood, for this blessing we are eternally grateful.

 

Membership: Ninety-five Chartered Members

                    Fifty-seven Candidates for Baptism

                    Hundred-Ten persons received by Christian Experience

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