In 1875, a fiery minister came to this small community and within his heart felt the need for a church. So it came to pass, Rev. Dennis Hawkins organized a church and named it “Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church,” which was erected on a plot of land called Baptist Hill located on Haden and Waugh Drive. Rev. Hawkins had a very good group of Deacons and Trustees under his leadership. Some of his very dutiful deacons and trustees were Arthur Yaoakum, Eddie Williams, Osborne Williams, Eddie Carter and Willis Williams.
The church was a small white frame building equipped with benches, kerosene lamps and a large wood burning stove. It also had a large bell, which Bro. Wyatt, a member of the congregation, would ring every Sunday for Worship service. The bell could be heard throughout the community. Mrs. Catherine Hawkins, the wife of Rev. Hawkins, was the president of the Missionary society and Mrs. Rebecca Mills was the organist for the Church.
Rev. Hawkins was pastor of Nazarene until his health began to fail in 1898. Rev. Hawkins passed away and Rev. Eddie Williams was called as pastor of the church.
The church remained on Baptist Hill for a few years. Later it moved to the location in College Court Addition (Green Pond). Houston College was also located in the first College Court Addition on San Felipe, which is now West Dallas. Mrs. Beatrice Williams Burnett, whose parents were faithful members of Nazarene, stated, “Many Houstonians did not know that our Church was a place where the first black college students worshipped on Sundays. She also stated, “The church members would make lovely quills and donate them to the college campus. I can recall seeing the students marching four abreast from the Campus to my uncle’s church on many Sunday mornings.” After Rev. Hawkins became ill and could no longer perform his duties as Pastor, he turned the duties over to Rev. Eddie Williams, by request of the church. After the death of Rev. Hawkins, Rev. Williams officially became the Pastor. Under his leadership, the Church moved to its present day location. Some of the deacons and trustees were: Charlie Graves, Odis Hawkins, Manuel Grady, Him Watkins, Henry Dickerson, Louis Cato, Sndy Davis, Dan Carmichael, Hawood Taylor, Solomon Sledge, Floyed Pendleton, Ludolph Misher, Sr., and Will Starks. Some of the faithful sisters of the Church were: Annie Dickerson, Bertha Glover, Sophronia Wiilams, Julia Cato, Ether Batieste, Ellen Graves, Savannah Grady, Mary Collins and Trula Wilkins.
A highlight during Rev. Williams pastorage was the baptizing of members in Buffalo Bayou. Members of Nazarene would march from the church through the “Tuberculosis Campus”. The campus was located on West Dallas and San Felipe Streets, which was a short cut to Buffalo Bayou. The deacons would wade out into the water and place sticks to let the Pastor know where to stand to baptize candidates. Rev. Williams pastored this Church approximately thirty years. The Church’s original cornerstone was replaced. It reads as follows: “Nazarene Baptist Church: Organized 1875, by Rev. D. Hawkins, Pastor. Erected 1923 by Rev. Eddie Williams, Pastor. Deacons: C. Gras, L. Cato, S. Davis, O. Williams, H. Taylor, R. Wilkins: Trustees: D. Carmichael, L. Shepard, M. Grady, S. Sledge, Secretary: L. Shepard. During Rev. Eddie Williams, was nominated to carry out the services of the Church until a Pastor was named. Since the death of Rev. Eddie Williams, there have been six other ministers to pastor Nazarene. They were: Rev. AJ Matthews – 1943, Rev T.E Marshal – 1943-1948, Rev. D.V. Carrington – 1949-1954. Rev. Therie Washington – 1954-1994. Rev. Melvin Ford – two years and our Present pastor, Dr. Quincy Benoit Rodgers.
On August 2, 1954, the Church was destroyed by fire. Rev. T. Washington was called as Pastor three months late. Church services were held in a small frame building around the corner on Gross Street until the new church was erected in 1958.
On October 5, 1958, under the leadership of Rev. T. Washington, the new church was ready for occupancy. On October 26, 1958, the cornerstone was laid by the Smithsonian Lodge, No 155. The late Wishful Master, W. L Hawkins, presided. The cornerstone reads as follows: Nazarene Baptist Church: Organized 1875 by Rev. D Hawkins, Pastor: Rebuilt in 1958 by Rev. Therie Washington, Pastor: Deacons – C. Pickett, Trustees – L. Misher, Sr., H. Westbrooks, V. Smith and R.L Brooks; Secretary – B.M Hall. Clerk – Florene Misher. Leveled by Smithsonian No. 156. F & A.M. I; Prince Hall Affiliated; Ellis Rudy, Builder.
In November of 1975, Nazarene indebtedness was paid. Property was later purchased in the rear of the church building for parking. In later years, the church also purchased a minivan. Rev. Washington served faithfully as Pastor for forty years until his death in 1995.
Rev. Melvin Ford was elected in October 1995 and installed in 1996. He organized the Youth and Usher Departments. He put out a Church News Letter. He added there members to the Board of Trustees. He would encourage us to attend the LSD Congress.
In January, 2002. Dr. Quincy Benoit Rodgers was called as the eighth pastor of Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church. He received his Pastoral Care and Bible Studies Degree in 1988 from Christian College of America his Master Degree of Divinity (June, 1990), Doctor of Ministry (May, 1995) from Houston Graduate School of Theology. Since becoming our leader, he has instituted a Bible Study Class, a New Membership Class, Communion to the sick and shut-in, a Youth Choir, Mass Choir Workshop and Musical, Nurse’s Aide Board and Pastor’s Aide Committee. He is a faithful, knowledgeable and understanding Pastor, who is carrying Nazarene forward into the new Millennium.
