On
September 25, 1965, the
Eastside Baptist Mission was organized at the First Baptist Church in
Parkland,
Washington. There were 16 members present including Rev. O.R. Pigford,
Founder.
The services were opened with songs, Scripture and prayer by Rev.
Pigford
after which the meeting was turned over to the area minister, Rev. Omer
Hyde.
Rev. Hyde explained that officers could be elected or the
Founder/Minister
could appoint officers.
The
first officers of the Eastside Baptist
Mission
were: Pastor - Rev. O. R. Pigford; Sunday School
Superintendent - Brother
Murray Jacobs; Sunday School Secretary - Sister Frederika
Bradley; Church
Treasurer - Brother Jerry Rogers; B.T.U. Director - Sister
Irene James; Mission
President - Sister Tina Clark.
In
February 1966, the Eastside
Baptist Mission became Eastside Baptist Church when the church
purchased
property at 3575 Portland Avenue. Rev. Pigford served the church until
he
resigned in 1972, when Rev. M. C. Connally became pastor. Under pastor
Connally's leadership the church grew numerically, spiritually, and
financially. The mortgage on the property was retired. The first four
deacons
were ordained under Rev. Connally. They were: Tom Jones, Jerry Rogers,
William
Factory, and Lee Jones Jr. Rev. Connally's vision lead the church to
purchase
the property adjacent to 3575 Portland Avenue, for future expansion.
Pastor
Connally served faithfully until his death in 1983.
After
prayerful consideration the
church voted on October 19, 1983 to extend the call to Rev. John
Everhart who
served until February 18, 1985. Under his leadership the
church purchased
plans to construct a new church. The church was without a pastor for a
short
period of time until June 1, 1985, when the call to leadership was
extended to
Rev. Edward Evans. Under pastor Evans' leadership on September 2, 1987,
loan
approval was received. On October 21, 1987, Rev. Evans resigned. During
this
transition area ministers Rev. Bruce Homefeldt and Rev. Dr. E. S.
Brazill were
instrumental in supporting Eastside's building effort with ABEC.
The
church felt the need for
continued leadership and guidance. Under the direction of the Holy
Spirit on
November 11, 1987, the church extended the call to Rev. Arthur C. Banks
to
become pastor. Under Pastor Banks' leadership ground-breaking
ceremonies were
held on Easter Sunday, April 3, 1988, and construction began
immediately
thereafter. On August 6, 1988, the congregation of Eastside Baptist
Church
marched from the location of the old church into our New Church. The
first
worship service was held that evening. On August 7, 1988, the First
Sunday
Worship and Communion Services were held. The church was officially
dedicated
on August 28, 1988. Participating were area ministers and community
officials.
Rev. Dr. Edgar W. Bratton, president of The North Pacific Baptist
Convention,
delivered the dedication message. In the 1988 Annual church meeting the
Church
voted for the first time in its history to support a full-time pastor.
The
church has been blessed under
Pastor Banks' leadership. Just a few of these blessings are: increased
membership from 68 active members to a current membership of over 400;
on
September 18, 1994, Eastside held its first early morning (8 a.m.)
worship
service with 56 present; in 1992, we acquired two portable buildings
for the
purpose of classroom space; and we started a Children's Church worship
that has
an average attendance of 30 plus. On December 4, 1997, the Lord blessed
Eastside to retire the mortgage on the church seven years early and the
mortgage was burned in a formal ceremony on December 28, 1997. Eastside
is not
at ease in Zion; however, in our Annual Church meeting the church voted
to
proceed with the second phase of the building which consists of
classroom space
and a fellowship hall. On March 14, 1999, the Lord blessed Eastside to
officially begin the second phase of the building with a ground
breaking
ceremony. The members of Eastside had their first services in their
newly
remodeled church on June 27, 1999.
Charter
Members:
Rev. O. R.
Pigford; Brothers Murphy, Lonnie Clark, Jerry Rogers, Tom Jones, Murray
Jacobs;
Sisters Frederika Bradley, Lavina Thomas, Oletha Pigford, Tina Clark,
Patsy
Lauderdale, Peggy Rogers, Modessie Jones, Irene James, Helen Jacobs,
and Ellen
Murphy. Members who joined on the first church service were
brothers
Robert Rogers, and Peter Lauderdale; and Sister Bessie Rogers.
Since
1999, Eastside has been
involved with, participated in, and/or sponsored many events and
programs, such
as continuing to support missionary pastors in Africa and participating
annually with World Vision servicing over a thousand youth. We continue
our
Mission work in feeding the hungry, emergency assistance within the
community,
a winter blanket drive and Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. Our
youth have
benefited from their participation in our Summer Enhancement Program
and the
Tacoma Links-sponsored Spelling Bee. We have purchased new carpets, new
banquet
tables for the multi-purpose room and classrooms, new musical
instrument and
repainted several times.
On
April 20, 2008, the structural building known
as Eastside Baptist Church was destroyed by fire; however, the
spiritual body
and spirit of Eastside Baptist Church will never be destroyed. Pastor
Banks
lead the church during the rebuilding phase in the history of
Eastside. We
have overcome and all praises belong to God! The rebuilding of Eastside
Baptist
Church was completed in November 2009 and we returned
to the new
building "stronger, wiser and better." We have truly come this far by
faith! We entered our new sanctuary on December 6,
2009 and our 44th
Church Anniversary and Dedication Service was held December 27-30,
2009.
Eastside is truly blessed...to
God be the glory!
|