How it all started...
Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc.
The Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc., was organized March 27, 1946, in the home of its founder, Reverend Earl Amos Pleasant, at 1466½ East 46th Street. The Moderator of the meeting was the late Reverend N. E. Taylor, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of San Diego, California. Mount Moriah was organized with seven (7) charter members: Mrs. Olga Williams Pleasant (wife of Pastor Pleasant), Ms. Gertrude Williams, Mrs. Pauline Pleasant, Reverend Gus Giles, Ms. Bobbie Jean Butler and Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Spiller. The first officers were Reverend Earl A. Pleasant, Pastor; Brother A. J. Spiller, Deacon; Ms. Gertrude Williams, Clerk; and Reverend Gus Giles, Treasurer. The initial offering was $8.00.
The first church worship service was held at a rented social hall, Taborian Hall, March 31, 1946 for $11.00 per week. In the midst of horrendous vicissitudes, God blessed the feeble efforts of His people. Within five months from the first service, Pastor Pleasant and the congregation had grown numerically. As a result, Mount Moriah was now ready for expansion.
Therefore, they raised the down payment and plans were made to purchase property at 41st Place and McKinley Avenue. Paying as they built, Pastor Pleasant, knew that he could not get a building loan, so he made sure that the construction expenses could be met prior to being incurred. By ensuring that the sweat and labor of love by the membership was organized in a certain way, he was able to reduce and limit the extra expenditure of outside hired help that had to be employed during the building process. Many Saturdays, the men of the church were enlisted as a sub-construction-team, who literally built whole sections of the church building by themselves. The ladies of the church would fix breakfast and lunch for the men.
Pastor Pleasant, gave leadership to the team effort. Mount Moriah was able to complete its structure at 4155 McKinley Avenue and ready to hold services in 1947; less than a year after the project began.
After six successful years at this location and as the congregation grew, the ministry expanded; and Mount Moriah, experienced a vast ingathering of souls. “The place where they dwelt became too straight.”
In 1955, when the church membership continued to grow and the ministry continued to expand; Pastor Pleasant heard and followed the voice of the Lord to move God’s people forward and relocate. The late Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was a member of the Knox Presbyterian Church at 43rd and Figueroa Street. The Knox Presbyterian Church was in the planning stages to relocate as well. Pastor Pleasant, with the help of Supervisor Hahn, was able to negotiate the sale of the Knox building to the Mount Moriah Baptist Church. The church moved to the new location at 43rd and Figueroa Street on January 15, 1956.
During this season in the life of Mount Moriah, God blessed the ministry in every way. Both pastor, people and ministry flourished. It was a time of great opportunity for Mount Moriah to fulfill its mission and mandate. A strong discipleship program was taught at every age level, auxiliary participation was accepted by the membership and the focus of ministries grew at a rapid pace. The effectiveness of Pastor Pleasant’s preaching and the church’s outreach drew national accolades. During the 1960’s of the ‘Golden Age of Gospel Music,’ and as inductees into the West Coast Gospel Music Hall of Fame; Pastor and Mrs. Pleasant, were hosts extraordinaire, to some of the most celebrated gospel music artists in the country. Mount Moriah was blessed by the music ministry of: Thurston G. Frazier, Mahalia Jackson, Kenneth Glover, Cassietta George and the Caravans, Doris Akers, The Davis Sisters, Little Richard, a young Billy Preston, Merry Clayton, Alexander Hamilton, and many more. Mount Moriah, was the quintessential place of worship, that was sought on occasion by stellar African Americans from the Hollywood Entertainment Industry. In an effort to expand the preaching of the gospel message to the masses; Pastor Pleasant, initiated a contributory fund within the congregation of Mount Moriah to secure air time, for the worship services to be broadcast on local radio.
In 1964, Pastor Pleasant, began an extensive effort to purchase additional property on the Figueroa corridor to build a new edifice due to rapid membership growth; and to expand the ministry again.
In January of 1973, Mount Moriah was led by Pastor Pleasant into its present facilities following a rigorous and difficult building program; that included a sanctuary that is able to seat in excess of One Thousand (1,000), a two-story well facilitated Educational Building and accommodating parking lots.
The Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc., was organized March 27, 1946, in the home of its founder, Reverend Earl Amos Pleasant, at 1466½ East 46th Street. The Moderator of the meeting was the late Reverend N. E. Taylor, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of San Diego, California. Mount Moriah was organized with seven (7) charter members: Mrs. Olga Williams Pleasant (wife of Pastor Pleasant), Ms. Gertrude Williams, Mrs. Pauline Pleasant, Reverend Gus Giles, Ms. Bobbie Jean Butler and Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Spiller. The first officers were Reverend Earl A. Pleasant, Pastor; Brother A. J. Spiller, Deacon; Ms. Gertrude Williams, Clerk; and Reverend Gus Giles, Treasurer. The initial offering was $8.00.
The first church worship service was held at a rented social hall, Taborian Hall, March 31, 1946 for $11.00 per week. In the midst of horrendous vicissitudes, God blessed the feeble efforts of His people. Within five months from the first service, Pastor Pleasant and the congregation had grown numerically. As a result, Mount Moriah was now ready for expansion.
Therefore, they raised the down payment and plans were made to purchase property at 41st Place and McKinley Avenue. Paying as they built, Pastor Pleasant, knew that he could not get a building loan, so he made sure that the construction expenses could be met prior to being incurred. By ensuring that the sweat and labor of love by the membership was organized in a certain way, he was able to reduce and limit the extra expenditure of outside hired help that had to be employed during the building process. Many Saturdays, the men of the church were enlisted as a sub-construction-team, who literally built whole sections of the church building by themselves. The ladies of the church would fix breakfast and lunch for the men.
Pastor Pleasant, gave leadership to the team effort. Mount Moriah was able to complete its structure at 4155 McKinley Avenue and ready to hold services in 1947; less than a year after the project began.
After six successful years at this location and as the congregation grew, the ministry expanded; and Mount Moriah, experienced a vast ingathering of souls. “The place where they dwelt became too straight.”
In 1955, when the church membership continued to grow and the ministry continued to expand; Pastor Pleasant heard and followed the voice of the Lord to move God’s people forward and relocate. The late Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was a member of the Knox Presbyterian Church at 43rd and Figueroa Street. The Knox Presbyterian Church was in the planning stages to relocate as well. Pastor Pleasant, with the help of Supervisor Hahn, was able to negotiate the sale of the Knox building to the Mount Moriah Baptist Church. The church moved to the new location at 43rd and Figueroa Street on January 15, 1956.
During this season in the life of Mount Moriah, God blessed the ministry in every way. Both pastor, people and ministry flourished. It was a time of great opportunity for Mount Moriah to fulfill its mission and mandate. A strong discipleship program was taught at every age level, auxiliary participation was accepted by the membership and the focus of ministries grew at a rapid pace. The effectiveness of Pastor Pleasant’s preaching and the church’s outreach drew national accolades. During the 1960’s of the ‘Golden Age of Gospel Music,’ and as inductees into the West Coast Gospel Music Hall of Fame; Pastor and Mrs. Pleasant, were hosts extraordinaire, to some of the most celebrated gospel music artists in the country. Mount Moriah was blessed by the music ministry of: Thurston G. Frazier, Mahalia Jackson, Kenneth Glover, Cassietta George and the Caravans, Doris Akers, The Davis Sisters, Little Richard, a young Billy Preston, Merry Clayton, Alexander Hamilton, and many more. Mount Moriah, was the quintessential place of worship, that was sought on occasion by stellar African Americans from the Hollywood Entertainment Industry. In an effort to expand the preaching of the gospel message to the masses; Pastor Pleasant, initiated a contributory fund within the congregation of Mount Moriah to secure air time, for the worship services to be broadcast on local radio.
In 1964, Pastor Pleasant, began an extensive effort to purchase additional property on the Figueroa corridor to build a new edifice due to rapid membership growth; and to expand the ministry again.
In January of 1973, Mount Moriah was led by Pastor Pleasant into its present facilities following a rigorous and difficult building program; that included a sanctuary that is able to seat in excess of One Thousand (1,000), a two-story well facilitated Educational Building and accommodating parking lots.
Expanding the vision...
To the dismay and heartbreak of all, Pastor Pleasant departed this life, October 31, 1974. After seeking God through much prayer, the call was extended to the Reverend Melvin V. Wade, Sr., of Houston, Texas, on August 19, 1975.
On September 1, 1975, Reverend Wade, accepted the call to be the Pastor and God’s Under Shepherd. Pastor Wade, brought to Mount Moriah, his own dynamic God-given vision. With a plethora of ministries to advance the Kingdom of God, he refocused the church to honor Pastor Pleasant’s memory, by continuing to build on the solid foundation that had been established with his leadership. Under Pastor Wade’s pastoral leadership, the church membership grew in size, and made monumental progress to be more effective in every area of ministry. The growth in missionary outreach ministry, has been one of the main arteries in the life of Mount Moriah. Funds have been raised and allocated for scholarships, the pursuit of academic achievement; and higher education for young people. The church has taken on an immeasurable number of campaigns to improve the quality of life for its Mount Moriah members and the community at large.
During his 42-year leadership and with the guiding help of God, the church purchased several properties including: 4336 Olympiad Drive, 4242 South Figueroa Street, 4313 South Flower Street, 525 West 43rd Street; and led the church to pay off several of its property mortgages inclusive of: the 4269 South Figueroa Street church building, the 4300 South Figueroa Street property known as ‘The Old Church Building,’ 4242 South Figueroa Street parking lot, 4313 South Flower Street and 4201 South Figueroa Street parking lot.
The church expanded its daily staff that included, Minister of Visitation, Minister of Discipleship, Minister of Christian Education, two New Membership Secretaries to handle the new members program; three custodians’ positions; and Editor for the ‘Manna from the Mount’ newspaper. The newspaper was published monthly and mailed directly to the membership and national subscribers.
In 1978, Pastor Wade led Mount Moriah to become the second largest financial contributor in the nation, to the National Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board. That same year, Mount Moriah commissioned many new missionaries locally, domestically and internationally, with monthly support. The church purchased two new vans and implemented the ‘Operation Andrew Bus Ministry’ program for seniors, children and individuals that needed transportation to Sunday School and worship services. There was a strong campaign to purchase a new sound system and media equipment for the sanctuary, in order to enhance the quality of the worship services and to facilitate duplication for the Mount Moriah Tape Ministry to be distributed to the local sick and shut-ins. The tape ministry grew at a rapid pace which included national subscribers. As an extended outreach ministry, Mount Moriah purchased one hour of airtime weekly to broadcast the Sunday Morning Worship Service, on Radio Station KIIS 1150 AM in Los Angeles, in the Sunday evening time slot. This continues the original vision of Mount Moriah to spread the gospel message via the airwaves.
Pastor Wade had the vision to extend the youth ministry of the church that included two award winning drill teams, after school tutoring program, other youth activities; and established the Melvin V. Wade Summer Basketball Camp that was held annually.
In 1993 Mount Moriah received a 4.5 Million-Dollar grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to build the Mount Moriah Senior Villa. The 41 Unit complex was designed exclusively for senior citizens to live independently; and was named in honor of Dr. Earl Amos & Mrs. Olga Williams Pleasant. The building opened in 1996.
Denominational support and participation have always been a tradition in the life of the church. In 2002, with the support of Mount Moriah, Pastor Wade, was nominated and elected President of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA), in the City of Chicago, Illinois. God, in His elevation of Pastor Wade to the Presidency of NMBCA, was a great milestone in his life and a badge of honor for the Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
In the fall of 2016, Mount Moriah was awarded a $1.6 Million-Dollar grant from the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services and recommended by the office of then Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, to develop new construction housing for the homeless on the church owned property located at 4313 South Flower Street. And the list goes on and on of the ministry accomplishments to the leadership of Pastor-Emeritus, Dr. Melvin V. Wade, Sr.
On September 30, 2017, Dr. Melvin V. Wade, Sr., retired after serving faithfully more than four decades of dedicated leadership. The “Mount” as it is affectionately known, called the Reverend Johnteris Tate of Memphis, Tennessee to be the pastor and lead the congregation on October 1, 2017. Reverend Tate committed to continue to build upon the legacy of Dr. Pleasant and Dr. Wade.
On September 1, 1975, Reverend Wade, accepted the call to be the Pastor and God’s Under Shepherd. Pastor Wade, brought to Mount Moriah, his own dynamic God-given vision. With a plethora of ministries to advance the Kingdom of God, he refocused the church to honor Pastor Pleasant’s memory, by continuing to build on the solid foundation that had been established with his leadership. Under Pastor Wade’s pastoral leadership, the church membership grew in size, and made monumental progress to be more effective in every area of ministry. The growth in missionary outreach ministry, has been one of the main arteries in the life of Mount Moriah. Funds have been raised and allocated for scholarships, the pursuit of academic achievement; and higher education for young people. The church has taken on an immeasurable number of campaigns to improve the quality of life for its Mount Moriah members and the community at large.
During his 42-year leadership and with the guiding help of God, the church purchased several properties including: 4336 Olympiad Drive, 4242 South Figueroa Street, 4313 South Flower Street, 525 West 43rd Street; and led the church to pay off several of its property mortgages inclusive of: the 4269 South Figueroa Street church building, the 4300 South Figueroa Street property known as ‘The Old Church Building,’ 4242 South Figueroa Street parking lot, 4313 South Flower Street and 4201 South Figueroa Street parking lot.
The church expanded its daily staff that included, Minister of Visitation, Minister of Discipleship, Minister of Christian Education, two New Membership Secretaries to handle the new members program; three custodians’ positions; and Editor for the ‘Manna from the Mount’ newspaper. The newspaper was published monthly and mailed directly to the membership and national subscribers.
In 1978, Pastor Wade led Mount Moriah to become the second largest financial contributor in the nation, to the National Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board. That same year, Mount Moriah commissioned many new missionaries locally, domestically and internationally, with monthly support. The church purchased two new vans and implemented the ‘Operation Andrew Bus Ministry’ program for seniors, children and individuals that needed transportation to Sunday School and worship services. There was a strong campaign to purchase a new sound system and media equipment for the sanctuary, in order to enhance the quality of the worship services and to facilitate duplication for the Mount Moriah Tape Ministry to be distributed to the local sick and shut-ins. The tape ministry grew at a rapid pace which included national subscribers. As an extended outreach ministry, Mount Moriah purchased one hour of airtime weekly to broadcast the Sunday Morning Worship Service, on Radio Station KIIS 1150 AM in Los Angeles, in the Sunday evening time slot. This continues the original vision of Mount Moriah to spread the gospel message via the airwaves.
Pastor Wade had the vision to extend the youth ministry of the church that included two award winning drill teams, after school tutoring program, other youth activities; and established the Melvin V. Wade Summer Basketball Camp that was held annually.
In 1993 Mount Moriah received a 4.5 Million-Dollar grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to build the Mount Moriah Senior Villa. The 41 Unit complex was designed exclusively for senior citizens to live independently; and was named in honor of Dr. Earl Amos & Mrs. Olga Williams Pleasant. The building opened in 1996.
Denominational support and participation have always been a tradition in the life of the church. In 2002, with the support of Mount Moriah, Pastor Wade, was nominated and elected President of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA), in the City of Chicago, Illinois. God, in His elevation of Pastor Wade to the Presidency of NMBCA, was a great milestone in his life and a badge of honor for the Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
In the fall of 2016, Mount Moriah was awarded a $1.6 Million-Dollar grant from the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services and recommended by the office of then Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, to develop new construction housing for the homeless on the church owned property located at 4313 South Flower Street. And the list goes on and on of the ministry accomplishments to the leadership of Pastor-Emeritus, Dr. Melvin V. Wade, Sr.
On September 30, 2017, Dr. Melvin V. Wade, Sr., retired after serving faithfully more than four decades of dedicated leadership. The “Mount” as it is affectionately known, called the Reverend Johnteris Tate of Memphis, Tennessee to be the pastor and lead the congregation on October 1, 2017. Reverend Tate committed to continue to build upon the legacy of Dr. Pleasant and Dr. Wade.
Where we are headed...
In 2018, Pastor Tate shared his vision with the church to install a state-of-art multi-media sound and audio system for the sanctuary in an effort to enhance the Sunday Worship Service. The church met and agreed to the recommendation and began the installation process of the sound and audio system. Along with the new system, there was a need to install a high capacity internet service to stream the worship service in real time on Sundays on a wide-variety of platforms. Not knowing what was ahead, and upon completion of the installation, the world-wide COVID-19 Pandemic took place in March of 2020; that prevented all worship services from taking place in the sanctuary for over a year due to health and safety precautions.
The new system was a miracle from God, and became an intricate component used to keep Pastor Tate and Mount Moriah together over the course of the pandemic. This new platform allowed the worship services to be streamed via the internet while the restrictions were in place. The church’s conference call line was also utilized to allow audible access for members to be part of the weekly worship service that did not have internet service. In an effort to help keep the church together during the fall season of 2020, which was the height of the pandemic; through the vision of Pastor Tate the Sunday worship service was held outside in tents covering the parking lot for several months. This yielded a benefit to countless members that needed to connect to their church in a physical sense. This also provided a level of comfort during the pandemic that began to affect people in diverse ways due to the shutdowns, isolation and restrictions. The tent services also served other displaced believers in the community in a positive way who were feeling the effects of isolation from their pastors and fellowships because of the enormous numbers of church shut-downs due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Baptist Training Union, the Sunday Church School and the Thursday Evening Mission Meeting were held weekly on the conference call line, along with the first Saturday monthly prayer call with Pastor Tate and the membership. God used Pastor Tate in a mighty way during the long, difficult and uncertain journey of the pandemic; that took more than one million lives world-wide.
Under Pastor Tate’s leadership, the church has engaged in several successful financial campaigns including ‘I Love my Church’ to reduce Mount Moriah’s monetary liabilities, becoming a debt free church, improvement of church facilities, various upgrades, and investment in future ministry opportunities. The church recently received a $75,000 grant from City Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr., and the 9th Council District of the City of Los Angeles, to upgrade the widely used community basketball courts in the church’s north parking lot.
Pastor Tate and Mount Moriah, continues to be a light for God’s Kingdom in a darkened world, ‘the salt of the earth and a city on a hill.’ He is revitalizing the ministry infrastructure of the church and planting new ministries to propel Mount Moriah to a greater place to have the ability to meet the needs of the current membership, the present generation, and for those that are yet to come.
It has been the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, witnessing, and saving souls for God; and the wide range of ministries and mission outreach programs of Mount Moriah, that continues to be a testament to the foundation it’s built upon.
In Mount Moriah’s 80-year history, the church has given birth to over 100 sons in the Gospel Preaching Ministry. Many of these sons and daughters are making a dynamic impact on Christendom in the nation and around the world.
The new system was a miracle from God, and became an intricate component used to keep Pastor Tate and Mount Moriah together over the course of the pandemic. This new platform allowed the worship services to be streamed via the internet while the restrictions were in place. The church’s conference call line was also utilized to allow audible access for members to be part of the weekly worship service that did not have internet service. In an effort to help keep the church together during the fall season of 2020, which was the height of the pandemic; through the vision of Pastor Tate the Sunday worship service was held outside in tents covering the parking lot for several months. This yielded a benefit to countless members that needed to connect to their church in a physical sense. This also provided a level of comfort during the pandemic that began to affect people in diverse ways due to the shutdowns, isolation and restrictions. The tent services also served other displaced believers in the community in a positive way who were feeling the effects of isolation from their pastors and fellowships because of the enormous numbers of church shut-downs due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Baptist Training Union, the Sunday Church School and the Thursday Evening Mission Meeting were held weekly on the conference call line, along with the first Saturday monthly prayer call with Pastor Tate and the membership. God used Pastor Tate in a mighty way during the long, difficult and uncertain journey of the pandemic; that took more than one million lives world-wide.
Under Pastor Tate’s leadership, the church has engaged in several successful financial campaigns including ‘I Love my Church’ to reduce Mount Moriah’s monetary liabilities, becoming a debt free church, improvement of church facilities, various upgrades, and investment in future ministry opportunities. The church recently received a $75,000 grant from City Councilman Curren D. Price, Jr., and the 9th Council District of the City of Los Angeles, to upgrade the widely used community basketball courts in the church’s north parking lot.
Pastor Tate and Mount Moriah, continues to be a light for God’s Kingdom in a darkened world, ‘the salt of the earth and a city on a hill.’ He is revitalizing the ministry infrastructure of the church and planting new ministries to propel Mount Moriah to a greater place to have the ability to meet the needs of the current membership, the present generation, and for those that are yet to come.
It has been the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, witnessing, and saving souls for God; and the wide range of ministries and mission outreach programs of Mount Moriah, that continues to be a testament to the foundation it’s built upon.
In Mount Moriah’s 80-year history, the church has given birth to over 100 sons in the Gospel Preaching Ministry. Many of these sons and daughters are making a dynamic impact on Christendom in the nation and around the world.
