History of Ebenezer Baptist Church
The Ebenezer Baptist Church was organized on January 20, 1944 in the home of Deacon Henry and Sister Lucille Moppins at 624 N. Missouri Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by the late Reverend J.H. Winn with the following individuals: Deacons J.H. Brown, Ike McGlory, Henry Langston, and Henry Moppins; Sisters Hattie Brown, Lucille Moppins, Pearl Jones, Elizabeth Brown, Pat Long, Laura A. Roland, Lillie Garland, Ernestine Dudley, Virginia Stevens, Julia Mae Roland, Carol Joyce Roland, Juanita Roland, Ellestine Long, Eddie Max Long, and Veola Long, and Brothers J.W. Roland, and Herbert Ford; Reverend J.W. Stevens and Reverend W.M. Jones.
Reverend J.H. Winn elected pastor pro tem and served until the election of another pastor. The first officers elected during the meeting were as follows: Sunday school Superintendent Deacon Henry Langston; Sunday school Secretary-Sister Ernestine Dudley; Baptist Training Union (BTU) President-Sister Julia Mae Roland; BTU Secretary-Sister Juanita Roland; General Mission President-Sister Hattie Brown; General Mission Treasurer-Sister Lucille Moppins; Church Clerk-Sister Laura A. Roland. Deacons were J.H. Brown and Ike McGlory. Sister Lillie L. Garland and Brother J.W. Roland were elected Ushers.
On Februrary 20, 1944, the late Reverend G.W. Houston was elected Pastor. During his short pastorate, a great number of souls were added to the church roll.
July 30, 1945, the Reverend J.E. Williams was elected Pastor. It was under his short administration the foundation for the original Ebenezer Church building was erected at 713 N. Missouri Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Rev. L.A. Wiggins served as the acting Pastor until Reverend I. Tatum was called as Pastor. Under his administration the original Ebenezer Church building was completed.
On March 1, 1949, Reverend J.M. Muse was elected Pastor, and served a short period.
Reverend L.A. Wiggins, as always, took care of the church until Reverend S.M. Harnsberry was called as Pastor. Rev. Harnsberry accepted the church on January 18, 1950 and served over two years, During his pastorate, the church grew tremendously, both spiritually and financially, and an addition was made to the original church building. After his departure, Reverend R.T. Bingham was elected Pastor and served about one-and one-half years.
On December 10, 1954, Reverend E.H. Hill Sr., was elected Pastor. He brought the church from the original church building located at 713 N. Missouri Street to 500 N.E. 12th street; Oklahoma City, OK (12th and Stiles).
On March 22, 1981, the late Reverend Willard Dallas, accepted God's calling as Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Under his administration, the church grew spiritually, financially and numerically. On May 25, 1986, Ebenezer celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony to build a new edifice at 3600 North Kelley. In September of 1988, the Ebenezer Baptist Church completed a $250,000 bond program which was very successful and contributed towards the completion of a beautiful new building that we currently enjoy.
In 1990, Jerry L. Franklin was elected Pastor of Ebenezer where he served a short period. In 1992, Reverend Kim Brown was called to Pastor and served approximately a year and a half.
In November 1993, Reverend Marshall Hughes was called as Pastor. Under his administration, membership grew.
In 1997, Reverend Vernon J. Graves was called to Pastor Ebenezer and he led the congregation for five years.
In July 2003, Reverend Wendell G. Parker was called to Pastor. Several Building improvements were made and new furniture was purchased for the facility. Ebenezer retired its mortgage in September 2004. Reverend Parker pastored Ebenezer for 11 years until he resigned on November 22, 2014.
On June 28, 2015, Reverend Derrick A. Scobey was elected Pastor of Ebenezer.
On April 29, 2017, Ebenezer Church suffered significant storm damage from what some may call a "microburst". The steeple was carried away, the church marquee was destroyed, and several panes of stained glass were damaged. On April 30, 2017 Ebenezer was invited to worship with Northeast Missionary Baptist Church in Forest Park, Oklahoma until immediate repairs were made to our sanctuary. Ebenezer held steadfast in their faith and what may have appeared as a setback was a blessing from the Lord.
Under Pastor Scobey's Leadership Ebenezer has experienced numerical, spiritual and financial growth. Ebenezer has made several enhancements in and outside the church over the last few years. A new lightning system was installed inside if the church and new lights were installed outside the church to accentuate our beautiful stain glass mural. We also had installed a brand-new state-of-the-art sound system. We have also installed a new audio-visual system for the first time in the seventy-four-year of Ebenezer. We repainted the entire interior of the church. The church had repaved the parking lot and raised a new steeple in August 2017. In September 2017, a new beautiful monument style stone marquee sign was completed.
Since then, a few other project enhancements have been completed, new carpet, tile, the new parking was resealed and restriped, the grounds have been landscaped, repairs to the stain glass were completed, kitchen improvements were made by purchasing a new refrigerator and freezer, and lastly, we purchased a new keyboard & drums for the musical ministry. In 2018 Ebenezer was selected by Dr. John Reed Jr., President of the BMA, to host the Simultaneous Revival of OKC's opening late night service. Also, in 2018 Ebenezer & Pastor Scobey were selected by Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, President of the NBCA, international Inc's to be the host church and the host pastor for the 2019 NBCA Inc's 139th Annual Session. This was first time that the Convention had visited Oklahoma in almost 60 years. Ebenezer's "Host" status was ultimately changed to "Tri-Host" status sharing the hosting responsibilities with two other state churches. In 2019 Ebenezer truly moved outside of the walls of the church serving in many community efforts outside of the church. Also, in 2019 serving new ministries were added; Nursing home ministry, Alzheimer's Care-Giver Support Group, just to name a few.
Ebenezer Baptist Church remains the church on the hill to service the community. Ebenezer continues to meet the needs of our membership, to reach the unsaved with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to reach unchurched Christians using technology and social media and to reflect Christ in all that we do.
Reverend J.H. Winn elected pastor pro tem and served until the election of another pastor. The first officers elected during the meeting were as follows: Sunday school Superintendent Deacon Henry Langston; Sunday school Secretary-Sister Ernestine Dudley; Baptist Training Union (BTU) President-Sister Julia Mae Roland; BTU Secretary-Sister Juanita Roland; General Mission President-Sister Hattie Brown; General Mission Treasurer-Sister Lucille Moppins; Church Clerk-Sister Laura A. Roland. Deacons were J.H. Brown and Ike McGlory. Sister Lillie L. Garland and Brother J.W. Roland were elected Ushers.
On Februrary 20, 1944, the late Reverend G.W. Houston was elected Pastor. During his short pastorate, a great number of souls were added to the church roll.
July 30, 1945, the Reverend J.E. Williams was elected Pastor. It was under his short administration the foundation for the original Ebenezer Church building was erected at 713 N. Missouri Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Rev. L.A. Wiggins served as the acting Pastor until Reverend I. Tatum was called as Pastor. Under his administration the original Ebenezer Church building was completed.
On March 1, 1949, Reverend J.M. Muse was elected Pastor, and served a short period.
Reverend L.A. Wiggins, as always, took care of the church until Reverend S.M. Harnsberry was called as Pastor. Rev. Harnsberry accepted the church on January 18, 1950 and served over two years, During his pastorate, the church grew tremendously, both spiritually and financially, and an addition was made to the original church building. After his departure, Reverend R.T. Bingham was elected Pastor and served about one-and one-half years.
On December 10, 1954, Reverend E.H. Hill Sr., was elected Pastor. He brought the church from the original church building located at 713 N. Missouri Street to 500 N.E. 12th street; Oklahoma City, OK (12th and Stiles).
On March 22, 1981, the late Reverend Willard Dallas, accepted God's calling as Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Under his administration, the church grew spiritually, financially and numerically. On May 25, 1986, Ebenezer celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony to build a new edifice at 3600 North Kelley. In September of 1988, the Ebenezer Baptist Church completed a $250,000 bond program which was very successful and contributed towards the completion of a beautiful new building that we currently enjoy.
In 1990, Jerry L. Franklin was elected Pastor of Ebenezer where he served a short period. In 1992, Reverend Kim Brown was called to Pastor and served approximately a year and a half.
In November 1993, Reverend Marshall Hughes was called as Pastor. Under his administration, membership grew.
In 1997, Reverend Vernon J. Graves was called to Pastor Ebenezer and he led the congregation for five years.
In July 2003, Reverend Wendell G. Parker was called to Pastor. Several Building improvements were made and new furniture was purchased for the facility. Ebenezer retired its mortgage in September 2004. Reverend Parker pastored Ebenezer for 11 years until he resigned on November 22, 2014.
On June 28, 2015, Reverend Derrick A. Scobey was elected Pastor of Ebenezer.
On April 29, 2017, Ebenezer Church suffered significant storm damage from what some may call a "microburst". The steeple was carried away, the church marquee was destroyed, and several panes of stained glass were damaged. On April 30, 2017 Ebenezer was invited to worship with Northeast Missionary Baptist Church in Forest Park, Oklahoma until immediate repairs were made to our sanctuary. Ebenezer held steadfast in their faith and what may have appeared as a setback was a blessing from the Lord.
Under Pastor Scobey's Leadership Ebenezer has experienced numerical, spiritual and financial growth. Ebenezer has made several enhancements in and outside the church over the last few years. A new lightning system was installed inside if the church and new lights were installed outside the church to accentuate our beautiful stain glass mural. We also had installed a brand-new state-of-the-art sound system. We have also installed a new audio-visual system for the first time in the seventy-four-year of Ebenezer. We repainted the entire interior of the church. The church had repaved the parking lot and raised a new steeple in August 2017. In September 2017, a new beautiful monument style stone marquee sign was completed.
Since then, a few other project enhancements have been completed, new carpet, tile, the new parking was resealed and restriped, the grounds have been landscaped, repairs to the stain glass were completed, kitchen improvements were made by purchasing a new refrigerator and freezer, and lastly, we purchased a new keyboard & drums for the musical ministry. In 2018 Ebenezer was selected by Dr. John Reed Jr., President of the BMA, to host the Simultaneous Revival of OKC's opening late night service. Also, in 2018 Ebenezer & Pastor Scobey were selected by Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, President of the NBCA, international Inc's to be the host church and the host pastor for the 2019 NBCA Inc's 139th Annual Session. This was first time that the Convention had visited Oklahoma in almost 60 years. Ebenezer's "Host" status was ultimately changed to "Tri-Host" status sharing the hosting responsibilities with two other state churches. In 2019 Ebenezer truly moved outside of the walls of the church serving in many community efforts outside of the church. Also, in 2019 serving new ministries were added; Nursing home ministry, Alzheimer's Care-Giver Support Group, just to name a few.
Ebenezer Baptist Church remains the church on the hill to service the community. Ebenezer continues to meet the needs of our membership, to reach the unsaved with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to reach unchurched Christians using technology and social media and to reflect Christ in all that we do.