In Beaumont, Texas, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church at 675 College Street is known for a worship history that reaches back to 1938, Bible teaching that works through one chapter and verse at a time, and a wide ministry network that reaches from infants to senior adults. Its name comes from 1 Samuel 7:12, where Samuel names a stone "Ebenezer," meaning "Stone of Help." The church defines its mission as being "a church where the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts" and fulfilling the Great Commission through evangelism and discipleship.
From 37 People to a Square Church Block
Ebenezer began with 37 people who first met in the home of Lorene King. The first organizational meeting was held at Liveoak Baptist Church on January 23, 1938, with the late Rev. E. H. Borden presiding. The late Rev. U. S. Patterson preached from 1 Samuel 7:12, and the group adopted Ebenezer as its name. On May 15, 1938, the planned church location became a reality; payment was completed by June 1943. Another building was dedicated on December 9, 1951; final payment was made in 1954, and its furnishings were completed.
The Rev. Herman H. High became Ebenezer's second pastor on November 18, 1960, after 21 years and 11 months with the church. He retired July 1, 1996, after 35 years and 7 months of service. Groundbreaking for an activities building took place October 4, 1992, with construction beginning that November. The Rev. Kavin L. Jones, Sr., was installed as pastor in November 1996. The Christian Education Advancement Center was dedicated on August 22, 1998, and at the beginning of 1999 regular Sunday morning worship moved from the original building into that center.
The church's growth has also shaped its Beaumont property footprint. Ebenezer owns the square block surrounding 675 College Street and has acquired the former Wallace property across the street and the former Goodwill property at Park and Neches Street. The original sanctuary is called the Historical Church. Together, these properties form a church campus centered on worship, education and service.
Sunday School at 9:15 and Worship at 10:30
Sunday begins with age-group classes for all ages. Sunday School runs from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., followed by the Sunday Morning Worship Celebration Service at 10:30 a.m. in the Christian Education Advancement Center.
- Sunday School: 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
- Sunday worship: 10:30 a.m.
- New Members' Orientation: 9:00 a.m. on Sundays for three to four consecutive meetings, with the schedule varying.
- Pastor's Bible Class: 9:00 a.m. on the first and third Sundays in the Historical Building.
Pastor Jones leads the Bible class through each book from chapter 1, verse 1 to the end, and everyone is welcome. Wednesday has a full sequence of church education and prayer. Sunday School teachers meet at 5:30 p.m., prayer follows from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., and Expositional Bible Study runs from 6:55 to 8:00 p.m. Recordings of the Wednesday lessons are available on CD.
Families with young children will find a nursery for children from infancy through age six during worship and Bible study. The nursery provides a learning and play environment that includes Bible teaching. For drivers, the Safety and Security Ministry combines security, parking-lot assistance and a medical assistance team for services. The Van Ministry provides transportation for people who need help reaching worship and praise events.
One Church Across the Generations
Children and youth
The youth ministry is SOLJA, "Serving The Lord Jesus Always," from 1 Timothy 4:12. Sunday School classes for children and youth extend from infancy through age 17 and are separated by age group. Young people can also serve as junior ushers, sing in the youth choir, join praise dance teams or act in Anointed Christian Theatre Studio. The youth department seeks to help children and young people know Jesus Christ as Savior, discover their gifts and grow in fellowship.
Adult, family and leadership ministries
Men of Integrity meets monthly to plan community service and ways for men to grow spiritually. The Men's Chorus supports worship and also gathers men for fellowship. The Missionary Society gives women time for devotional worship, mission studies and service projects; smaller circles include Dorcas, Priscilla and Rosa Herron, along with a Young Women's Auxiliary. The Ministers' and Deacons' Wives ministry assists church leaders and mentors young adult women. Marriage and Couples offers spiritual growth and social outings, while the Senior Citizens' Ministry provides fellowship, support and opportunities to serve the church and community.
Other ministries address the whole life of the congregation. The Academic Education Ministry awards scholarships to qualifying high school graduates and recognizes youth academic achievements. Church training courses include Step by Step Through the Old Testament, MasterLife, Your Marriage, What Should It Mean to You and financial stewardship. The New Members' Orientation course equips new members to understand the church's goals and ways to serve. A Benevolence Committee assesses how the church can assist families or individuals facing material or physical crises.
Guest care and transportation
Visitors without a vehicle can request a ride in the church van by calling 409-835-7592. The church office is open Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; it is closed Thursday and Friday. In addition to the nursery, Sunday School has age-group classes for children and youth. The church can also be reached at embcsecretary@aol.com.
Music, Dance and Drama as Ministry
The Music Ministry calls itself "a vehicle of evangelism" and draws on hymns, spirituals, traditional gospel and contemporary gospel. Its purpose is to develop skilled singers and musicians while using music to aid spiritual growth and serve beyond the church. Pure Praise is a small ensemble that leads the congregation in praise and worship.
Ebenezer has several choirs. The Mass Choir brings adult choirs together for fellowship and ministry; Inspirational Choir emphasizes festive music; the Men's Chorus welcomes men; and the Youth Choir uses songs to teach spiritual truths and build confidence and self-esteem. Musicians and choir directors also minister in the wider community. Rehearsals are arranged in relation to the first, second, third and fourth Sundays rather than on one fixed weekly evening.
Dance and drama expand those expressions. Scripture in Motion serves women 18 and older, Vision of Praise serves girls ages 5 to 17, Priests of Praise serves men 18 and older, and Vision of Victory serves boys ages 5 to 17. Their styles include contemporary and traditional gospel, interpretive dance, mime and hip-hop. Anointed Christian Theatre Studio has members of all ages enact biblical lessons for practical application and the edification of the church. These teams minister on designated Sundays and at special services.
Stone of Help: Faith, Baptism and Membership
Ebenezer's covenant begins with members receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and professing faith through baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Members commit to walk in Christian love, advance in knowledge and holiness, study the word of God, educate their children, contribute to ministry and the relief of the poor, spread the gospel, seek the salvation of others and bear one another's joys and burdens.
On baptism, the church teaches total water immersion. It distinguishes the placement into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit at salvation from believer's baptism in water, which physically represents spiritual truth. Baptism is not understood as earning salvation; it is an act of obedience and a public identification with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Baptisms are generally held on second Sundays at 10:00 a.m. when candidates are available.
Membership follows a defined path. At the end of Sunday worship, an Invitation to Christian Discipleship is offered. A decision-time counselor speaks privately with anyone who raises a hand or stands, gives that person a Discipleship 101 booklet and explains the New Members' Orientation process. After orientation is completed, Pastor Jones gives the new member the Right Hand of Fellowship. Those who want to understand salvation or receive counseling can speak with a qualified church leader, with information handled confidentially.
Discipleship extends beyond membership. Pastor's Bible Class is open to nonmembers, and the church offers training on biblical education, marriage, practical Christian teaching and financial stewardship. Study guides and recordings make it possible to continue the verse-by-verse lessons.
Love of God Beyond the Church Walls
Ebenezer donates regularly to charities including Some Other Place, the American Red Cross, Spindletop Little League, Jefferson County Foster Parent Association and the NAACP. Individual ministries extend that work. The Missionary Society organizes a shoe drive, collects toiletries, underwear and socks, provides Christmas gifts for children, supports a needy family at Christmas and visits nursing homes. Men of Integrity takes outings and trips, visits nursing homes with donated personal items and joins the Greeters' Ministry in assembling Thanksgiving baskets.
The Greeters' Ministry identifies community families with needs, gathers food and monetary donations and hand-delivers Thanksgiving baskets. The Senior Citizens' Ministry sponsors the Hands of Grace Giveaway, where clothing, shoes and household items are distributed publicly without turning anyone away. Vacation Bible School opens its one-week program to the whole community, with classes for people from toddler age upward. The Benevolence Committee focuses directly on families and individuals in crisis, while the Van Ministry helps people attend services and other church events.
Churchwide giving is available through online giving. The church also maintains audio and video messages and offers a worship livestream. ExpoWORD Christian Ministries produces written and electronic messages that explain Scripture verse by verse, including CDs of Sunday worship and Wednesday Bible study and DVDs of Sunday worship. A Public Relations ministry chooses Bible messages for the outdoor sign to connect Scripture with everyday life.
At 675 College Street in Beaumont, Ebenezer continues to gather for worship, discipleship, education, fellowship and service, carrying forward the "Stone of Help" name and its mission of evangelism and discipleship.