ST. PAUL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Circa 1917

In 1917, Mr. Willie Williams donated a piece of land to the late Reverend W.L. Scott, better known as “Billie.”   Later, in 1920, the first cornerstone for the Missionary Church was laid in the 1300 block of Highland Road with the name inscribed “St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church of East Baton Rouge.”

The small mission progressed under Reverend Scott’s guidance until his death in 1929.  A few years later, the membership declined.  St. Paul was like a ship out to sea tossing from side to side.  Reverend Charlie Anderson and a few church members tried to maintain the church.  However, there seemed to be little progress.  After Reverend Anderson’s death, his wife, Mrs. Carrie Anderson released the church to Brother Clarence Betz, Sr. and a small group of followers who were looking for a place to worship.  They revised the charter and placed the church back in its original name that was St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.  Soon after settling there in 1965, Brother Betz and the congregation elected Reverend Cornelius Betz, Sr. as the pastor of St. Paul.  He increased the membership to more than two hundred and baptized hundreds.

After Hurricane Bessie demolished the church on Highland Road, the congregation moved to its present site.  Reverend Betz and his followers made tremendous progress.  St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church is currently a member of the Fourth District Baptist Association and the National Baptist Convention.  St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church continues to participate in many activities involving the community.

Reverend Cornelius Betz, Sr., died May 14, 1978 after a lengthy illness.  His son, Reverend Cornelius Betz, Jr. was elected as pastor on May 23, 1978.  He immediately began to remodel the church.  God blessed him with many members that enabled him to complete the work he began.  However, in the midst of this progress, inclement weather again damaged the church and stifled the progress.

On September 20, 1981, Reverend Cornelius Betz, Jr. resigned as pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church to continue his education in Dallas, Texas.  Members and officers of the congregation were “stunned.”

As history repeats itself, the congregation pulled together and began to rebuild the church.  With a remodeling debt of $73,000, the congregation began to work to save St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.  The pulpit was vacant for approximately four (4) months.  On February 2, 1982, the members and the deacons elected Reverend Leo Cyrus as pastor.  Reverend Cyrus served faithfully.  His trust in God and willingness to help the congregation helped to bring unity to this small mission.  In 1984, the church elected Reverend A. Ray Campbell, who served through 1987.  In 1988, Reverend Leon Moore, Jr. served as pastor until he resigned in 1989.  Shortly after, Reverend Cornelius Betz, Jr. returned to become the pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.

The current pastor is Reverend Michael Collins.

SUBMITTED BY: St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church