The Organization
A group of about fifty Christian believers and the Reverend John Modest Miles were led to separate themselves from the Liberty Hill Baptist Church in August 1979. Dr. J. C. Oliver, President of Arkansas Baptist College, gave the group permission to meet in the Science Building on the campus of Arkansas Baptist College on Saturday, August 25, 1979. Attending the initial meeting with the Reverend John Modest Miles were the following people: Sisters Dorothy Austin, *Cora Craig, *Minnie Collier, Juanita Curry, *Catherine Giles, Brenda Curry Gillespie, Judy Halton, Cloteale Haney, Edna Enoch, Florine Johnson, *Marie Johnson, Valerie Kelly, *Olivia Kimbrough, Mary Martin, Joyce McKnight, Janet Miles, Jeannette Miles, Mildred Peterson, *Lela Poole, Llyweyia Rawlings, Ella M. Richardson, *Cordelia Smith, Rebecca Smith, *Nettie Stephenson, *Treopia Stewart, Kim Warren, Shirley Warren, Melba White, Muriel Wilborn, and *Johanna Wine; and Brothers Kenneth Brumfield, *Walter Edwards, Tracy Haney, *Norman Kelly, Renard Kendrick, *Herman Kimbrough, Derrick Miles, Gerald Miles, Johnnie Patterson, Gary Peterson, *John Peterson, Ramon Phillips, Kenneth Rawlings, Wendell Richardson, *Billy Smith, Paul Smith, Billy Watkins, York Wilborn, Sr., and Norman Williamson, Sr. We salute our pioneer leaders whose faith in God guided them in spite of the obstacles they encountered to organize this faith community. These pioneer leaders and some fellow believers began a weekly worship service on Sunday, August 26, 1979, called "The Fellowship Hour," in the Auditorium of Arkansas Baptist College until an organizational service was held on Sunday, October 7, 1979. Following the morning worship service and a fellowship dinner in the college dinning hall, an organizational service was held at 2:30 p.m. The Reverend Robert Willingham, Jr., Pastor of the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Ringo Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, moderated the organizational service. It was during this service that the name "Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church," was submitted by Brother Michael Wayne Peterson and accepted by the congregation. The Reverend John Modest Miles was also elected as the first Pastor. The ministers that also participated in the organizational service were the Reverends Clifton A. Conley, Robert L. Watson, Robert Willingham, Jr., and *William Fambro. The message entitled "The Lord Will Make a Way (Genesis 22:3-13)," was delivered by the Reverend John Modest Miles. Following the message the invitation for Christian discipleship was extended and eight individuals united as candidates for baptism. The same evening at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 South Main Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, where the Reverend C. D. Edward was the Pastor, the newly elected pastor of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, the Reverend John Modest Miles, baptized the following eight candidates: Jimmy Fred Doss, Stacy Doss, Erick Griffen, Dana Parker, Shannon Phillips, Lawrence Tippen, Jr., Tamela Tippen, and Harold Watkins. The First Ministry Leaders
The initial leaders of the church ministries were: Brother Calvin Shackleford Deacons; Brother Billy Watkins Trustees; *Brother Herman Kimbrough Sunday School Superintendent; *Brother Norman Kelly Ushers; *Sister Marie Johnson Christian Education; *Sister Cora Craig Mothers; Brother Ramon Phillips Choir; *Brother Norman Kelly Financial Secretary; and Sisters *Clara Watson and Dorothy Gaines Musicians. Deacon Calvin Shackleford, Sr., and Trustee Billy Watkins have served continuously in their leadership roles throughout the twenty-five year history of the church. | The members of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee were: Sisters Catherine Simmons, Juanita Curry, Cloteale Haney, *Mary Frances Shackleford, *Clara Watson, Irene Gillespie, and *Marie Johnson; and Brothers Michael Peterson, Norman Williamson, Sr., *Herman Kimbrough, and Reverend John Miles. Church Acquisitions
In 1982, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church took major steps in securing the purchase of eight lots at 401 West Roosevelt Road to erect her first edifice. In August 1985, the first phase of the building project was completed. A caravan of members sang and marched from Arkansas Baptist College to the new edifice at 401 West Roosevelt Road. A New Era
In the spring of 1987, our first pastor, the Reverend John Modest Miles, accepted the Macedonian call to become Pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church, Kansas City, Missouri. A few months later, on Friday July 10, 1987, the Reverend Clifton Alonzo Conley, a native of Detroit, Michigan, was elected to serve as the second pastor of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. In the beginning of 1990, Pastor Conley presented a sacrificial liquidation plan to the congregation. The same year, as we celebrated our eleventh anniversary, the congregation paid off the property at 401 West Roosevelt Road. In the spring of 1998, Sister Rose Townsend, a real estate agent and a member of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, informed the pastor and officers of the possible acquisition of the property of West Height Baptist Church at 8815 West 34th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. A church conference was held and the plan was presented to the church body. The majority of the members voted to secure the property. On Sunday, August 9, 1998, led by the Reverend Clifton Alonzo Conley, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church moved to 8815 West 34th Street, her present location. Sons of The Mount
The Reverends *James Johnson, Norman Hale, and Kenneth Brown were all licensed by the Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church as ministers of the gospel. Some of the ministerial students who served our congregation during their college career were: Kenneth Brown, Michael Collier, Donnie Ford, James Miller, *Anthony Thrash, Henry Windom, and Derrick L. Miles. The Challenge
Although the beginning of our 25-year journey was under extreme hardship, we have been sustained in our growth by the nourishment of the Holy Spirit as we have exercised our faith in God. By stepping out on God's word we have also been able to witness the manifestation of His love by the reconciliation of our relationship with our sister Churches. The Mount Sinai Church Family will continue to build on the strong fellowship that exists among our members and strengthen the bonds of Christian love. * Denotes Deceased Members |
