About Us

THE MOUNTAIN CHURCH
HISTORY
 1899 – 2006

Mt. Sinai Baptist Church had its beginning on the second Sunday in October 1899, with a meeting called by Rev. Jim McCarty in the home of Bro. & Sis. Allen Nelson. The following persons were the organizers and first members of what was to become known as Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. They were: Rev. Jim McCarthy, Bro. Allen Nelson, Bro. Green Watson, Bro. Aaron Thomas, Bro. Sam Steward, Sis. Jane Watson, Sis. Bettie Haywood, Sis. Sarah McCarthy, Sis. Elvira Harry, Sis. Eliza Thomas and Sis. E. Nelson. During a prayer meeting these eleven members called their first pastor, Rev. John Burden. Under his leadership the church outgrew the home of Bro. & Sis. Nelson and they built a harbor on the corner of West 8th and Waverly Streets. They worshiped in this harbor until they purchased a tract of land near the railroad tracks on Nicholson; here, they built the first church house.

The second pastor of Mt. Sinai Church was Rev. Gabe Alfred. From 1917 to 1924 Mt. Sinai continued to progress under its third pastor, Rev. W. M. Jones.

Mt. Sinai’s Fourth pastor was Rev. J. E. Jenkins, who served the church family from 1924 to 1930. The church experienced rapid progress. In 1926 the church building was destroyed by a disastrous fire. During this interim period the church worshipped in a temporary building, but the faith of the members remained unchanging. They stood in freezing cold and sweltering hot weather to sell fish dinners. In two years they rebuilt the church. It was a jubilant year in 1928; Mt. Sinai moved into its new church home on the corner of West 8th and Lawrence streets.

The fifth pastor of Mt. Sinai was Rev. A. L. Roach. During his administration from 1930 to 1941, the church continued to grow. In 1941, God sent Rev. W. B. Meyers as our sixth pastor. He served Mt. Sinai Baptist Church from 1941 to 1948. Under his administration, the existing frame church building was paid in full and the church continued its progressive move. After the death of Rev. Meyers, we called our seventh pastor, Rev. W. E. Walker. He served this family faithfully from 1948 to 1964. There were many improvements and our church building was remodeled at a cost of $20,000.00. In 1964 we were faced with the death of Rev. Walker.

Mt. Sinai Church held on to the faith, you continued to pray for a leader. You stood firm in your belief and God answered your prayers. In 1964 God sent us our eighth pastor, Dr. Samuel Jackson Gilbert Sr. Under his leadership the church has made both rapid and tremendous progress. A new parsonage and new church building were erected and paid off, five lots were purchased in excess of $500,000.00. Eleven other lots were purchased and developed for spacious parking, a new church sign was also purchased.

Mt. Sinai wrote another page in history on February 25, 1995, when we called our Pastor’s son, Dr. Samuel Jackson Gilbert II, to serve as Co-Pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Dr. Gilbert Sr. and Dr. Gilbert II, we purchased another 10 lots in excess of $250,000.00. Following the vision God gave Pastor Gilbert Sr. for his people, this community and this nation, we completed and entered into a 1.5 million dollar Community Center, School and office suites in September 1997.

August 16, 1999 Mt. Sinai wrote another page in our History. Our school and Daycare - The Houston Heights Learning Academy and The Houston Heights Day Care Center - opened its doors.
November 11, 2000 Mt. Sinai wrote another page to her history. Our Pastor, Dr. Samuel J. Gilbert Sr. retired as pastor of our Church. He is the first pastor in our history to retire from Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.

January 1, 2000 Mt. Sinai wrote another page in history as our retired pastor’s son, the young dynamic Dr. Samuel J. Gilbert II became our Senior Pastor. Under his leadership we moved to another level as he cast his vision of debt retirement. The principal of the church loan was paid down tremendously. Under his leadership the pulpit and choir area was renovated, a new organ and sound system was purchased, new lights were added to our parking lots.

In January 2000 our pastor designated the second Sunday in November as Living Legend Day honoring Dr. S.J. Gilbert Sr. for the leadership and stability he gave to the Mountain Church for 36 years. In November that same year Pastor Gilbert II named our Multi-purpose Center in honor of our former pastor “ The Dr. S.J. Gilbert Sr. Family Life Center”.

Under the leadership of Dr. S.J. Gilbert II, the Mountain Church has continued to flourish with the help of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dr. Gilbert has continued to build on the biblical foundation that has lasted for over a century.

Mt. Sinai Church wrote another page in history when we opened our heart and doors to the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina (2005), one of the most catastrophic and dangerous Hurricanes and natural disasters to ever hit our United States of America. We provided the evacuees with food, clothing, finances, gift cards and information that would help them get needed assistance. We also opened our doors to officials for processing of evacuees for special help.

In January of 2006, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Gilbert II paused during worship and made a very moving appeal to the congregation, explaining to the membership that he needed help in carrying out the Vision of this great church. It was at that time that he hired his first two ministry staff members, Bro. Randy C. Leatch and Sis. Errica Dotson to aid him in carrying out the mandate that God had given him for the Mountain Church. The congregation, being filled with compassion and moved by the apparent need, brought gifts totaling well over $20,000.00 on that day alone. The church said, "Amen!" Then on February 12, 2006, Dr. Gilbert II held a special consecration service, in which they officially became part of the church staff. The renovation of our church began in this month with the creation of the ministry office, formerly the study of Dr. Gilbert Sr.
During 2006 Pastor Gilbert II renovated our Church front and back foyers and bathrooms and added a new ladies lounge and TV monitors at a cost in excess of $100,000.00. Our sound system has been upgraded and we have made significant technological advances such as developing a website to reach current and potential members, publishing a weekly church wide e-newsletter and using a phone tree voicemail system to reach members with pertinent information.

Under the leadership of Dr. Samuel J. Gilbert II the Mountain Church continues to grow spiritually, numerically and financially.

Mt. Sinai has survived the many storms and progressed these many years, because in our infancy, back in 1899, we were built on a solid rock…and not sinking sand. God continues to lead and direct us. In looking back retrospectively over these 107 years, we realize that we have come a long way, only by trusting in God, believing in God and depending on God. As we build and thrive on God’s Word, we will continue to “Journey with Joy reaching the world for Christ”.