H ISTORY OF MOUNT HEBRON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Now therefore give me this   mountain whereof the Lord spake in that day; and Joshua blessed him, and gave   unto Caleb the son of Jephunneth Hebron for an   inheritance. JOSHUA 14:12-13.

It is indeed a privilege to   have the honor of sharing with you a part of the original story and some of   my many experiences in the ongoing historical development and accomplishments   of this church.

This  scripture served as an inspiring revelation to one Rev. Johnnie J. Roberson.   Under the direction of the Lord, through this revelation he called a meeting   at 4902 Brinkley Street. This, the home of Rev. and Mrs.   J. J. Roberson at the time was on the verge of serving a special purpose.   That night January 8, 1958 at 8:00 P.M., Rev. Roberson read a   scripture,  offered up   a moving prayer, and officially opened the   meeting to organize a new church.

In studying Joshua 14, Caleb was   given the land of Hebron because Moses vowed it to him and his family in   return for his loyalty. During the battles of the Israelites to regain their   Promised Land, Caleb was a devoted spy. Though Moses had passed, Joshua   honored his promise to this faithful servant. Honoring faithfulness,   stewardship, and promises; this passage served as a revelation to Rev.   Roberson that he would name this new church Mt. Hebron Baptist Church.

Mt.   Hebron therefore became the inheritance of   our pastor up until this our 56th anniversary. An inheritance gained   because Rev. Roberson wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. They realized   if Jesus was in their midst, nothing would be impossible.

Those   first humble services were held in the garage of the pastors home. During   those first two (2) years or so, membership grew   rapidly from its inception of (16) to four hundred and fifty (450) members.   By early 1962, despite struggles with an opposing Civic Club, through the   Civil Rights Era, through segregation and desegregation, our pastor and   members chose a new site for the Mt. Hebron home. On November 16, 1961, the   membership moved into a $43,000.00 sanctuary at 7721 Calhoun Road.

The   scripture read at the organizational meeting was Nehemiah 4:1-6. This   gives an account of how the walls of Jericho were rebuilt. It was   amazingly rebuilt because "the   people had a mind to work". From her conception in 1958   until now 2024, Mt. Hebronites have demonstrated their mind to work. About   two years after moving into her home, the services were packed so often and   the membership was growing numerically and spiritually, that 1964 added an   extension valued at $45,000.00. Improvements to that building   included pews, carpeting and  Educational Building   valuing $159,000.00. Through the cooperative spirit of these members, through   pledges, donations at teas, dramas, musicals and a number of fund-raising activities, our   members demonstrated the dedication of their works. Their work was for the ongoing of   Gods Kingdom.

1968   made our new financial obligations. The young church was then on the verge of   her teen years. For the next ten (10) years,   her debts would be settled, along with her growing involvement with sister   churches and the surrounding community. She would continue to   follow the Lord God wholly. By the grace of God, many great things were   accomplished. Through   wisdom is a house builded; and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with   all precious riches. Proverbs   24:3-4.

The   word of God continued to go out, people hungry for the truth, direction   and fellowship continued to   come in. Again a new building plan was necessary and established. Our pastor,   once again in obedience to the Lord, directed his flock to enter  a   new sanctuary and burn the mortgage note simultaneously. In 1982, on our entering service,   the $600,000.00 mortgage was paid in full. The second building has   since been dedicated as the J.   J. ROBERSON FELLOWSHIP HALL. It functions as   the place for weekly meetings. It also easily converts into a dining   room for serving some of Houston's finest banquets and receptions.

Three   years after moving into our present edifice (1985) an even greater addition   was initiated. To the rear of the building is a complete Cafeteria   Building. It is equipped with twelve (12) classrooms on the second level,   lounges and a cafeteria with steam tables and complete kitchen. Through many   prayers and much hard work this structure is now fully operational and   occupied. Our church has previously offered meals for senior   citizens with a Bible Class and we have had a Boy Scouts   Troop.

We   currently have a Mens basketball team, Boys basketball team and Volleyball   team. This spirit-filled, humble servant taught and preached sound Christian   doctrine which demanded respect from all, and moved the church into the   forefront of the Christian Community locally, statewide and nationally. Our   pastor is the 1st Vice Moderator of Independent Missionary   Baptist General Association of Texas (IMBGA-TX)and President of The Baptist   Ministers Association of Houston (BMA-Houston)and Vicinity and they meet   every Tuesday here with breakfast served. In 1992 we were blessed to buy an   apartment complex with 27 units and in 1996 we opened a   washateria on site. Since 1996 we have been blessed to have our Mt. Hebron   Academy which is an alternative school for grades 1 through 5.

God   has once again smiled on Mt. Hebron, as He has allowed us to pay off our apartment   complex, have a pipe organ installed in the sanctuary with expansion to the   pulpit and purchase 75 acres of land in Brazoria County for $180,000.00. God   has blessed us to accomplish this with no added notes.

In   this new millennium we have updated our office equipment and our   sound system in the sanctuary with the ability to tape services and play   tapes and CDs. We've installed 3 large screens to see the services on. March   27, 2005 we were able to break ground on our J. J. Roberson Family Life   Center which includes a full court gymnasium, fully   equipped weight room, conference room, computer room, library, men   and women restrooms with lockers and showers, arts & crafts room, two   administration offices and a civic club room. This construction was   started May 2006 and with Gods blessings March 27, 2007 we had our Ribbon   Cutting Ceremony. Since the entrance into the Family Life Center we have been   blessed to hold a such   as Basketball Camps, Showers, Memorial Services, Obama victory parties just   to name a few.

Mt.   Hebron, we must continue to   put God first. On December 30, 2007, Dr. J. J. Roberson the founding Pastor   preached his last sermon as the Pastor of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist   Church and retired with the church electing Rev. Max A. Miller, Jr. as his   successor. On January 13, 2008, Rev. Max A. Miller, Jr. was officially installed as   the second Pastor of the Mount. We must continue to obey Him, to trust Him,   and to lean and depend on God for our every need. The words of the Lord as   recorded in Matthew   6:33 keep coming to mind: But seek ye first the Kingdom of   God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Whatever tasks we have had, whatever   tasks are to come; we will follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He has   promised Lo, I am   with you always. God has attributed to this unity over 1,200   members and 753 families.

Thank   you founders! Thank you for this church you helped create   for the noble principles of Jesus Christ which helped you to endow it...for   the true vision which launched it on its course through the years. What yo so   wisely built, founders, the members of Mt. Hebron will guard and cherish   forever. Therefore, let us rejoice in the Lord always! Think of all He's done. Not just for   the establishment of this church, but for the church without a spot or   wrinkle.