Music by The Michael Latchison Singing Ministry from the album “I’m Saved”: “John 1:29”
Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church
Church History (1918-2021)
Church Mission: As baptized believers in Christ we will go into all the world to witness and declare the mighty power of Jesus Christ. We will make disciples of those who will keep his commandments and do his will until he calls us home to glory.
Church Slogan: “A CARING AND SHARING CHURCH”
Church Motto: “SOLOMON TEMPLE STRONG”
Church Song: “WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH”
Our church was organized August 14, 1918 by the late Rev. R. N. Martin and Rev. Conway. The original name was Mt. Hebron Baptist Church. During the years 1918 – 1927, the church was pastored by Rev. Martin, Benion, Spraggins and Thomas. In 1928, Rev. Henry Poats was elected to the Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, as pastor. Rev. Poats pastor until he resigned in 1934. Rev. E. D. Hardy was elected as Pastor; he served until the spring of 1935 and resigned. In the fall of 1935, Rev. Henry Poats was recalled to pastor the church. At this time the church name was changed from Mt. Hebron, to Solomon Temple. Rev. Poats pastored until his death. On May 9, 1936, Rev. J. G. Greenwood was elected pastor. The church was located at 105 S. 22nd street. After being Pastor for two years, a down-payment was made on a future church home, located at 2704 Clark Ave. In April 1948, the church was fully paid off. We remained at the site until forced to move from the Mill Creek Area to 4859 St. Louis Ave. in September 1959. Rev. Greenwood labored here until his death, August 8, 1964.
Faced with the passing of Rev. Greenwood the membership elected one who had followed in the footsteps of Rev. Greenwood, Rev. William Thomas Jones in November 20, 1960. Rev. Jones kept a bedside promise to see that the church would not die. Rev. Jones labored until his death on December 11, 1977. The church was again without a leader. The membership once more selected one of our own to carry on the great works of those before him. After a brief mourning period, Rev. Albert L. Manson, Sr., was elected as Pastor in February 1978. Under the leadership of Pastor Manson, the church continues to grow in Membership, in Spirit, and in Faith. He contributed faithfully in bringing our church to its full potential. He mentored seven Men of God: Pastor Demetrius Logwood, Pastor Carl W. McDowell, Jr.; Rev. Albert L. Manson, Jr., Pastor Ricardo Redd, Rev. Jonathan Manson, Rev. T. C. Smith, and Pastor Jessie Claybon. He was a True Leader to God’s people.
In May 1983, we purchased the property at 4859 St. Louis Avenue. We wanted to remodel the church with new roofing, guttering, central air and heating, new parking lot and many other improvements. After a feasibility study, we were told the dining room wasn’t strong enough to remodel as we thought. In 1992, we sought to find a lending institution to loan the church money to rebuild a new church. We pursued a Bond Drive and sold bonds to the members in increments of $250 – $2500. The struggle began with one obstacle after another. November 1995, we moved from 4859 St. Louis Ave. to 1487 N. Union Blvd. until forced to move from there to a new location. In August 1999, we moved to the Agape Seventh Day Adventist Church, 6501 Bartmer Avenue, University City, MO. We were limited to worshiping in this church on Sunday’s, Tuesday’s, and Thursday’s evening.
March 25, 2004, we met Mr. Chester Visor, CPA, who prepared the necessary documents needed to secure funds from Bank of America. May 17, 2004, the Midwestern Construction and Development Company agreed to construct the church. It was to be completed in 180 days from the date of commencement. On July 23, 2004, we received from the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety, a building permit to construct the new church. After many trials and tribulations, we began to build our new church home at the same site that we left, 4859 St. Louis Ave. Special thanks to our Architect, Mr. John McGoy, for his untiring service rendered from the beginning to the completion of our church.
December 2004 was our last service at Agape Seventh Day Adventist Church. We appreciated the hospitality that was shown to us for over five years, but it was time to go home! We will always be indebted to the Agape family and hold them dear in our hearts forever. However, on January 2, 2005, we marched to our new church home. The choir rendered music to the community on the deck of the church along with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Many officials from the City and County, friends, relatives, and community leaders were present to share in this great celebration. Rev. Carl Wallace McDowell, Jr. preached the 1st sermon in this new building. We became New People, in a New Church, with a New Beginning. We no longer are Departments within the church. We serve through Ministries in our church. The Church Council provides us with structure whereby we work together for the good of the entire body. In 2016 we established a Church Tree with all the Generation of our Church Membership. In 2017 God gave the Pastor a 60-member plan whereby our indebtedness could be paid off, new furniture for our Pastor’s office was purchased, and a 50 inch Flat Screen TV for the Fellowship Hall was installed. Our Church’s 100th year (2018) was celebrated with a Banquet at the Red Lion Hotel and concluded with Church Services Sunday afternoon.
This banquet was a preview of what is “The Best is Yet to Come.” The 2nd century (101st year) Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church membership began marching toward the mark of the higher calling and singing “We’ve Come This Far by Faith” as our Congregational song. Pastor Kelvin Ellison of Union Missionary Baptist Church preached the evening sermon. We had become so strong in our faith that we embodied the Motto, “Solomon Temple Strong” coined by Sis. Arnita Pitts.
As we approached the beginning of the year 2020 with the 102nd year in mind, God saw fit to bless us once again by calling one of our members, Rev. Albert Lee Manson, Jr. into a leadership position at West Travelers Missionary Baptist Church. On January 26, 2020, Rev. Albert Lee Manson, Jr. was installed as Pastor of the West Travelers Missionary Baptist Church. To God Be the Glory for the things he has done!
In February of 2020, we began our $25,000 Building Fund Drive chaired by Minister Michael Latchison. This drive was designed to create a reserve of funds for our mortgage indebtedness. Pastor Manson, Sr. asked 52 members to sacrifice $100 a month until July 2020 to build this reserve. Many of the members were obedient in completing this obligation. Some members fell short, but the strong will bear the infirmities of the weak and WE WILL keep marching on to our mark.
In March 2020 the world was received by a pandemic which was a challenge for all of mankind, but as Christians we siege the moment as an opportunity. The COVID-19 outbreak challenged us, but it didn’t break our spirit. It interrupted our lives, but we kept marching on as good soldiers on the battlefield. Our Pastor became innovative with the help of others by introducing Zoom as a way of worshiping. The doors of Solomon Temple Baptist Church were never closed. When the restrictions were lifted and we were physically able to re-enter the building at 25 percent capacity, we had our pews and carpet cleaned, our church was painted inside along with the W. T. Jones Fellowship Hall, the deck of the church building was repainted, and our drum set was enhanced by adding new equipment. Funds were given to repair our parking lot in the front entrance. To this date, we still use Zoom during our Corporate Worship Service, Bible Study, and Church School as a catalyst of keeping in fellowship with one another.
We did not allow the Coronavirus to defeat us. We joined hand-in-hand with the North Side Community School, Mentor in Motion, and others in a Book Bag Jamboree on August 15, 2020. Solomon Temple was active in this Give-Away by purchasing school supplies and other materials to be packed and distributed to children for the new school year. It was a success and the community was grateful for our time, talent, and stewardship.
As a result of this pandemic we have become stronger in the Word of God, we have become more loving one to the other, and we have given our best service during this time. However, with this devastating pandemic, it brought havoc to our church family. We were met with the untimely death of our Beloved Pastor, Rev. Albert Lee Manson, Sr. God decided that his work had been completed. He was called to Glory. We were left without a Shepherd. The church mourned for ninety days. After much prayer, the church decided to follow our Beloved Pastor’s succession plan that went into effect immediately upon his demise. His son, Rev. Albert Lee Manson, Jr. was called from West Travelers Missionary Baptist Church to serve as the new Shepherd of Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church. He now serves as the Interim Pastor until installation Service on August 15, 2021.
Solomon Temple has not lost faith in the one who promised He would never leave us or forsake us. The one and only true God, Jesus Christ. Our morals and spirits have been lifted as faithful stewards and we shall continue to fight the good fight until Jesus returns. We no longer want to be a Good church, or a Great church, but we are striving to become a Glorious church that God is calling for in these last days. We are equipping ourselves to be Great Stewards of the Lord because we know that Serving the Lord will pay off. We have been through the Flood, the Fire, the Rain, and the Storm, but we are Still Standing. We have stood like a Tree planted by the Rivers of water bringing forth its fruit in its season (Psalm 1:3). We are now “Solomon Temple Strong” in every way because we have faith that can conquer anything (Romans 8:37).
