
OUR HISTORY

A pioneering group of faithful believers led by Pastor A. C. Holiday left the West Point Baptist Church in Galveston, Texas on October 3, 1945, at 9:30 pm. They met in the home of Deacon and Sis. Robert Moore for the purpose of organizing a church. Pledges were made by all that were present in the amount of $408.50. On October 7, 1945, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church was officially organized with Rev. A.C. Holiday as Pastor. The Baptist Covenant was read by Rev. E. J. Johnson. The articles of faith were read by Rev. S.L. Rugley. These two documents were gladly received and adopted. The Palm Terrace Auditorium located on 44th and Avenue I was rented and served as a meeting place where they worshipped for 10 months.
A BEGINNING
BUILT ON
SACRIFICE
$408.50
Plans were made to purchase property at 2728 Avenue K in Galveston, Texas and later the lot was purchased from the owners of Strode Funeral Home of Galveston, Texas and became the original location of the church where the congregation still worships today. Once the lot was paid in full, buildings were moved onto the property. One of the buildings that was moved to the lot, was purchased from Crockett Military Base in Galveston, Texas by Sis. Dell Pleasant.
Rev. A.C. Holiday faithfully remained Pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church from 1945 until he offered his resignation on November 8, 1959. The congregation continued to meet for worship and various ministers were invited to preach God’s word in the absence of a full time Pastor.
We prayed for a Pastor…and on February 10, 1960, Rev. Ernest L. Gates from Bell Zion Baptist Church of LaMarque, Texas, was chosen and accepted the call as full time Pastor of the Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Gates came in working. His motto was, “FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST!” Pastor E.L. Gates faithfully served as Pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church and left a legacy that lives on today. Under his leadership, the church grew numerically, spiritually, and financially. On Sunday, May 19, 2002, our beloved pastor, Pastor E.L. Gates, at the age of 87, answered the divine call to be with the Lord after serving 42 faithful years at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church.
In June of 2002, Rev. Timmy Sykes was voted interim Pastor where he served for one month and then relocated to Tennessee.
On February 6, 2003, Rev. Dexter Henderson was elected to serve as Pastor. He encouraged the congregation to possess a love for God and man, and a faith that’s not in man-made plans, but always in a living, leading Christ. He also encouraged us to continue to labor together for God because God’s grace had brought us this far and His grace would lead us on. Pastor Henderson was installed as Pastor in March of 2003, with Moderator George W. Singleton, Jr. in charge.
Saturday, September 13, 2008, hurricane Ike devastated Galveston Island. Water filled the entire church building to a depth of one foot and the church required renovation. The church van as well as two other buildings that were owned by the church were also damaged.
On the 4th Sunday in September 2008, Rev. Thaddeus Brown and the Greater New Light Church in Hitchcock, Texas opened their doors to the congregation of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church as our church was being renovated. We worshipped together for 5 months and continued to be blessed with the Gospel each Sunday during that time.
After 5 months of continuous prayer, in February of 2009, we marched back into our Sanctuary at 9:30am with Superintendent Danny Francis in charge of our first order of worship, ‘Sunday School’. We praised and thanked God for blessing us to be back home.
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, all churches were closed on March 22, 2020. The Pastor, Deacons, and our musician, Wesley Gee, continued to worship together in the E.L. Gates Fellowship Hall for 11 months, adhering to the guidelines of the CDC. During the time the church was closed to in person worship due to Covid-19, our congregation was able to worship virtually on Facebook Live and by conference call. Our church Worship Services, Prayer Meetings, and Vacation Bible School were all held virtually for 2020 and 2021.
On the first Sunday in April 2021, the ban on in person worship was lifted and we were allowed to return to worship together as long as we adhered to CDC Guidelines. Pastor Henderson resigned as senior pastor of Mount Moriah in 2024.
Again we prayed for a Pastor…and as written in Jeremiah 3:15, “and I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding”, the Lord answered our prayers with Pastor W.C. Presley, Sr. On January 4, 2026, Pastor W. C. Presley, Sr. preached his first sermon at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church and was installed as Pastor on April 19, 2026. Pastor Presley came in laboring! Under his leadership there has been an increase in Sunday worship attendance, bible study and small group attendance, the creation of a prayer line and several new ministry opportunities as well as major and minor renovations throughout the church.
The Lord has done great things for Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, and for His continuous blessings—past, present, and unfolding—we are deeply and profoundly grateful. As Pastor W.C. Presley, Sr. guides us onward and upward, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church remains anchored in divine truth as we continue to celebrate God’s grace and stand boldly upon His everlasting promises!
