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GREATER HOUSTON GOSPEL ASSEMBLY
In November 1946, Clyde Napoleon Patton obeyed the advice of William Sowders, left Fort Worth, Texas, and came to Houston. During the first 13 months in Houston, he and his family moved 12 times, enduring great financial suffering and attacks from other ministers while searching for the place where God wanted him to start a church. The first permanent location was established in 1947 when Joe Modisette turned the little church at 1809 Daughtery St. in Port Houston over to Brother Patton.
The congregation grew rapidly and, two years later, they built a new church around the corner at 8010 Flaxman street. The church grew and flourished at this location until 1961. Brother Melvin Babbitt was an assistant pastor and other brothers, Joe Singleterry, Thomas (Tom) Wilkerson and Willard Bone, helped carry the load of the ministerial work.
During those beginning years, Brother Patton visited other cities in the Houston area. He went to Humble, a small city that was about 25 miles north of Houston, where he met many of the saints whose families are still in the church.
During those beginning years, Brother Patton visited other cities in the Houston area. He went to Humble, a small city that was about 25 miles north of Houston, where he met many of the saints whose families are still in the church.
Another small church was turned over to him at Porter, a country community 7 miles north of humble. That church functioned for about ten years and was then closed until around 1980.
(The Porter church remains open to date, pastored by Bro. Lesley Modisette.)
(The Porter church remains open to date, pastored by Bro. Lesley Modisette.)
In 1961, the church moved to 2424 Milam St. in downtown Houston, into the original building of the second Baptist Church of Houston. The building was ornate in resplendent with stained glass depictions of many Bible stories and angels flying around a high center dome of the sanctuary. While at this location, the church operated a nursing home, sold Christmas trees and operated a day nursery.
During this time, Rodney Whittle and Billy Brown became assistant pastors. The church continued to grow and thrive. However, in 1970, it was forced to move because the downtown property sold and was to be demolished.
Work had begun on the building at 8712 Airline Dr., but was far from complete when the church had to move. The whole congregation pitched in, using personal cars, trucks or whatever was available to help with the move. Church services continued while the building was being finished. The church stayed at this location until November, 2001. During this time, George Wright became one of the assistant pastors. From the beginning, Clyde Patton included other men in the work of his ministry. There are now many outreach Churches, locally called satellite churches, that would begun under, or were extensions of churches established under Brother Clyde Pattons ministry.
Brother Clyde Patton passed away May 2, 1994, and Billy Brown became pastor of the church. A few years later it became necessary for the church to move again. A search was made for property on which to build a new church but was not successful. Instead, the Lord opened a way for purchase of the present building at 548 S. Houston Ave. in Humble, Texas The church moved in and shared a building for about 18 months with the first Baptist Church’s congregation until the new building was completed.
In 2011, the assistant pastor, George Wright, passed away and Gary Wright became assistant to Billy Brown. Around the beginning of 2013, Bro. Gary Wright became pastor and Bro. Billy Brown remained senior pastor. When Bro. Patton first visited the small city of humble, Texas, around 1947, it was about 25 miles north of the city of Houston. Now, Houston has grown until it completely surrounds the city of Humble. The church at 548 South Houston Ave. in Humble continues to be the central, or main Church of the Body of Christ in the greater Houston area.
(Courtesy of Ruth Young - "The Ministry of William Sowders & the Restoration of the Body of Christ")
(Courtesy of Ruth Young - "The Ministry of William Sowders & the Restoration of the Body of Christ")
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