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The Rising Star
Missionary Baptist Church was organized on December 1, 1976 with
Reverend I. C. Green as founder and pastor. The first service was
held on December 5, 1976 with 43 charter members, including an
associate minister, one deacon, and 20 choir members.
During the week
of the first service, Reverend Milton Robinson discovered the
building we currently occupy. The church members decided to rent
the building with the option to buy. The first service was held
in this building December 12, 1976. At that service, three new
members were added to the church membership. In 1977, the
decision was made to purchase the building. After much
negotiation, hard work, and prayer, the building was paid off in
1986.
In addition to
Rev. I. C. Green, the following men of God have pastored the
church: Rev. Roosevelt Foley (1979-1984); Rev. A. J. Hall
(1985-1986); Rev. James D. Shell (1986); and Rev. Amos L. Lewis
(1987-Present). From June 1994 to September 1995, Rev. Ricardo
Hatfield served as interim pastor during Pastor Lewis’ military
assignment to Ankara, Turkey.
Over the past 31
years, the church has been marked by a growing membership and
expanded ministries. Currently, Rising Star has over 800 members
and 40 ministries addressing the needs of the members and
community. Each year members from various denominations and from
different walks of life are added to the Rising Star Church
family. God uses them to make a great impact on the programs and
services of the church through their leadership and
participation.
In addition to
serving the local community and organizations, the church has
added ministries to reach out beyond the Tucson community.
These include:
National Baptist Convention New Initiatives Program; Ankara
Baptist
Church
International, Ankara, Turkey; Christian Alliance for Children in
Zambia, Africa, and the Humanitarian Aid Foundation World Relief
Organization.
Rising Star
Missionary Baptist Church is a proud member of the Southern
Arizona Missionary Baptist District Association, Paradise State
Convention, and the National Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated
and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Tucson and
Vicinity.
Recently, God
blessed Rising Star to build a new 4.3 acres campus located at
2800 E. 36th Street. A ground breaking service was held October
29, 2005. We start building in July 2007. The church was
completed and passed all inspections in March 2007. We had our
Victory March on March 31, 2006 from our old building, 34 West
34th Street, to our new campus located at 2800 E. 36th Street.
Our first official service was held April 1, 2007, one week before
Easter. God blessed us with a tremendous turnout for our Grand
Opening Service and for Easter. We are so thankful that the Lord
has blessed us to build a multi-million dollars state-of-the-art
building and campus to worship Him and equip His people for
ministry.
We are thankful
for the visionary and kingdom-minded leadership of Pastor Lewis.
Following the Holy Spirit, the Lord continues to energize the
church with new life and vitality. Rising Star is fast becoming a
model church for ministry in the community. Servant-leadership,
sound teaching and preaching, warm fellowship, and genuine love
make Rising Star the church it is today.
With God’s help,
we will fulfill our destiny. We thank God for the way He is
leading us. We are determined to let God build His church, His
way, and for His glory. |
