Church History
Mount Calvary, Church of God in Christ
An abbreviated history, by Bishop William Scott
Through the leading and inspiration of God, Pastor William Scott was called to be the “Servant Leader” of the Mt. Calvary, Church of God in Christ.
It was on a bright sunny Thanksgiving morning, in the month of November 1974, that the first service was held. There were approximately thirteen members in attendance. Namely: Pastor William Scott, Missionary Thelma Jean Scott, Mother Minnie Scott, Mother Louise Slack, Sister Dorothy Wren, Sister Earline Ferrell, Brother Edward Matthews, Sister Kathryn Matthews, Brother A.C. Dodd, Mother Mattie Dodd, Brother John Riley, Sister Joyce Riley and Brother John Clemons.
Needing a place of worship, Pastor Scott sought God for direction. It was brought to his attention that there was a church available, along with a parsonage located at the corner of 40th & Bushmore, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Due to the infancy of the ministry, the necessary funds were not available to purchase a church. However, through his investigation, Pastor Scott discovered that the property was owned by the Freewill Methodist Church, located in Greenville Illinois. Pastor Scott scheduled a meeting with the Executive Board of the Freewill Methodist Church, in reference to acquiring the church and parsonage.
God blessed Pastor Scott with a wonderful group of seasoned men whom accompanied him to meet with the Freewill Methodist Executive Board. Those seasoned, senior men stood with their young Pastor with both their counsel as well as their finances. There were many who stood with Pastor Scott, to include; Deacon James Riley, Brother Edward Matthews, Brother A.C. Dodd, Brother John Clemons, Brother John Riley, Brother Johnny McKinney and many others on whose shoulders we stood.
During that historic meeting, Pastor Scott was instructed of God to share his passion for souls, and vision for the ministry. After hearing his appeal, the Executive Board of the Freewill Methodist Church, after conversing among themselves, returned and stated that Pastor Scott was just the kind of Pastor they were looking for. They agreed to finance the loan and payments directly, which eliminated the requirement of a bank.
The down payment was to be whatever money we had after a three month mortgage abatement. The Board of the Freewill Methodist agreed to maintain the insurance during this period. After three months, our newly formed church was able to put $5,000.00 down! God blessed us to liquidate the mortgage in 23 months!
Through the anointed preaching of Pastor William Scott many souls were saved. The Lord inspired Pastor Scott to establish an outreach radio ministry. “The Hour of Evangelism”, live broadcast aired each Sunday night from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on WESL RADIO. The broadcast, which could be heard throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area was responsible for bringing many souls into the Kingdom of God. Mother Thelma Jean Scott was the lead moderator, along with the church secretary; Sister Kathryn Matthews, Sister Dorothy Wren, Sister Mary Helen Wright, and Mother Mattie Dodd.
Mother Thelma Jean Scott was willing to give up her home, as a sacrificial commitment to the ministry, and the first family moved into the parsonage. Mother Thelma Jean Scott played a significant role as the co-founder of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ; helping to establish critical foundation and the planting of seeds for continued growth. It can be said that Mother Scott served her generation and fell asleep. On December 14,1997, Mother Thelma Jean Scott made her transition from labor to reward.
God blessed the ministry with explosive growth and it soon became necessary to seek larger accommodations for the flock. In July of 1983, the Rosemont Baptist Church, located at 1420 North 49th Street, in Washington Park, Illinois, was purchased.
“It was a beautiful Sunday Morning, when we cavalcaded from the corner of 40th & Bushmore to 1420 North 49th Street. To some it was a bittersweet moment as we departed from our humble beginning to our new church home.”
God blessed the church again to liquidate the mortgage in 24 months! Under Pastor Scott’s leadership, the church was completely renovated, along with an upgrade of the audio and video systems. As a part of the Mt. Calvary Outreach Ministry, the church purchased a 15-passenger van and a 25-passenger mini bus to provide transportation to and from the church.
Pastor Scott later instituted a Social Service Department and a Food Pantry which was coordinated by, the First Lady at that time, Dr. Dannette Fishburne Scott. Dr. Scott, who was united in holy matrimony to Pastor William Scott in 1999, was a great asset to the ministry and also served as the President of the Mt. Calvary Women’s Department. Under Dr. Scott’s leadership the women’s department had many successful projects. Dr. Scott was the personal secretary to the Pastor.
This is an abbreviated sketch of the history of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, to date. We hold dear the memories of all those who served in the formative years of this ministry. After serving the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, as the Senior Pastor for 43 years, Bishop William Scott officially retired, in November 2017.
God is a God of progression, with a succession plan for his church. While yet standing in the office of the Pastor, and Prelate of the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction, Bishop William Scott, with the consent of the members of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, transitioned the Pastoral mantel to the capable leadership of Dr. Charles H. Rogers and Lady Lesia L. Rogers. We believe that under their Leadership, that there are greater things ahead for the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ. “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalms 118:23 It’s Joshua’s Day!
An abbreviated history, by Bishop William Scott
Through the leading and inspiration of God, Pastor William Scott was called to be the “Servant Leader” of the Mt. Calvary, Church of God in Christ.
It was on a bright sunny Thanksgiving morning, in the month of November 1974, that the first service was held. There were approximately thirteen members in attendance. Namely: Pastor William Scott, Missionary Thelma Jean Scott, Mother Minnie Scott, Mother Louise Slack, Sister Dorothy Wren, Sister Earline Ferrell, Brother Edward Matthews, Sister Kathryn Matthews, Brother A.C. Dodd, Mother Mattie Dodd, Brother John Riley, Sister Joyce Riley and Brother John Clemons.
Needing a place of worship, Pastor Scott sought God for direction. It was brought to his attention that there was a church available, along with a parsonage located at the corner of 40th & Bushmore, in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Due to the infancy of the ministry, the necessary funds were not available to purchase a church. However, through his investigation, Pastor Scott discovered that the property was owned by the Freewill Methodist Church, located in Greenville Illinois. Pastor Scott scheduled a meeting with the Executive Board of the Freewill Methodist Church, in reference to acquiring the church and parsonage.
God blessed Pastor Scott with a wonderful group of seasoned men whom accompanied him to meet with the Freewill Methodist Executive Board. Those seasoned, senior men stood with their young Pastor with both their counsel as well as their finances. There were many who stood with Pastor Scott, to include; Deacon James Riley, Brother Edward Matthews, Brother A.C. Dodd, Brother John Clemons, Brother John Riley, Brother Johnny McKinney and many others on whose shoulders we stood.
During that historic meeting, Pastor Scott was instructed of God to share his passion for souls, and vision for the ministry. After hearing his appeal, the Executive Board of the Freewill Methodist Church, after conversing among themselves, returned and stated that Pastor Scott was just the kind of Pastor they were looking for. They agreed to finance the loan and payments directly, which eliminated the requirement of a bank.
The down payment was to be whatever money we had after a three month mortgage abatement. The Board of the Freewill Methodist agreed to maintain the insurance during this period. After three months, our newly formed church was able to put $5,000.00 down! God blessed us to liquidate the mortgage in 23 months!
Through the anointed preaching of Pastor William Scott many souls were saved. The Lord inspired Pastor Scott to establish an outreach radio ministry. “The Hour of Evangelism”, live broadcast aired each Sunday night from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on WESL RADIO. The broadcast, which could be heard throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area was responsible for bringing many souls into the Kingdom of God. Mother Thelma Jean Scott was the lead moderator, along with the church secretary; Sister Kathryn Matthews, Sister Dorothy Wren, Sister Mary Helen Wright, and Mother Mattie Dodd.
Mother Thelma Jean Scott was willing to give up her home, as a sacrificial commitment to the ministry, and the first family moved into the parsonage. Mother Thelma Jean Scott played a significant role as the co-founder of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ; helping to establish critical foundation and the planting of seeds for continued growth. It can be said that Mother Scott served her generation and fell asleep. On December 14,1997, Mother Thelma Jean Scott made her transition from labor to reward.
God blessed the ministry with explosive growth and it soon became necessary to seek larger accommodations for the flock. In July of 1983, the Rosemont Baptist Church, located at 1420 North 49th Street, in Washington Park, Illinois, was purchased.
“It was a beautiful Sunday Morning, when we cavalcaded from the corner of 40th & Bushmore to 1420 North 49th Street. To some it was a bittersweet moment as we departed from our humble beginning to our new church home.”
God blessed the church again to liquidate the mortgage in 24 months! Under Pastor Scott’s leadership, the church was completely renovated, along with an upgrade of the audio and video systems. As a part of the Mt. Calvary Outreach Ministry, the church purchased a 15-passenger van and a 25-passenger mini bus to provide transportation to and from the church.
Pastor Scott later instituted a Social Service Department and a Food Pantry which was coordinated by, the First Lady at that time, Dr. Dannette Fishburne Scott. Dr. Scott, who was united in holy matrimony to Pastor William Scott in 1999, was a great asset to the ministry and also served as the President of the Mt. Calvary Women’s Department. Under Dr. Scott’s leadership the women’s department had many successful projects. Dr. Scott was the personal secretary to the Pastor.
This is an abbreviated sketch of the history of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, to date. We hold dear the memories of all those who served in the formative years of this ministry. After serving the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, as the Senior Pastor for 43 years, Bishop William Scott officially retired, in November 2017.
God is a God of progression, with a succession plan for his church. While yet standing in the office of the Pastor, and Prelate of the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction, Bishop William Scott, with the consent of the members of the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, transitioned the Pastoral mantel to the capable leadership of Dr. Charles H. Rogers and Lady Lesia L. Rogers. We believe that under their Leadership, that there are greater things ahead for the Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ. “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalms 118:23 It’s Joshua’s Day!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE!!!