Pictured are Friendship Community Baptist Church Rev. Gary D. Brown, King Star Baptist Church Rev. Earl Jackson, and Jack Oliver, who is donating paint and supplies for exterior work on the church, at the reception held at the TAMUK Ballroom. One hundred years of prayer, song, and community service was reflected upon at the King Star Baptist Church centennial anniversary and homecoming celebration March 28.

Former church members and current members — young and old — wore their Sunday best and came out to celebrate this milestone in the community with a special afternoon church service and a reception at Texas A&M University- Kingsville.

The theme of the event was “Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future” and the Friendship Community Baptist Church of Austin was in attendance as the guest church with its pastor, Gary D. Brown, officiating.

Gertie Scott, who has been a member of the church since 1953, served as worship Leader, a sort of mistress of ceremonies.

Jeannette Price, Chairperson and JoAnn Gaddis and Margie Houston, Cochairs, of the Centennial Anniversary and Homecoming Committee at the reception held at the TAMUK Ballroom. The King Star choir sang congregational hymns of praise to a crowd that was at its feet in celebration.

Loretta Brooks spoke of the church’s history as a reminder of how far the church has come in its 100 years of existence.

Madaline Caraway read aloud the necrology, a list of former members who have passed, and a tribute to octogenarians, members of the church who are in their eighties, and although they cannot attend church services regularly, they are still members of the church and have played an integral part in its success over the years.

Octogenarians include Lillie Mae Pettis, Maude Frances Pullam-Hill, Gertie Scott, Mary Hunter, Gloria Lewis, Deacon and Mrs. L.C. Mack, Myrtle Morris, Ruby Anderson, Pauline Bergen, Josie Coleman, Navine Gant, Evelyn Horn, Robie Houston, Kellie Taylor, Charlie Walker, and Essie Mae Wynn.

Gertie Scott, who has been a member of the church since 1953 served as Worship Leader. Loma Nevels, a former Kingsville resident and member of the church, came back to Kingsville from her home in Whirton, West Virgina, for this event and spoke about what this homecoming meant to her.

“This church has been good to me. It reminds me not only of where I came from, but also the reason why I am where I am in my life now,” Nevels said.

Rev. Earl Jackson introduced Rev. Gary D. Brown as the guest speaker.

Jackson came to the King Star Baptist Church in 1973 and has been the longest serving pastor in the church’s history.

The Rev. Gary D. Brown delivered a strong sermon to the audience. “This man is no stranger to the King Star Baptist Church; he is a native of Aransas Pass and is son of the late Rev. Phillip Brown,” Jackson said.

“He has been a minister for 22 years and is an outstanding young man and a tremendous preacher.”

Brown has previously served as the Pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Bishop and the Westside Baptist Church in Fort Worth.

He received his baccalaureate degree from Howard Payne University and is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Seminary with a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages and a Master of Arts in Christian Education.

He has studied in Oxford, England at Regents Park College, and is also President and CEO of Global Marketing Service, with offices in Aransas Pass and Austin.

He is currently the founding Pastor of Friendship Community Baptist Church in Austin, which he formed 10 years ago.

Members of the Friendship Community Baptist Church of Austin delighted the audience with their renditions of song and prayer. Brown was overwhelmed when he spoke of receiving the invitation to the centennial celebration.

“When I first got the call about coming out here, I was so honored,” Brown said. “To bypass all the other churches within 200 miles of here to a church that has been in operations only 10 years, that says something about friendship.”

Brown says he was hesitant to tell his congregation about the invitation although he was so excited.

“I waited a couple of weeks to tell the people of our church about this but once I did they were just as excited as I,” Brown said. “We are so honored.”

Members of the Friendship Community Baptist Church as well as their choir accompanied Brown and his family to the King Star centennial.

The King Star Baptist Church choir joyfully sang gospel hymns during the concluding centennial celebration held on March 28. The choir delighted the King Star audience with their renditions of popular gospel hymns.

Brown delivered his sermon and spoke about his appreciation for the church and its members.

“I am so proud and overjoyed for you,” Brown said. “The longevity of your service speaks volumes of your ministry. Without a doubt, your years of service have made a positive and spiritual impact in your community as well as across this state and country.”

Brenda Harper, Chairperson for the Finance Committee, announced that over $21,000 had been raised for the centennial, and more donations were still coming in.

“We set a goal of $20,000 and are so blessed to have reached that goal,” Harper said.

King Star Baptist Church Rev. Earl Jackson, who has been with the church for 37 years spoke to the church members during the centennial celebration. Members of the church were asked to collect $1,000 each, if possible, from their families and friends and all the money raised will go directly back towards the church.

It was also announced by Rev. Jackson that Jack Oliver, a frequent visitor and friend of the church, would be providing the resources and materials for repairs and painting to be done to the outside of the church.

“This has been a blessed evening for us here and I would like to thank everyone for their support,” Jackson said. “We appreciate all you have done and sacrificed to make this day what it has been.”

Jeannette Price served as Chairman for the Centennial Anniversary and Homecoming Committee and Joann Gaddis and Margie Houston served as Cochairmen.

Price spoke of her appreciation for the support she received in putting this event together.

“I would like to give a huge thank you to the King Star family, we all pulled together to do this, it was a group effort,” Price said.

“I would also like to thank Rev. Jackson who has supported everything that we have done and has been a guiding light to us for so many years,” he said.

“We must also give much appreciation for Rev. Gary Brown and his friendship family for sharing this event with us.”

The celebration concluded a series of events that began last fall in order to celebrate this milestone achievement.

In February, proclamations were given to the church from a number of government entities including the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, the Governor, the Kleberg County Commissioner’s Court, and the City of Kingsville Commission.

The church has seen a lot of change since it’s creation on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1910, when nine charter members including, John Canada, Shelby Adams, Alfred E. McDow, Lizzie Canada, Nellie Henderson, Matte Hodge, Sally Cruel, Sarah Wilson, and Jessie Meade McDow, officially formed the King Star Missionary Baptist Church, the first church for African-Americans in Kingsville.

Mrs. Jessie McDow organized the first choir in 1912 and the choir purchased the first organ.

During this time, the church building was used as a school facility for the first African-American children’s classes in the Kingsville Independent School District during segregation.

In 1954, four lots at the present site at 605 S. Martin Luther King Jr. St. were purchased and in 1970 the property in the rear was also accumulated.

The original building, now an empty lot, was across the street from the present location.

Also during that year, Marion Chandler donated the sign in front of the church.

The building experienced extensive remodeling in 1970, 1975, and 2005.

In recent years, the church has been the recipient of considerable donations by its members including a car given by Mrs. Wade Lee Hampton in 1984 to provide transportation to church functions.

Mrs. Ursula Jones donated Bibles to the church in 2004 in memory of D’Angelo Carrington Lewis.

In June 2008, Mrs. Carolyn Elias and her son Jack Oliver, visitors to the King Star Church, made a monetary donation for new choir robes and in December of that same year, they also contributed funds for a new sound system.

The Jackson’s Flock Scholarship fund was established in 1997 to contribute financial support to high school seniors of the church.

In the fourth Sunday of March 1999, the church was designated as a Texas Historical Site and a marker was erected and a dedication ceremony was held on March 28, 1999.