This is a special edition of Deep in the Hearts of Texans featuring historic Black Texas Baptist churches in celebration of Black History Month.
The following responses were provided by Elaine Johnson of Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Richardson. Johnson was selected by long-time Mount Pisgah church historian Jesse Arnold to succeed him.
The congregation, which also goes by “The ROCK,” meets at 1020 S. Sherman Street in Richardson.
When and why was Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church founded?
On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves in the Confederate states.
Rev. Robert Butler, a white circuit preacher, gathered a few missionaries on the third Sunday in June 1864 under a large elm tree in White Rock Settlement of Dallas County, on a farm near White Rock Creek owned by Billie Wilburn. White Rock Settlement was an unincorporated community on the northern edge of Dallas County.
The law prohibited slaves from congregating without the presence of a white man. The group named the church Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, which comes from Deuteronomy, 34:1—“And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is over against Jericho.”
Pisgah is the mountain peak Moses stood upon looking over into the Promised Land. The founding members possibly had a vision of what was to come. Exactly one year after Mount Pisgah was formed, the Emancipation Proclamation was read.
Texas slaves did not hear the “news of freedom” until June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger read Military Order Number 3. The notification officially became the
first 19th of June celebration, currently known as Juneteenth. The announcement came on Mount Pisgah’s first church anniversary.
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After slavery was abolished, there was little opposition for the purchase of land in White Rock Creek Settlement by freedmen, as the whites owned more land than could be farmed without slave labor. Freedmen began buying land, building homes, churches and schools, paving the way for the future.
Mount Pisgah’s first members traveled as far as five miles to church, sometimes taking over an hour to travel to the church via horse, wagon or by foot on dirt roads. After the earliest meeting under the elm tree, members began worshiping under a brush arbor—a pavilion-like structure.
The first deacons were John Hoffman, Dan Howard, Sam Fowler, William Phifer, Tobe Howard and Jack Saunders.
What was a struggle during the church’s history?
There were two particular struggles in our history. The first and most obvious was slavery. Mount Pisgah was formed one year prior to the enslaved people of Texas hearing of their freedom. Butler and the enslaved congregation held church services despite the cruel and inhumane treatment slaves often endured, even unto death.
The second struggle was the loss of land in May 1983. Mount Pisgah lost almost half an acre of its original property to eminent domain for the development of Spring Valley Road and Preston Road in Dallas.
What was a triumph?
We’ve had many triumphs. Forming Mount Pisgah during slavery in Texas is top of the list.
Another was purchasing property, which is now 14000 Preston Road in Dallas and is still owned by Mount Pisgah.
In June 1888, the congregation voted to purchase land. On Nov. 14, 1888, the church’s first deacons purchased land situated in Dallas County on the waters of White Rock Creek from former slaves William and Elvira Wilkerson for “a bargain price of $10 for one acre.”
Mount Pisgah later purchased a larger location at 11611 Webb Chapel in Dallas.
What was a significant moment?
As with triumphs, we’ve had many significant moments. One is the establishment by Jesse Arnold—Dallas educator, historian, archivist, musician and church trustee—of the Mount Pisgah Archives in 1992.
In January 2004, the Bernice Smith Scholarship Ministry was formed to provide scholarships for deserving Mount Pisgah high school graduating seniors. Since 2004, Mount Pisgah high school graduates have attended various colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Within the Bernice Smith Scholarship Ministry, multiple scholarships have been opened, including the Aretha Ford Community Service Scholarship, Rickie Wright College/Graduate Students Scholarship and Charles Mitchell Music Scholarship.
The scholarship ministry initiated the DFW College Tour, conducts college readiness workshops and provides first-year college students a monthly stipend.
In 1990, the Helping Hands Ministry was formed and partnered with the Holy Cross Church—a white congregation—to feed homeless individuals at the Austin Street Shelter in Dallas County. The ministry has provided hot meals monthly for more than 300 homeless individuals, reaching more than 92,400 people.
In 2012, Mount Pisgah’s mission stretched as far as Ghana, West Africa, by providing financial assistance to build and maintain a water well that provides clean water to a village of more than 500 people in the rural village of Adope Kpando in the Volta Region of Ghana. This effort was led by Associate Minister Rev. Kwasi Torvike.
Mount Pisgah celebrated her 150th anniversary in June 2014. The service included the annual church anniversary picnic on the church grounds. The anniversary choir produced and released an album titled “Worship on the ROCK.”
A Texas Historical Marker was placed at the original location in 2019.
What makes Mount Pisgah proud?
Mount Pisgah is proud of her longevity—more than 158 years of continuous ministry.
Since its founding, Mount Pisgah has sought to be a light in the community, and we believe our longevity is solid evidence we have made a noteworthy difference in Dallas County and in the lives of our parishioners, both past and present.
What is Mount Pisgah’s impact on its community?
Mount Pisgah is the oldest African American Baptist church in Dallas County and the third oldest African American Baptist church in Texas.
Mount Pisgah has contributed significantly to the development and growth of the community. We have given many local, state and national officials, veterans, professional athletes, successful entrepreneurs, educators, brilliant students, doctors, lawyers, architects and countless productive citizens. Their contributions have helped to make the Greater Dallas area an attractive destination for corporations, businesses and families.
We have participated in numerous community service and outreach projects, including Helping Hands, Ghana Water Well, Stephen Ministries, Love in a Shoebox, Back to School Project, North Texas Food Bank donations, Thanksgiving baskets, Angel Tree Project, Operation Care International Christmas gifts, College Aid, college tours, National Natural Disaster Projects and many more.
We provided fresh produce and meat for more than 400 people weekly for several months during the height of the pandemic.
Mount Pisgah has offered her facilities to minority and developing congregations to support diversity in the community. Camino Del Misionero currently meets in our original location at 14000 Preston Road in Dallas.
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