OUR HISTORY

Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church began in 1930 in an area of Dallas known as “The Bottom” and has had an historical commitment to this area for 90+ years. Golden Gate has traditionally focused on nurturing children and growing men and women in the Christian faith.

Golden Gate has been continuously moving toward becoming a community-focused church by developing ministries that serve both members of our church and the larger community. Some of these ministries include The Golden S.E.E.D.S. Foundation (TGSF), the Adult Rehabilitation Ministry (ARM), Women’s Adult Rehabilitation Ministry (WARM), and the Joseph E. Lockridge Scholarship Foundation. We have also developed partnerships with N. W. Harllee Elementary School, Townview Magnet Center, and Eloise Lundy Recreation Center.

Throughout our 93-year history, there have been only five pastors at GGMBC:  J.L. Lampley, DeSota Manning Jackson, L. R. Lockridge, Clarence Booker Taliaferro Smith and Vincent T. Parker.

Church Beginning

1930

In January of 1930, a small group of Christians felt the need to organize a church in and area of Oak Cliff commonly referred to as “The Bottom.” This group assembled for its first meeting in the home of Roy and Gertrude Glasgow. Having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, they called a second meeting, at which time the late Reverend J. D. Leonard, pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, and moderator of Elm Grove Association, presided. Reverend J. L. Lampley was called as pastor, and the church was organized.

J.L. Lampley Years

1930
With J.L. Lampley as the pastor, the membership bought a house on Red Oak Street. This house was transformed into a “little church.” The name, GOLDEN GATE BAPTIST CHURCH, was given this little church by the late Lula Johnson.

D. Manning Jackson Years

1930-1937
Reverend D. Manning Jackson was called to pastor Golden Gate. This young man had a vision for Kingdom Building and led the church in the purchase of four lots located at Sabine and Eads streets. A frame building with an annex for a dining area was built in 1934. One of Reverend Jackson’s outstanding attributes was the ability to minister to all the people—“for those were hard times.” FAMILY DAY was observed on the second Sunday in each month, which drew the largest attendance. The church continued to grow spiritually and numerically.

L. R. Lockridge Years

1937-1952

Reverend L. R. Lockridge (Demover Lockridge) was pastor. As the church continued to grow, it was evident that a building expansion was needed, and in 1939, the building was remodeled. The 1940s brought war to U.S. soil, and many of the men were called or volunteered for the United States Armed Forces. But amid external conflicts, the church continued to be blessed. Pastor Lockridge continued to lead Golden Gate, and its spiritual beliefs were magnified throughout the city and state. The congregation grew rapidly. This growth necessitated the erection of a new building which included a basement that housed the Elementary Sunday School Department and the dining facilities. Construction began in 1946 and was completed in 1947.

C.B.T. Smith Years

1952-1997
Clarence Booker Taliaferro Smith became the 4th pastor in 1952. A parsonage was built, a library and nursery were added. On May 3, 1968 at 4:50 p.m. in Dawson, Texas, Joseph Edwin Lockridge, son of Reverend L. R. Lockridge and the first Black Legislator in Texas since Reconstruction, was killed in an airplane explosion. In his honor, the church library was named the “Joseph E. Lockridge Library,” and in 1969, the Joseph E. Lockridge (JEL) Scholarship Foundation was established. In the 1970s, the Youth Choir recorded a gospel album entitled “Fill My Cup,” the church building was expanded to its current size, and the Jail Ministry was founded.  For the Pastor and Wife’s 20th Anniversary, the church membership sent Pastor Smith and wife, Rosie Lee Smith, on a trip to the Holy Land. In 1989, a vision for a rehab program to help men find a path to sobriety, renew relationships and return to spiritual union with God was given to the leadership of Golden Gate. The Adult Rehabilitation Ministry was born and continues to serve the community today.

Vincent T. Parker Years

1997-Present
Vincent T. Parker (Janice S. Parker) is the 5th and current pastor of Golden Gate Church. During this era, the Women’s Enrichment Ministry was developed, women began to be accepted into the drug rehabilitation ministry, eventually founding the Women’s Adult Rehabilitation Ministry (WARM), the Gate House was designed and built, and The Golden S.E.E.D.S. Foundation (TGSF) was created to help improve and further develop “The Bottom” community. The Youth Ministry along with Pastor Parker visited Ghana, where missionaries Lloyd and Jan Chinn serve the community.  The 2020 pandemic forced the church to an online platform, bringing new challenges and new opportunities to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the love of God to the world. As we now exist in a hybrid environment, we continue looking forward to “Even Greater Things.”

Church Beginning

1930

In January of 1930, a small group of Christians felt the need to organize a church in an area of Oak Cliff commonly referred to as “The Bottom.” This group assembled for its first meeting in the home of Roy and Gertrude Glasgow. Having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, they called a second meeting, at which time the late Reverend J. D. Leonard, pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, and moderator of Elm Grove Association, presided. Reverend J. L. Lampley was called as pastor and the church was organized.

J.L. Lampley Years

1930
With J.L. Lampley as the pastor, the membership bought a house on Red Oak Street. This house was transformed into a “little church.” The name GOLDEN GATE BAPTIST CHURCH was given this little church by the late Lula Johnson.

D. Manning Jackson Years

1930-1937
Reverend D. Manning Jackson was called to pastor Golden Gate. This young man had a vision for Kingdom Building and led the church in the purchase of four lots located at Sabine and Eads streets. A frame building with an annex for a dining area was built in 1934. One of Reverend Jackson’s outstanding attributes was the ability to minister to all the people—“for those were hard times.” FAMILY DAY was observed on the second Sunday in each month, which drew the largest attendance. The church continued to grow spiritually and numerically.

L. R. Lockridge Years

1937-1952

Reverend L. R. Lockridge (Demover Lockridge) was pastor. As the church continued to grow, it was evident that a building expansion was needed, and in 1939, the building was remodeled. The 1940s brought war to U.S. soil and many of the men were called or volunteered for the United States Armed Forces. But amid external conflicts, the church continued to be blessed. Pastor Lockridge continued to lead Golden Gate and spiritual beliefs were magnified throughout the city and state. The congregation grew rapidly. This growth necessitated the erection of a new building which included a basement that housed the Elementary Sunday School Department and the dining facilities. Construction began in 1946 and was completed in 1947.

C.B.T. Smith Years

1952-1997
Clarence Booker Taliaferro Smith became the 4th pastor in 1952. A parsonage was built, a library and nursery were added. On May 3, 1968 at 4:50 p.m. in Dawson, Texas, Joseph Edwin Lockridge, son of Reverend L. R. Lockridge and the first Black Legislator in Texas since Reconstruction, was killed in an airplane explosion. In his honor, the church library was named the “Joseph E. Lockridge Library,” and in 1969, the Joseph E. Lockridge (JEL) Scholarship Foundation was established. In the 1970s, the Youth Choir recorded a gospel album entitled “Fill My Cup,” the church building was expanded to its current size, and the Jail Ministry was founded.  For the Pastor and Wife’s 20th Anniversary, the church membership sent Pastor Smith and wife, Rosie Lee Smith, on a trip to the Holy Land. In 1989, a vision for a drug rehab program to help men find a path to sobriety, renew relationships and return to spiritual union with God was given to the leadership of Golden Gate. The Adult Rehabilitation Ministry was born in November, 1989 and continues to serve the community today.

Vincent T. Parker Years

1997-Present
Vincent T. Parker (Janice S. Parker) is the 5th and current pastor of Golden Gate Church. During this era, the Women’s Enrichment Ministry was developed, women began to be accepted into the drug rehabilitation ministry, eventually founding the Women’s Adult Rehabilitation Ministry (WARM), the Gate House was designed and built, and The Golden S.E.E.D.S. Foundation (TGSF) was created to help improve and further develop “The Bottom” community. The Youth Ministry along with Pastor Parker visited Ghana, where missionaries Lloyd and Jan Chinn serve the community.  The 2020 pandemic forced the church to an online platform, bringing new challenges and new opportunities to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the love of God to the world. As we now exist in a hybrid environment, we continue looking forward to “Even Greater Things.”

GOLDEN GATE HISTORY HIGHLIGHT

In the summer of 2013, the Golden Gate Youth Ministry took a mission trip to Ghana to assist in the mission work of Rev. Lloyd and Jan Chinn. After flying into Accra, the capital of Ghana, the team traveled an additional 8 hours to Nkwanta where they stayed with the Chinns.

Pictured from left to right: (bottom) Alfred Boss, IV, Sarah Hunter, Arianna Kossie, Toni Williams, Valarie Johnson, Paul Johnson, III, Cameron Scurlark, (top) Jan Chinn, Jacqueline Hoyt, Minister Stephen James, Michelle Brown, Joseph Chinn, Arial Kossie, Artenza Cregler, and Pastor Vincent Parker.

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