"How Did We Get In Here"

OUR MINISTER
Bro Jones

The Church of Christ at Laurel Street had its beginning some time in 1935. It started in the home of Brother Walter Chaney, who had obeyed the gospel many years before and who had moved to San Antonio from Smithville, Texas. About ten members who saw a need to worship God met in the home of Brother and Sister Chaney at 813 Culebra. Some of the early members were Brother and Sister Seth McCain and Brother John T. Ramsey. Brother’s McCain and Ramsey did the preaching. It was said that when they preached, they preached with such a fervent spirit you would think the hair on your head was standing up. Other members were Brother & Sister Daniel Mitchell and son, John, Brother Quinton Mitchell (his brother), Brother Cannon and daughter, Brother Wilson, and Sister Etta Adams.
About three years later, others came into the house - Sister Lomie Bell and her children; one of them being Sister Argolia Jackson. Brother Chaney had a lot next door to his house. There he built an arbor, and they worshipped outside under the arbor when the weather was nice. They worshipped at 813 Culebra for about four and a half years.
Beacon Hill Church of Christ heard about this work and did much to help the brethren go a little further for the lord. The brothers secured a house in September 1940 - a big house that sat on cedar blocks. At that time, others came in to help the work grow. Brother L.F. Santleben, Brother R.L. McCown, Brother Raymond Brown, Brother John Middleton and Brother L.M. Hawke were some of the first trustees of Laurel Street.
They kept holding on, and holding on, they kept praying and praying. Some of the neighbors who are still living today said they remember when only three people would come to the building for worship, but these members kept holding on, and kept praying.
Beacon Hill got with the brothers at Laurel Street and sponsored a tent meeting. In that day and time, excitement was in the air to hear of a preacher coming to the neighborhood. Someone said the flyers read "Brother R.N. Hogan Is Coming To Town" and follow-up flyers read - "Brother R.N. Hogan Is In Town." Some said it was in 1939; others say in 1940. Brother R.N. Hogan did come. When Brother Hogan came, a few members were meeting on Laurel Street. For some 30 days or so, Brother Hogan preached in a big tent on the corner of Laurel and Zarzamora. After the meeting was over, about 40 souls were added to the Laurel Street Church of Christ. Brother Clinton Wilson, who now lives in Los Angeles, was the last to obey on the last night of the meeting.
With a spirit to do God's will, the church needed to be better organized to do God's work. There was a brother who traveled with Brother Hogan as his song leader. He was a song leader and a preacher. He stayed behind to set things in order. Brother J.M. Butler became the first full-time minister.
In 1940, many blessings as well as many storms blew the way of Laurel Street Church of Christ but she kept holding on. She kept praying, kept working.
Laurel Street is the oldest Black congregation in San Antonio. It is the mother to all the rest and stepmother to some of the others.
Because of the growth and the inadequacy of the first building, it was torn down and the one that we are now in was built in either early 1958 or late 1957. At that time, Brother A.N. Patterson was the minister.
The church grew and grew, and with growth comes problems. But they kept holding on, they kept praying and working.
In 1965, Brother Eugene Lee, the minister then, began expanding and renovating the building. Windows were closed up and air-conditioners were put in. The upstairs classroom area was added. This building, as you see it today, was started under the leadership of Brother Lee and was completed by the strong hands of many faithful members of the Lord's church. Since that time, many ministers, many members, many storms have come and gone, but the Lord's work, the Lord's church is still here.
Today, what you see is the result of children of God who believed in God. Many of them worked from "can't see in the morning to can't see in the night." through it all, God was with them.

HONORING THE PAST MINISTERS