History

In 1908, at the corner of 114th Street and Graham Avenue, the Macedonia Baptist Church of Watts, California was organized under the leadership Rev. Louis Stokes. This makes Macedonia the oldest African American Baptist Church in the Watts area. Eight families served as charter families of the church: Bethal, Clark, Coleman, Copney, Dennis, Lawrence and Smiths. On May 29, 1916, the church was officially incorporated with three (3) Directors: Lee Copney, Joe Lawrence and Gus Smith. On July 24, 1946, the name was amended to be The Macedonia Baptist Church of Los Angeles, California with seven (7) Directors who would be designated as Trustees. Offsprings of Arvinola Neal (Smith Family’s fifth, sixth and seventh generations) are still active members today.

Pastoral Leadership Since 1951

In 1951, Rev. Sutton Odfel Joseph Evans left New Mount Zion Baptist Church, in Ennis, Texas to accept the call at Macedonia. His wife, Mary Alice; daughter, Olivette and sons, Joseph and Dallas joined him. His mother, Victoria L. Hudson joined the family in 1952 after his father, Rev. Dallas D. Evans, passed.

His first act as pastor was to eliminate all “gimmicks” to raise money (i.e. selling dinners, raffles, bazaars, contests, programs for profit, etc.). He suggested that they accept tithes and offerings as means of support for the church and replaced the By-laws with the Holy Bible. In spite of their doubts, they were willing to try his program which was that every adult member would give $3.00 per month over and above their regular giving toward the Building Fund.

Within nine months, Macedonia had completed the building of the Sanctuary at a cost of $110,000; and, on July 6, 1952, the congregation marched into a new and fully furnished sanctuary. While paying off the debt of the new church, the congregation purchased one of the existing lots on the east side of the church for additional parking, purchased a new parsonage, and extended the existing parking lot across the street from the church by tearing down the old parsonage.

After paying off the above debts, Macedonia took on a new task, the building of an education unit. The members raised $48,000 and God touched the heart of Dr. Bold and the City Mission Society, who loaned the church the $30,000 needed. Rev. Evans, in turn, took out a $30,000 life insurance policy on himself with Macedonia as the beneficiary in case something should happen to him before it was paid off. In 1957, the Education Building was completed and the loan was repaid in a few years.

During Rev. Evans’ tenure, the members gave more than $500,000 and membership tripled to 300 members. In 1962, Macedonia helped Rev. Riley, an associate minister of Macedonia, organize St. Philippi Missionary Baptist Church by giving them a piano, chairs and hymnals.

In 1965, Rev. Evans resigned leaving Macedonia free and clear of all debt with $13,000 in the treasures. On November 18, 1968, Rev. Evans was called Home. Rev. Evans’ daughter, Olivette and son-in-law, Al Hester are presently active members of Macedonia.

Dr. Floyd Massey, Jr. came to Macedonia in December of 1965 after serving at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was joined by his wife Ethel, and their 3 sons, Floyd III, Ronald and Thomas Rickie.

During Dr Massey’s administration, Macedonia joined the American Baptist Convention. In 1966, he launched a campaign to redecorate and remodel the Sanctuary. This redecoration included new heating and air conditioning, new public address system, new musical instruments, erection of a thirty-foot steeple with a cross and floodlights on the roof of the Sanctuary, new choir seats, carpeting and cushions for the pews. To aid in financing this project, he secured a loan from the Los Angeles Baptist City Mission Society and free will offerings from members. He also acquired an additional parking lot on the east side of the Sanctuary, re-surfacing of both parking lots and erected fencing on these lots.

Dr. Massey organized the Young Adult Choir (Inspirational Choir), Children’s Choir, purchased new robes for all choirs, established a Children’s Story during the worship service so children could be a part of the service, created a nursery and supervised care for babies and toddlers named after V.L. Hudson (Rev. Evan’s mother), mentored members of all ages, personally visited the sick and shut-in, inaugurated the Christian Athletic Participation Program, completed several church-wide membership directories, published the 75th Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Journal and formed the Elmore Scholarship Fund and Scholarship Committee in 1980.

During Dr. Massey’s leadership, Macedonia grew tremendously, is recognized worldwide, and we are still enjoying the fruits of his labors. He resigned in March 1988 and served as Pastor Emeritus until his passing on October 28, 2003.

Dr. Aidsand F. Wrght-Riggins was serving at Macedonia when the call came in the Fall of 1988. So, he began his pastorate in November 1988. He was joined by his wife, Betty; sons, Kevin and Aidsand and his daughter, Imani. His mother, Elva Riggins, joined Macedonia after he became pastor.

Dr. Wright-Riggins began right away by implementing programs for the youth and young adults, organized Young Adults Moving On (YAMO), the Voices in Praise Choir (VIP), Macedonia’s Pastor Aid Committee (MPAC) and restructured the Baptist Youth Fellowship and established Children’s Church.

He was a fervent supporter of youth retreats. He ordained Rev. Willie Neroes and Rev. Vernon Stubblefield and many new deacons.

Dr. Wright-Riggins served Macedonia during the height of the gang and drug proliferation which seized South Central Los Angeles in the mid 1980’s. He led Macedonia towards being a church that was not only in the heart of Watts but held Watts in its heart. He was committed to the social dimension of the gospel. He was focused on addressing the spiritual and relational needs of youth. He expanded the roles of the leadership of women and young adults in the church.

During his administration, Macedonia’s records and correspondence were automated utilizing a very sophisticated computer system at the time. He also completed our first church-wide pictorial directory in 1990. He was instrumental in increasing Macedonia’s real estate investments by purchasing a single- family residence also located on East 114th Street in Los Angeles which is across the street from the church.

In June 1991, Dr. Wright-Riggins resigned to join the denominational works of the American Baptist Convention where he has continued to be a friend of Macedonia. He has retired from his position as Director of National Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA later this year.

In November 1992, Macedonia called Rev. Robert Lewis Mason form Union Baptist Church in White Plains, New York. He arrived with his wife, Doris and their daughter, Jassett.

Acknowledging the impact of Macedonia in the spiritual community, he shared with the congregation, as did Rev. S.O.J. Evans, Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Each time the verse was read it reminded Macedonia of its mission. During his leadership, we began a radio broadcast; conducted a major renovation of the church sanctuary including new pews, carpeting, sound system, pastor’s study, conference room and new baptismal pool; purchased property on the east side of the church for additional parking and west side of the property across the street from the church for additional investments; purchased a baby grand piano; developed a prayer room and a women’s lounge; and implemented a church newsletter. In 1994, he acquired a commercial property on Wilmington Avenue to house our homeless feeding ministry (Macedonia House of Hope) which opened to the public in 1995 and serves approximately 20,000 persons per year.

Rev. Mason ordained Rev. Cleophus Williams. He also licensed Gloria Jones and Stevie Bradford. He conducted Deacon trainings and also added several new deacons to the Deacon Ministry.

He also developed a college tour program; hosted travel to New York and bus outings for shopping sprees; Back-to-School Fair; Town Hall Community meetings; Family & Friends Day; Church in the Park; created the Drama Guild; Pulpit Guild; Men’s Chorus; Praise Dance Ministry; Steppers for Christ;

Young Black Christian Leaders (YBCL); established a Sweet Hour of Prayer; Evangelism and Memorial Committees; Bible Study and outreach ministries that sought to save the lost and inform others of Christ. He updated the pictorial directory in early 2010. He participated in community efforts to develop a park on East 114th Street and Monitor Avenue.

Rev. Mason was able to reach out to those of all ages. His powerful messages and delivery of God’s word left an indelible mark in the minds and hearts of the congregation. Rev. Mason resigned on May 31, 2010 in order to move to Memphis, Tenn.

On November 1, 2011, the Lord sent Rev. Shane B. Scott, former Senior Pastor of the Saint Rest Baptist Church in Fresno, California to lead us. He arrived with his family Allyson Maria, his wife, his daughters, Savannah Grace and Lily Simone and his son, Shane B. Scott, II, who was born shortly before the family arrived. His father, Ananias Bourgeois, joined him in 2015.

Rev. Scott redesigned our ministries around evangelism and discipleship. He has expanded Bible Study to three times per week, one mid-day, one for Women and the third taught by him. He has merged Deacons and Deaconesses to form a Deacon/ Diaconate Ministry as of May 2012, re-trained and re-dedicated the Deacon/ Diaconate Ministry in 2013; restored the Children’s Choir; restored Children’s Church; is restoring Children’s Story; created a new youth and young adult choir- “Chosen”; reconstituted our Youth Ministry; developed J.E.W.E.L.S.- a new young adult women’s group; instituted Hot Summer Nights Revival; implemented an annual Hallelujah Night (Trunk or Treat) for our members as well as the community.

He also exposed our congregation and community to college choirs such as the Spelman Choir in 2012 and Lincoln University Choir in 2013. He has also reshaped our Christmas musicals and brought well- known psalmist Kathy Taylor in December 2014 and to conduct a Music Workshop featuring Kathy Taylor in October 2015.

Rev. Scott ordained Rev. Sherry Knott. He also created the Macedonia ALIVE slogan transforming us to become more “Accepting, Loving, Inspiring, Visioning and Encouraging” as a congregation and a beacon within the Watts community.

He has also established an annual fellowship with the Beth Shir Shalom Jewish Temple of Santa Monica which provides for an annual pulpit exchange over the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend as well as supporting other activities throughout the year. He established a first Monday Night Prayer Service; created Annual Community Christmas Dinner Give-a-Way at a designated local housing project; established Spring Fest for members and the community at Easter; continued Back to School Fair and Health Fair; conducted Annual Aids Day testing; hosted Speak Truth to Power- Political Forums; established an annual Couples Night and Watts Health 5K Walk/Run. He continued efforts with the City of Los Angeles to finalize and open Serenity Park on East 114th Street and Monitor Avenue on January 31, 2015. During his leadership, our homeless feeding ministry (Macedonia House of Hope) continues to feed persons twice a week. The House of Hope has fed over 400,000 persons to date.

In addition, he has completed remodeling church offices, the kitchen and our church-owned rental properties; updated our computer system; established new user-friendly website and online giving. In January 2015, he was successful in establishing the Macedonia Community Development Corporation (CDC) to help promote mental, financial and physical health. On March 9, the CDC was issued its Federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption. Several programs are already underway as he uses this tool for outreach for our ministries to serve the Watts/South Los Angeles areas.