HISTORY OF TRUE LIGHT M. B. CHURCH
1934-2018
1934-2018
In 1934, approximately 43 members marched with candles from Morning Star Baptist Church on Kane Street to a small store on East Bell Street in Jackson, Mississippi. Rev. J. H. Sims was the founder and first pastor of True Light M. B. Church. A few of the pioneers were Mary Lee Hicks, Sarah Lynn, Pearlina Smith and Rev. James Thomas. Rev. Sims served True Light faithfully until his departure. Rev. Will Robinson was then installed as the second pastor of True Light and served for three years. Under Rev. Robinson’s leadership, the membership relocated from the store on Bell Street to a wooden framed building in the back of True Light Church present location.
Reverend (Dr.) Robert H. Walls was the third and most tenured pastor of True Light. He was a licensed minister from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and joined True Light in 1935 along with his wife, Leatha Warren Walls. After Rev. Robinson departure, the church asked Rev. Walls to serve as Pastor until they decided to call a pastor. The church made great progress under his leadership, and the membership increased. Because of this progress, Rev. Walls was ordained to preach the Gospel. In April of 1940, the church asked Rev. Walls to serve as True Light’s Pastor, and he accepted this calling of God.
Because of the church’s growth, a survey revealed a need for additional space. To address this need, the church purchased two lots with a seven-room house. Uplifting services were held in a small wood framed building on the recently purchased property. The continued growth created the need for a modern church building. The church borrowed $10,000 to construct the building. Pastor Walls drew on a brown paper bag a sketch of our present edifice. Pastor Walls once stated, “True Light Church was spiritually built.” He had never constructed a building before but became a “Master Builder.” For five years, day and night, he toiled. He had many sleepless nights and cried many tears, but he kept on working and had faith that God would surely see them through. In 1953, the church marched into our present edifice. The church began full-time worship service in 196l. True Light Church was one of the first Black churches in the City of Jackson and the first Black church to be constructed with bricks in the City of Jackson.
Rev. Walls was a faithful teacher, counselor, and devoted servant of God for over half of a century. Under his guidance, six ministers were ordained to preach the Gospel: Marvin Adams, Carlos Casanova, Henry Murphy, Charles Polk, Sr., Marcus Stewart, and James Thomas. The Deacons ordained to serve under Pastor Walls were Calvin Adams, James Anderson, Don Andy, Cecil Blue, Norman Ealy, Miller Green, John Hardy, Alphonso Hicks, Leroy Jones, Sr., James Jefferson, Sr., Ben McElroy, Henry Murphy, James Hubbard, Moses Owens, Charles Polk, Sr., Don Parker, James Scott, Henry Taylor, Sr., Silas Tucker, Versie Tucker, and Herbert Ward.
Under Pastor Walls leadership, the church purchased Hart Baptist Center and renamed it after the First Lady, Leatha Walls Educational Complex. In December of 2000, the City of Jackson renamed the Fortification Street Bridge the Reverend R. H. Walls Bridge. In 1980, Pastor Walls was awarded the Medgar Wiley Evers award by the Jackson Branch of the NAACP because of his involvement and the church’s involvement with the voter registration drive and their total support of the NAACP. The church grew spiritually under his leadership. The strong music ministry was very dedicated and committed through the seven choirs serving under Rev. Walls leadership. In 1959, Pastor Walls asked that a choir be named in his honor. Thus, the Walls Inspirational Choir was organized. Pastor Walls served as a dedicated leader for sixty-one years. God called him home on February l6, 2004.
In 2001, after Pastor Walls entered the evening time of his life, Reverend Marvin Adams began to serve as Interim Pastor of True Light. Rev. Adams and his family were long time members of True Light Church. Thus, he was familiar with the membership and the various ministries. He was installed as the fourth Pastor of True Light that same year. Under Rev. Adams leadership, three ministers served as Associate Ministers, Carlos Casanova, Henry Taylor James Thomas. Brother Clarence James was ordained as a deacon. The interior sanctuary was renovated, and a Vesta View added to accommodate members and visitors waiting to enter the sanctuary. The church purchased a 47-seat passenger bus and carpeting was placed in the dining area of the Fellowship Hall. A Dance Ministry and Food and Clothing Ministry were organized. Rev. Adams faithfully served as Pastor of True Light Church for three years.
In March of 2006, God sent the church a spirit-filled anointed man of His choice, Marcus E. Cheeks. Pastor Cheeks was installed as the fifth pastor of True Light Church. He is an educator by trade holding degrees from Tougaloo College, Jackson State University and soon to be the University of Mississippi. Pastor Cheeks believes that a church’s main focus should be in growing spiritually. He has the belief that through faithful study, dedication to the Word, and an intimate daily walk with Jesus Christ, the Lord will surely use him to glorify His Kingdom. Under his leadership, four ministers have served as Associate Ministers, Carlos Casanova, Henry Taylor James Thomas and Darrel Woullard, Sr. Five Deacons, Leroy Carter, Marc Clay, Curtis Holmes, Lee Lyle, and Harvey Marshall have been ordained. In addition, True Light’s ministries have increased to include a Couples Ministry, an Outreach Ministry, Small Group Study platform for all Christian teachings, and the implementation of the Unity Drive designed to increase our personal and financial commitments to God. The church has purchased three adjacent properties for future growth. Physical renovations have taken place in several areas of the church: the Pastor’s Study, church sanctuary and restrooms, parking lot, technology has been added to Leatha Walls Educational Complex and the purchase of an additional church minibus. Most importantly, Pastor Cheeks has provided a vision into the future, with fervent prayer, focused commitment and faithful service united with our Lord and Savior, “One in Jesus.”
True Light Missionary Baptist Church has made significant contributions to the community, state and nation by being actively involved in the Midtown Community, the Jackson District Missionary Baptist Association, the Jackson District Congress of Christian Education, General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
God has allowed us to make significant contributions since 1934, but our work is not complete. Today, True Light is focused on being, “One in Jesus.” It is our desire to be a symbol of hope, united in faith and fellowship and determined to share the Word of God, through teaching, testifying and transforming our community. There is more to come!
Reverend (Dr.) Robert H. Walls was the third and most tenured pastor of True Light. He was a licensed minister from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and joined True Light in 1935 along with his wife, Leatha Warren Walls. After Rev. Robinson departure, the church asked Rev. Walls to serve as Pastor until they decided to call a pastor. The church made great progress under his leadership, and the membership increased. Because of this progress, Rev. Walls was ordained to preach the Gospel. In April of 1940, the church asked Rev. Walls to serve as True Light’s Pastor, and he accepted this calling of God.
Because of the church’s growth, a survey revealed a need for additional space. To address this need, the church purchased two lots with a seven-room house. Uplifting services were held in a small wood framed building on the recently purchased property. The continued growth created the need for a modern church building. The church borrowed $10,000 to construct the building. Pastor Walls drew on a brown paper bag a sketch of our present edifice. Pastor Walls once stated, “True Light Church was spiritually built.” He had never constructed a building before but became a “Master Builder.” For five years, day and night, he toiled. He had many sleepless nights and cried many tears, but he kept on working and had faith that God would surely see them through. In 1953, the church marched into our present edifice. The church began full-time worship service in 196l. True Light Church was one of the first Black churches in the City of Jackson and the first Black church to be constructed with bricks in the City of Jackson.
Rev. Walls was a faithful teacher, counselor, and devoted servant of God for over half of a century. Under his guidance, six ministers were ordained to preach the Gospel: Marvin Adams, Carlos Casanova, Henry Murphy, Charles Polk, Sr., Marcus Stewart, and James Thomas. The Deacons ordained to serve under Pastor Walls were Calvin Adams, James Anderson, Don Andy, Cecil Blue, Norman Ealy, Miller Green, John Hardy, Alphonso Hicks, Leroy Jones, Sr., James Jefferson, Sr., Ben McElroy, Henry Murphy, James Hubbard, Moses Owens, Charles Polk, Sr., Don Parker, James Scott, Henry Taylor, Sr., Silas Tucker, Versie Tucker, and Herbert Ward.
Under Pastor Walls leadership, the church purchased Hart Baptist Center and renamed it after the First Lady, Leatha Walls Educational Complex. In December of 2000, the City of Jackson renamed the Fortification Street Bridge the Reverend R. H. Walls Bridge. In 1980, Pastor Walls was awarded the Medgar Wiley Evers award by the Jackson Branch of the NAACP because of his involvement and the church’s involvement with the voter registration drive and their total support of the NAACP. The church grew spiritually under his leadership. The strong music ministry was very dedicated and committed through the seven choirs serving under Rev. Walls leadership. In 1959, Pastor Walls asked that a choir be named in his honor. Thus, the Walls Inspirational Choir was organized. Pastor Walls served as a dedicated leader for sixty-one years. God called him home on February l6, 2004.
In 2001, after Pastor Walls entered the evening time of his life, Reverend Marvin Adams began to serve as Interim Pastor of True Light. Rev. Adams and his family were long time members of True Light Church. Thus, he was familiar with the membership and the various ministries. He was installed as the fourth Pastor of True Light that same year. Under Rev. Adams leadership, three ministers served as Associate Ministers, Carlos Casanova, Henry Taylor James Thomas. Brother Clarence James was ordained as a deacon. The interior sanctuary was renovated, and a Vesta View added to accommodate members and visitors waiting to enter the sanctuary. The church purchased a 47-seat passenger bus and carpeting was placed in the dining area of the Fellowship Hall. A Dance Ministry and Food and Clothing Ministry were organized. Rev. Adams faithfully served as Pastor of True Light Church for three years.
In March of 2006, God sent the church a spirit-filled anointed man of His choice, Marcus E. Cheeks. Pastor Cheeks was installed as the fifth pastor of True Light Church. He is an educator by trade holding degrees from Tougaloo College, Jackson State University and soon to be the University of Mississippi. Pastor Cheeks believes that a church’s main focus should be in growing spiritually. He has the belief that through faithful study, dedication to the Word, and an intimate daily walk with Jesus Christ, the Lord will surely use him to glorify His Kingdom. Under his leadership, four ministers have served as Associate Ministers, Carlos Casanova, Henry Taylor James Thomas and Darrel Woullard, Sr. Five Deacons, Leroy Carter, Marc Clay, Curtis Holmes, Lee Lyle, and Harvey Marshall have been ordained. In addition, True Light’s ministries have increased to include a Couples Ministry, an Outreach Ministry, Small Group Study platform for all Christian teachings, and the implementation of the Unity Drive designed to increase our personal and financial commitments to God. The church has purchased three adjacent properties for future growth. Physical renovations have taken place in several areas of the church: the Pastor’s Study, church sanctuary and restrooms, parking lot, technology has been added to Leatha Walls Educational Complex and the purchase of an additional church minibus. Most importantly, Pastor Cheeks has provided a vision into the future, with fervent prayer, focused commitment and faithful service united with our Lord and Savior, “One in Jesus.”
True Light Missionary Baptist Church has made significant contributions to the community, state and nation by being actively involved in the Midtown Community, the Jackson District Missionary Baptist Association, the Jackson District Congress of Christian Education, General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
God has allowed us to make significant contributions since 1934, but our work is not complete. Today, True Light is focused on being, “One in Jesus.” It is our desire to be a symbol of hope, united in faith and fellowship and determined to share the Word of God, through teaching, testifying and transforming our community. There is more to come!