The first service of the San Antonio English speaking Church of God (Seventh Day)  in China Grove, Triple Tree and 7735 U.S. Highway 87 E, San Antonio, Texas was December 18, 1993.

 

The Church has become known as THE TRIPLE TREE CHURCH OF GOD 7TH DAY, San Antonio, Texas. Brother Archie Lawson was our Pastor and led the services Dec. 18, 1993.

 

Church history prior to Dec. 18, 1993 : Two families, the Nathan Crisp and Lonnie Crisp families moved to San Antonio and started having Sabbath School in their homes in 1954. In February of 1955, Joyce Baker Gold moved to San Antonio and joined these two families for Sabbath School. In 1956/1957 two other single ladies joined this group. They were Jane Rathke Wheeler and Nona Baker Karnie. Marybell and Melvin Sweet moved to San Antonio in 1959 and joined the Sabbath group (Elroy and Joyce had moved to Houston)

 

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING.

 

Sometime in 1960/1961 the Sabbath School moved from the homes to a small Church on West Commerce. For a few weeks, then moved to the Goodwill Chapel on South Pleasanton road for about a year. In 1961/1962 the group moved to Stinson Chapel for about two years. The first organizational meeting was held on Wednesday June 26, 1963, in the home of the Mc Donalds when Elder K.C. Walker helped to organize the Church.

 

The first trustees were Nathan Crisp, Jack Mc Donald and Elroy Gold, with Margaret Crisp and Sec/Treas. January 1, 1964, 2 acres of property were purchased on Rice Road and a bulding was purchased, moved in and worked on until the Church was able to have the first Church service June 17, 1964. The Church was known as the Rice Road Church of God 7th Day in San Antonio. the first pastor was Melvin Sweet, serving at the Stinson Chapel and then the Rice Road Church (1961-1964). The next pastor was Ken Lawson for 3 years until he moved to California. Brother Melvin and Ken did a lot of work on the Church on Rice Road. Other Pastors the Years were : George Tolbert, Vernon Dickerson, Rich Dais, Harvey Yarborough, Andy Hasson. Other Ministers that have helped over the years, but were not pastors : K.C. Walker, O.T. Whitten, Roy Keim, L.L. Christenson, Belton Sweet and Clay Smith, Brother Elroy Gold served as interim Minister/Pastor many times off and on whenever the Church did not have a regular Pastor, including the time after Brother Archie Lawson's death in September, 1999 until May 1, 2003 when Brother Wayne Hrenyk came to be the Pastor.

 

Many others have helped with whatever was needed, from filling the pulpit on Sabbath, to cleaning, building, and lawn mowing. One of our members that did tremendous amount of work on the building on Rice Road, and was responsible for getting the building for the Church was Hollis Minica, who joined the Church some time in 1963/1964. Hollis bid on barrack building for the Church and was successful so there was lumber to add classrooms and dinning area to the original building.

 

Brother Bill Meadow helped with engineering on the roof for the add on. The ladies group (The Bluebonnets) held successful yard sales on our Church parking lot ad bought the piano being used now. The Bluebonnets were organized in 1961/1962. September of 1989 Elder Archie Lawson started as the new Pastor at the Rice Road Church.

 

 

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Triple Tree Church of God (Seventh Day)