Our Founder
There is a beginning to everything under the sun. God was in the beginning of our late founder, Rev. Thomas James Compton.
Rev. T. J. Compton was born on April 25, 1907 in Hempstead, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Compton. He often referred to his hometown as "The Brazos Bottom". His parents were God fearing people who raised their son in the ways of the Lord. He confessed his belief in Christ at an early age. He married Miss Esther Jacques and they were blessed with one son, Samuel. Rev. and Sis. Compton were a devoted team for forty-seven years until God called her home to be with Him. They were the grandparents of Everest and Samuel Compton, Jr.
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Reverend T. J. Compton was called in the ministry in 1939. He organized a church at 04 House Street in the Fourth Ward section of Houston, Texas with six charter members: Polly Jessie, Georgia Lewis, Leona Bookman, Daisy Mae Routt, Inez Dillard and Esther Compton.
One of the founding members, Inez Dillard, who later became a Mother of the church was a faithful member for fifty-four years until the Lord called her home in 1993.
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Pastor Compton graduated from Hempstead High School and later attended the Baptist Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. He graduated from the Union Baptist Bible College and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Doctor of Divinity in Ministry. Reverend Compton was a welll earned man, rightly dividing the word of God.
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With divine insight and guidance, Pastor Compton enrolled in the Puritan District Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress. His goal was to better the church. He was president of the Congress for many years and served faithfully in the District and in the Baptist Ministers' Alliance as a strong teacher. Pastor Compton also served as a member on numerous boards. Because of his involvement in the Settegast community and his love for it and the people, Reverend Compton was affectionately referred to as "The Mayor of Settegast."
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After the loss of Sister Esther Compton, Pastor Compton traveled the Christian road alone for several years. But the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, saw fit to send the pastor another dedicated Christian helpmate, Sister Juanita Spellmon. Sis. Juanita Compton served dutifully by the Pastor's side until his death in April of 1990.
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One of Pastor Compton's dreams was to build a church to accommodate the members and to bring more souls to Christ. Now that dream is becoming a reality through the efforts of his son, Reverend Samuel Compton, Sr.