Our History

April 1994 - Charter Ministers: OL Hegmon, Monte Parrish, Norman Calvin, Steve Bluford and Mark
Hammond.
Charter Deacons: Henry "Bob" Bradshaw, Ernest Bridges, John Evans, Arnett Patterson, William
Thomas, Charles Walker.

Charter Members: Cynthia Bell, Janet Bluford, Daniel and Delphine Bradford, Sandra Bridges,
Beverlyn Calvin, Virginia Clark, Nancy Evans, Lue Ellen Guidry, Connie Guyness, Diane Hammond,
Dorothy Hicks, Leroy and Carolyn Hilton, Earl and Ruth Jacobs Geraldine McCullers, Herman
Nathaniel. Jessie Parrish, Sharyn Patterson, Mary Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Anna Titus, Carolyn Truby,
Dorothy Walker, Yvonne Stewart, David and Bertha Sightler, Mary Simmons, Mary Taylor, Arnetta
White, Christine White, and Valerie Williams. 
 
May 1994: The Bible Fellowship weekly Sunday service were held at the Elks Lodge, Downey, CA. 
 
August 13, 1994: Bible Believers Missionary Baptist Church (BBMBC) became the official name. 
The body voted to secure Kennedy Elementary School, in Cerritos, as a place of worship and the
Cerritos Senior Citizen Center for Wednesday evening Bible study. 
 
August 1994 to October 1996: Pastor Emeritus Oliver Louis Hegmon served as Interim Senior Pastor 
 
January 1995: Development of Constitution and Bylaws was initiated. The following Church Officers
were elected: Deacon Arnett Patterson (Moderator), William Thomas (Church School
Superintendent), Ernest Bridges (Advisor Counselor), Charles Walker, John Evans and Henry
Bradshaw; Trustees: Ollie King, Nathaniel Bonner, Daniel Bradford, Jean Johnson-Bell, Herman
Nathaniel, Church Clerk: Sarah Thomas, Treasurer; Anna Titus, Financial Secretary: Rhonda Deville,
Church School Superintendent: Deacon William Thomas, Minister of Music: Beverlyn Calvin,
Advisory Council: Deacon Ernest Bridges. 
 
February 1996: As part of the Southern Baptist Conference, a Pastor’s Search Committee was
established. 
 
April 1997 - April 2000: Rev. Mark Hammond served as Senior Pastor. 
 
April 2001 - February 2008: Rev. Robert L. White, served as Senior Pastor. Under his leadership our,
Church Vision Statement was developed; Heart 2 Heart Single Mother's Ministry and Prison Ministry. 
 
February 2011: The Church moved from Cerritos to The Way Christian Fellowship in Lakewood.  
 
August 2011 to May 2021: Rev. Lester Eugene Barrie served as Senior Pastor. Under his leadership
the Shepherd's Ministry was developed to minister to the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of
church members and family. Also, the Adam and Eve Ministry was developed. 
 
August 2012 and August 2014: Community Health Fair was Co-hosted by BBMBC and Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, Inc. 
 
December 2014: Three new deacons were ordained - Deacon Marcus A. Bedford Sr., Deacon Daniel
Bradford, and Deacon Gibert Melton. 
 

June 2016: Ministerial Staff at Bible Believers Missionary Baptist Church increased to include Rev.
Trinette Barrie, Rev. Mary Marie Egland, Rev Denise Hightower, Rev Dr. Bruce Pettaway, Sr., and
Rev. Shay Pettaway. 
 
November 2018: BBMBC host a Women's Retreat in Diamond Bar, CA. Theme: Discovering The
Voice of God. 1 Samuel 3.8-10 
 
June 2019: BBMBC hosts First Community wide Prayer Vigil. 
 
June 2021: Bible Believers relocated St. Mark's Episcopal Church campus in Downey, CA. 
 
March 1, 2022: Rev. Dr. Larry Reeves was installed as Interim Pastor with a supporting staff of
Ministers, Deacons, and Deaconesses in Training. 
 
March 2022: Lance Stubbs joined, and Edward Egland rededicated his life to Christ. 
 
April 2022: Rev. Guy Wright joined with a focus on Mission and Men's Ministry 
 
August 13, 2022: Ann Taylor, Anne Johnson, Vashti Creekmur and Gertrude Lewis were consecrated
as Deaconess. 
Minister Marcus Egland entered the ministerial training program and preached his first sermon. 
 
October 4, 2022: The Sharing and Caring Ministry was developed to help Households in need of
assistance for Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday meals. 
 
October 25, 2022: Tuesday afternoon prayer and Bible Study and Wednesday night prayer and Bible
Study to include zoom and on site at BBMBC. 
 
December 25, 2023: Adrian Jenkins (infant) was dedicated to the Lord. 
 
February 19, 2023. Sandra Bridges, Dr. Blanche Cook, Mary E. Clayborne-Bedford, Geneva Harris
were consecrated as Deaconess. 
 
March 4, 2023: Home Bound and Nursing Home program were established to encourage visitation to
Acute Care Centers or home bound. 
 
October 2023 Women hosted Annual Faire