Church History
This brief History of Memorial Baptist Church was written by Sister Bobbie Greene and was taken from the minutes of the business meetings of the Church that are available to anyone that wants to read them. All comments are hers; I have tried my best to copy it word for word. [R.K.]
In May of 1959 Folsom Avenue Baptist Church of Hayward “extended an arm” to organize a Church in Fremont, CA. Brother Bill Seay was a Missionary at the time. Brother John White was a member of the Hayward Church, but lived in Fremont. He and Brother Seay worked together to start a church in Fremont.
On May 9, 1959 the Cabrillo Park Baptist Church was organized with 20 charter Members. The Church met in the garage of Brother White’s home at 35841 Cabrillo Drive, Fremont. Brother White was called as Pastor.
August 7, 1960 the Church granted six [6] letters to help organize a Church in Petaluma, Ca.
In November 1960 the Church granted eight [8] letters to help organize a Church at San Jose, California.
In June 1962 the Church granted eight [8] letters to help organize a Church in the Warm Springs district of Fremont.
Brother White was looking for property suitable for a Church building and found a 3 acre lot at 4467 Stevenson Blvd in Fremont. On February 28, 1960 a down payment was made on the property.
On March 6, 1960 the Church was Incorporated, and the Name was changed to Memorial Baptist Church. Brothers John White, Jim Krisell, and Ernest Greene were elected Trustees.
We had found the property, now the money had to be found to pay for it, and to build a Church Plant. The Church Clerk sent letters to the Sister Churches of local, State, and National Associations telling them of the new Church and property, and asked for any assistance possible. We received one check. A small Church in Georgia or Alabama sent $1.00, with their prayers and blessings- May God bless them. It was appreciated very much.
Not only did we have to raise the money, we had to battle with the city of Fremont for permits to build a Church on the property- and what a battle it was. Only one councilman, Rollin Cunningham, was for us at first. He really “went to bat” for us- May God Bless him. (One Councilman was heard to say, “4467 Stevenson Blvd, How did we let that get by us”?
Permits were finally granted and the only thing that stood in the way was finances. On September 17,1962 the Church authorized the sale of $23,000 worth of bonds, and borrowed $20,000 from Franklin Savings and Loan. They also borrowed $10,000 from another loan fund.
The work on the building was done by volunteer labor for the most part. We hired part of the work done until the funds were exhausted, then the faithful finished the work.
Dan Silvey, an architectural student at the University of California, Berkeley drew the plans- at a considerable savings to us. He is a Christian and wanted to help struggling Churches. May God richly bless him also!
The first service was held in the new building March 22, 1964. What a happy time that was.
Bonds and Loans were paid off December 1976 and the Church was free of debt. In March of 1977 the Church bought a three bedroom Mobile home to be used as a parsonage. The Mobile home was paid off in 1992.
Pastors Who Served
The first deacon was Brother Emmett Tutt. Bro. Jim Krisell was also ordained as deacon. The first licensed Minister was Bro. Bill Cribb- he was ordained March 12, 1961. Ralph Krisell was the second licensed Minister, ordained August 16, 1964. Richard Matthews licensed to preach August 18,1964.
On August 9, 1961 the Church voted to sponsor Bro. Ralph Krisell to attend Central Baptist College at Conway, Arkansas.
Sister Bobbie Greene was a faithful member until her death in 2022, at the age of 104.
Brother Ralph Krisell was pastor for over 30 years until he retired in 2022.
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