The Martinez Congregation was born in June of 1935 with four families – Jim and Edna Biggers, Frank and Lela Dubose, Roy and Margaret Fisher and Earl and Arthie Wilkerson. They met in a rented hall. With the assistance of members from the Oakland and San Francisco areas, a small auditorium was completed in 1937 at Palm and Almond Streets, under the active leadership of Wade Ruby, minister of the Berkeley church. The auditorium and educational facilities were enlarged in 1953 to accommodate approximately 225 people. A minister’s home was built on the south side of the church house.

In 1937, Brother Everett Evans became the first paid preacher. He worked full time for the Associated Oil Company in Avon and preached for the congregation through 1945. ON December 14, 1952, our first two elders, Jim Biggers and Charles Buchanan, were selected and appointed, along with three deacons, Don Backans, C.J. Hamrick, and Ralph Tipps.

Those who have served as ministers and youth ministers are: John Brown, Bobby Deason, Claude Doggett, Ron Downey, Steve Vawter, Everett Evans, Rob Hartley, Ernest Hillman, Harold Hougey, Rich Howell, Al Lachner, Emmett Long, Boyce McClain, Brother Monsur, Harry Reynolds, Gary Rose, Gary Souza, G. Dudley Stout, Leroy Thompson, Claud Thurman and Art Walters. Our current minister is Ray Lawson.

Those who have served this congregation as elders are: Al Almond, Jim Biggers, Charles Buchanan, George Crews, Bobby Deason, George Eubanks, Charles Flint, Billy Fly, Stanley Reinhardt and Bud Vawter. Our Current elders are Ernest Hillman, Ray Lawson and Neil Royal.