Corinth Missionary Baptist Church (CMBC) was organized on March 23, 1939 on the south corner of the
present lot in a 12×12 room with 12 members present. Rev. R.Q. Allen was the moderator of the
meeting. Rev. Allen was called as pastor that same night and he served as pastor of Corinth Missionary
Baptist Church for (26) twenty-six years and four months. Its charter members were: Sis. May Bell Allen Bro. Ellis Roberts Sis. Nola Thomas Edna Canady Lula Smith Marie Lynn Arnold W.C. Crenshaw Eddie M. Humphries Elfreda Davis M. C. Arnold Chattam Hill The officers elected immediately after the church was organized are as follows: Deacons: Brothers Ellis H. Roberts, Chattam Hill, M.C. Arnold and W.C. Crenshaw.
Clerk: Bro. Ellis Roberts, Treasurer: Bro. Chattam Hill, Sunday School Superintendent: Sis. Elfreda Davis
Secretary: Sis. Marie Arnold, Choir President: Sis. Mable Allen, Missionary Society President: Sis. Elfreda Davis The night the church was organized, the members voted to contact the owner of the property to
negotiate a contract on it. Sis. Elfreda Davis and Rev. R.Q. Allen went to Dr. A.T. Quinsonberry, the
owner of the property, who agreed to sell the land to Corinth for $800. The terms were $33.57 per
month. Sister Davis and Rev. R.Q. Allen reported the proposal to the church members, who accepted
the terms. The deacons and the pastor then signed the contract. The building had two 12’ x 12’ rooms of which the middle wall was removed to have a 12’ x 24’ building. Kerosene lamps were used until enough money could be raised to have the building wired for electricity. Deacon M. C. Arnold secured an electrician to wire the building for $17.75 who gave us $2.50 back with which we purchased light bulbs. The church borrowed soda pop cases 2’ x 3’ boards for seats from the St. John Regular Baptist District Association.
In December of 1941, Bro. Ellis Roberts located a two-story rock building for sale at the corner of 12 th
and Lavaca. Pastor Allen negotiated a contract with the seller of the house, Mr. Hood, to purchase the
house for $400. Again Dr. A. T. Quinsonberry came to our rescue and made an additional loan for $400
to purchase the house and $500 for construction of a rock veneer church. The men and women of the church worked untiringly day and night wrecking the old building. The pastor even quit his job for five months to help with the wrecking of the old and subsequent building of the new structure. Bros. E. Roberts and Nichols furnished their trucks and drove them free of charge to haul the material to the present sight. Rev. George W. Stewart worked faithfully and free of charge to help build the first church, and remained faithful through the years. The second building was erected in June 1959. Rev. S. A. Davis was the contractor and Pastor R. Q Allen
and Oscar Ulit; Architect designed the plans for the building. Kuntz-Sternenberg Lumber Company
furnished the building materials. Pastor R. Q. Allen challenged his members to be all they could be to evaluate one’s self before finding fault with your other brothers and sisters in Christ. Search yourself to make sure you are doing all you can do to support the work of the church through financial giving and service. He
also taught that what one does for the church best reflects his or her love of the church.

In September of 1965, Rev. L. Wilson was called to the Corinth Missionary Baptist
church as its leader. The church purchased a parsonage for their new Pastor and his
family.
Pastor Wilson was called to the ministry in January 1961 under the late Pastor G. C.
Coleman of at the Friendship Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. It can be said that
Pastor Wilson’s preaching and teaching of God’s word touched the lives of many during
his ministry and pastorage.
Under Pastor Wilson’s leadership Corinth Missionary Baptist Church grew numerically,
spiritually and financially. It served as a host for many Bible institutes, fellowships, workshops
and conferences during Rev. Wilson’s ministry. Members and auxiliary leaders enthusiastically
participated and financially supported district, state and national conventions and all facets of
Christian endeavors.
The fellowship hall was remodeled and named Allen Hall and dedicated to the memory of Pastor R. Q.
Allen. A van was purchased to provide transportation to those desiring transportation to attend church
services.
While serving as pastor of CMBC Pastor Wilson was appointed by the Moderator of the
St. John Regular Baptist District Association to the following positions: Assist. Dean of
the St. John Congress; member of the credential committee for St. John District
Association; additionally, he served as Vice President of Austin Baptist Ministers’ Union;
Chairman of Revival Committee for City Wide Revival, sponsored by the Ministers’
Union. He also served as an evangelist in Korea.
Pastor Levester Wilson had two sayings that have had an impact on many lives; he stressed
encouragement and education. The first saying was, start where you are, take what you have and
do the best you can. Secondly he would say, no go…, no know…. no grow,. In Dec. 2000, Rev.
Levester Wilson retired as pastor of Corinth Missionary Baptist. 

In April 2001, Min.Gary M. Renfro was chosen to become the third pastor of Corinth Missionary Baptist
Church. He was installed on the first Sunday of June 2001. Under Pastor Gary Renfro’s leadership we
have become a church “… where individuals and families can experience God.”
Within the first eleven months of Pastor Renfro’s leadership we saw a resurgence of
church attendance which resulted in an increase of our church roll. We were able to
pay off the debt owed on the organ, purchase new book holders for the pews, ceiling
fans and a water heater. We replaced our piano with a new keyboard and speakers;
purchased a pool warmer for the baptismal and installed an alarm system for the
sanctuary. A new church van and an A/C unit were also purchased.
In 2003 the Board of Trustees was revived to begin the planning and visionary processes to ensure the
growth as a ministry where both families and individuals can experience God. We recognize that our
success is not dependent upon our strength, riches, resources nor wisdom but is defined by total
reliance upon God through our Salvation in knowing His Son Jesus Christ.
The church has no outstanding debts and continues to meet our budgetary obligation for operating
expenses. This allows us to save for the enlargement of the church’s territory. An additional
enhancement is the establishment of a scholarship fund for deserving students. In 2006 we also
obtained a 501(c) 3 non-profit status with the Federal Government.
CMBC made history in 2007 by collaborating with our sister church, University Presbyterian Church.
This marked the first time we formally established an ongoing relationship of shared worship services
and activities that were not of the Baptist faith nor predominantly African American.
As the church approached 2008 Pastor Renfro encouraged us by telling us, “Together, we can
accomplish all that God has planned and purposed for us to do. He makes perfect all that we do and all
we hope to be. I trust that we continue to improve and strive for excellence. There is much to get done
and it will take prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit to make it happen. I still believe that we are
being prepared for an awesome and mighty move of God.”