BABDA HISTORY
Est. 1919
The Holy Scriptures are replete with admonitions of remembering our history, remembering or history with God, and instructing us to share our history with the generations who come behind us. We are to remind them that the God of their fathers, the God of their mothers, the God of their ancestors, the same God of the past, is still the same God in the present, and will be the same God of the future.
The Bay Area Baptist District Association has a long and rich history. The District was established in 1919. This timeline is confirmed by a fan that was shared by Dr. Michael Williams when he served as moderator of the Bay Area Baptist District Association. The history of the District must be preserved and shared so that those who come behind us can know their heritage and preserve the heritage.
The Bay Area Baptist District Association has endured many conflicts both in the world and within its own organization. It has endured the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq Wars, it has endured the presidencies of Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Herbert H. Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, William Clinton, George W. Bush, Barak Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. It has endured social issues. Jim Crow, Racial Discrimination, Civil Rights Movement, Demonstrations against the Vietnam War, Riots, and medical issues epidemics and pandemics culminating in Covid with social isolation. We have survived changing demographics, changing morality, changing values, and changing culture. We have endured the challenges of the past and with God’s help the challenges we face in the present, and the challenges we will face in the future.
We must remember share our history, share our history, and continue to build on our history. We are continuing to research our history and hope to have a more comprehensive record. We no ways tired…we can’t stop now!
The following are the names and tenures of the Moderators and their staff. We hope to have a more complete, updated, and comprehensive list with the notable achievements of each term.
BABDA Moderators & Staff
Pastor J.D. Houston St. Paul MBC - San Jose, CA
Pastor Chester L. Metters Second BC - Redwood City, CA
Pastor Sumpter Solomon Temple in Pittsburgh
Moderator Pastor Jonathan Staples Jerusalem Baptist Church - Palo Alto, CA
1978 - 1983
Moderator Pastor Adolf Kelly Tabernacle Baptist Church - Oakland, CA
Rev. John Waiters, Vice-Moderator Mt. Olive Baptist Church - East Palo Alto, CA
Rev. G. E. Hooks, 2nd Vice-Moderator
1989 - 1993
Moderator Dr. Robert Fairley St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
1993 - 1997
Moderator Dr. Larry Ellis Pilgrim Baptist Church - San Mateo, CA
1997 - 2001
Moderator Dr. Michael Williams St. James MBC - San Francisco, CA
2001 - 2005
Moderator Dr. Ted Fields New Hope MBC - Union City, CA
2005 - 2009
Moderator Dr. Thomas E. Fisher Second Baptist - Redwood City, CA
2009 - 2013
Moderator Dr. Rickey Williams St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Vice-Moderator Pastor Floyd Purdy Faith Baptist - East Palo Alto, CA
1st Vice-Moderator Pastor Eddie Thomas Open Bible BC - East Palo Alto, CA
Secretary Yvonne Jones St. John MBC
2013 - 2017
Moderator Pastor Eddie Thomas Open Bible BC - East Palo Alto, CA
Vice-Moderator Pastor Charles Rivers Starlight MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Congress President Dr. Michael Williams St. James MBC - San Francisco, CA
Laymen’s President Deacon Virgil King Mt. Olive MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Usher’s President Sis. Merdana Champion St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Women’s President Sister Patricia Williams St. James MBC
2017 - 2024
Moderator, Pastor Reginald B. Easterling, New Hope MBC - Union City, CA
Vice -Moderator, Pastor Cleveland Prince, True Light MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
1st Vice- Moderator, Pastor Jackey Wilson, Community Church - East Palo Alto, CA
Congress President, Pastor Robert Cowan, Faith Baptist - East Palo Alto, CA
Women’s President, Sister Pam Williams, St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Ushers President, Sister Merdana Champion St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Laymen’s President, Deacon Cedric Robinson, New Hope MBC - Union City, CA
Financial Director, New Hope Financial Staff
2024 - Present
Moderator, Bishop Dr. Cleveland Prince, True Light MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Vice-Moderator, Pastor Karon Braxton, Open Bible BC - East Palo Alto, CA
1stVice-Moderator, Dr. Fred Fairley, St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Women’s President, Sister Pam Williams, St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Usher President, Sister Merdana Champion, St. John MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Laymen’s President, Deacon Charles Turner, Open Bible Faith Community Church - San Jose, CA
Congress of Christian Education President, Rev. Brian Johnson, Greater St. John MBC - San Jose, CA
Youth/Young Adult President, Reverend Darius Braxton, Open Bible BC - East Palo Alto, CA
Music/Media Director, Reverend Darius Braxton, Open Bible BC - East Palo Alto, CA
Financial Director, Sister Lisa Craig True Light MBC - East Palo Alto, CA
Proverbs 22:28 NKJV, “Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.”
Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”
