Who we are
At Park Avenue, our heart is simple: to rely on Christ in all things and to help others do the same. We are a Bible-believing, Christ-centered church committed to worship, discipleship, community, and service.
We gather to encounter God together, to be transformed by His Word and His Spirit, and to be sent out to love our city and the world.
Our Beginning (1915)
On the second Sunday in June 1915, eighteen members of Second Baptist Church in Riverside, California requested letters of dismissal from their pastor, Rev. White. This small band of God-fearing, God-loving believers stepped out in faith to form what is now known as Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church of Riverside.
Founding members included:
Rev. William G. Goodwin
Rev. W. G. Deactur
S. S. Hopkins
Sisters Eva Allen, Josephine Gordon, Mary B. Alves, Candace Louie, Anna V. E. Beverly,
S. S. Hopkins, LaGulia G. Shaw, Alice Toppin, Louise B. Key, Mylie Taylor,
Mary Boswell, and Emma Jordan.
The organizational meeting was held in the home of Sis. Eva Allen on 11th Street. Within one month, this determined group raised enough money to make the initial payment on a church property. On the first Sunday of August 1915, the congregation moved into its new place of worship.
On December 9, 1915, Park Avenue was officially recognized and consecrated for the service of God by a council from the Western Baptist Association, including Dr. J. W. Gordon of Los Angeles, Rev. F. W. Cooper of Riverside, Reverends W. H. Rozier and Charles Wade, and members from Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Los Angeles.
Early Pastors & Our First Building
Rev. G. P. Littles served as the first pastor of the new church, followed by Rev. Evans and Rev. W. H. Rozier. Under their leadership and spiritual teaching, the church continued to grow.
During the pastorate of Rev. William G. Goodwin, the congregation erected a new church building at 12th and Park. Groundbreaking took place on November 30, 1925, and the building—costing approximately $32,000—was furnished and occupied on May 9, 1926. Rev. A. T. Hines followed Rev. Goodwin as pastor.
The Leadership of
Rev. L. B. Moss
On October 1, 1929, Rev. Leander Bonaparte Moss accepted the pastorate of Park Avenue Baptist Church. His remarkable tenure spanned 57 years.
In his early years as pastor, Rev. Moss faced the challenge of leading the church to financial stability. Through steady leadership and faithful teaching, he guided the congregation through many seasons of growth and development. On January 28, 1945, the church celebrated the burning of the mortgage for its 12th Street edifice—constructed and furnished under Rev. Goodwin’s pastorate.
In 1958, Rev. Moss led the church through the building of the Education Wing. In the 1960s, the corner lot between 11th Street and Park Avenue was acquired, further expanding the church’s footprint.
A New Campus on Martin Luther King Blvd
In the late 1970s, the church purchased 4½ acres of property on Pennsylvania Avenue (now Martin Luther King Blvd), where we currently worship.
In 1982, due to limited financial resources, construction experienced a “no work” period. Yet this pause did not dampen the spirits of Pastor Moss or the praying members of the church. Rev. Moss began exploring new ways to secure funding for the building project.
Through these efforts, the church was introduced to the Church Financial Plan by Mr. Cile Dean of Fresno, California, and the idea of a Bond Drive Campaign was approved. In January 1984, Rev. Moss appointed Deacon Paul Blalock as chairman and Clarice Coffins as secretary. The capital bond campaign generated approximately $160,000 in cash flow.
Because of this successful effort—and the united work of the entire membership—the church was able to move from the 12th Street edifice to its new location at 1910 Martin Luther King Blvd on July 8, 1984. God had truly smiled on us.
On April 20, 1990, the church held an official groundbreaking ceremony, with Rev. E. V. Hill of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Los Angeles participating. During this period, the church secured building permits and completed contractual agreements with the city. Brother Odell Young was appointed chief overseer and Building Superintendent for the project.
Pastor Moss’s Homegoing & Lasting Legacy
Rev. Moss longed to stand in the completed pulpit of the new sanctuary. Although that dream was not realized in this life, his faith never wavered. On May 6, 1986, Pastor Moss was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, to hear the words:
“Well done, well done, my good and faithful servant.”
We would be remiss not to recognize Rev. Moss’s significant contributions beyond our local church, particularly to the California State Baptist Convention, Inc. He was both a founding father and a two-term President of the Convention, helping to elevate Park Avenue to a respected and influential position that we still hold today. He also organized several churches and was deeply involved in community life.
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