2017 Anniversary FINAL ADJUSTMENTSV2
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On the first Sunday in January of 1959, Pastor Dawson led the congregation into the new edifice. In October<br />
1963, Reverend Dawson went on to greater fields of endeavor in Fort Worth, Texas, leaving many sad hearts<br />
behind.<br />
The Reverend James E. Obey, Sr. was called as pastor in 1963 and arrived on the first Sunday in January<br />
1964. Under his guidance and leadership, many accomplishments were realized, including the airconditioning<br />
of the entire church plant, construction of a new parsonage and sponsorship of the Marshall<br />
apartments, a 1.2 million dollar rent supplement housing project, under FHA’s 221 (D) 3 Program. The<br />
Church mortgage was burned in 1969. The Church is very proud of this record of solvency brought about by<br />
Pastor Obey’s keen foresight and leadership.<br />
On May 18, 1992, God called Pastor Obey home, and the church was greatly saddened by the loss of this<br />
great leader. Following the home going of Pastor Obey, the mantle of leadership was placed upon the<br />
Reverend Joseph C. Parker, Jr., Esq., D. Min. who was called as pastor on September 29, 1992. Dr. Parker<br />
previously served as Associate Pastor for Christian Education for about ten (10) years. Pastor Parker is the<br />
first ministerial son of David Chapel to serve as pastor and is our seventh pastor.<br />
Under Pastor Parker’s leadership, the financial and facility management systems have been revised, and we<br />
have adopted vision and mission statements. Our facilities have also been refurbished and expanded with<br />
new equipment.<br />
The church staff has been expanded to include an Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor, Administrative<br />
Assistant, and other staff positions. As a “cross-generational church with a heart for the community,” David<br />
Chapel, beginning in 1997 under Pastor Parker’s leadership, led the development and implementation of the<br />
Chestnut Neighborhood Plan that focused on revitalizing the Chestnut neighborhood. In 1999, we licensed<br />
our first woman to preach the gospel; and have since ordained our first woman minister. In July 2000, our<br />
website was created and posted on the Internet<br />
and was selected as one of the Best Top 32<br />
Church Web Sites for January 2001 by the<br />
Distinctive Church Collection and is included in<br />
its Hall of Fame. In 2002, we adopted a<br />
comprehensive five-year strategic plan that<br />
continues to be updated. In 2006 we<br />
experimented with a new Saturday evening<br />
contemporary and casual worship opportunity,<br />
Saturday Night Alive!, as well as a Leadership<br />
Development Academy. We also became a<br />
founding member of the Texas Congregations<br />
United for Empowerment, Inc. (TCUE), a<br />
collective of Central Texas black churches that<br />
seek economic and other empowerment, of which Pastor Parker is the founding president. In 2007 a young<br />
adult choir, Joyful Noise, was organized. We also established a Bible study in the North Austin-Pflugerville-<br />
Round Rock area, called T.N.T. (Tuesday Night Teaching the Bible) to reach our members and others in that<br />
area. In 2009 we added an 8 a.m. worship service in the North Austin-Pflugerville area, later transferred to<br />
our main facility. Through staff reorganization, we established the Minister of Discipleship, Buildings and<br />
Grounds and Minister of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation positions. As of 2010, our Director of Music<br />
responsibilities were expanded to those of a Minister of Music, Worship and Fine Arts. In order to<br />
accommodate future expansion, we purchased a lot on Chestnut, 17 acres on Springdale Road and property<br />
on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard that adjoins the Springdale property.<br />
We continue to strive to be a transformative “cross-generational” church, as we also focus on the biblical<br />
mandates to reach others with the gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ. We further plan for our<br />
ministries and new facilities. Therefore, continuing in the pattern of the first century church, we study, hear,<br />
share, and do God’s Word. Seeking God’s will and following the leadership and vision God has revealed to<br />
our pastor, this church—God’s beacon—gives God all the Glory! •<br />
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