Background

Praire View is a town of about 4500 people just outside of Hempstead Tx. The residents are primarily students, teachers and staff of Praire View A&M University. The article below summarizes the backgound and ministry at Praire View.

African-American News
Week of September 4 - 10, 2002

Years ago, the students that attended Prairie View A&M University, who were members of the Church of Christ, did not have worship opportunities. They came together and using their faith, a work began that grew from a campus ministry to a community effort.

Mrs. Carrie Cross, who was not a member of the Church at that time, became the first known Campus Sponsor of the group. She later obeyed the Gospel and was added to the body. A good number of ministers and their families have played a vital part in the development of this mission work.

A few of the persons who cannot be thanked enough are Steve Sommers, Roy Beaty, Alvertice Bowdre, Famous Byers, Victor Frazier and Robert Harper. They all are appreciated for their good works.

Every effort that is worthwhile always has those who take a greater interest in the effort than others. Before most of the churches in Houston became involved, the Jersey Village congregation was actively involved with several congregations among the Black brethren, in the Prairie View mission. Theaster Maloy, minister of the Fidelity Congregation, was one name on early reports given by the Jersey Village Congregation.

Bro. Brandon and his family came to the Prairie View, late in the month of December 1983. “The weather was dreary and so was my life. My wife Barbara had been diagnosed to have a brain tumor, we were facing two new things, the work at Prairie View and an uncertain illness. Thank God my wife has been blessed with a reasonable amount of health and the Church is growing in local membership and many students have a place to worship.”

He continiued, “A man by the name of Bennie C. Elliot, the late and former Elder at the Kashmere Gardens Church of Christ, Houston, Texas longed and prayed to see a work in this city. In 1983, Eurie Nealy and William Taylor were co-elders with Elliot. At that time John C. Whitley was Minister of the Kashmere Gardens congregation. It was then that momentum and consistent progress begin.”

“A building was erected in 1987, we began to use it before it was completed. Assistance came from a number of locations, especially The Churches in Houston Gulf coast area which included Jersey Village ( Church of Christ), Highland Heights ( Church of Christ), Carver Dale ( Church of Christ), South Union ( Church of Christ), Senicwoods ( Church of Christ) and Sugarland ( Church of Christ).”

Today this mission effort continues to move forward in a positive way. The work has a need to be sustained by those who take an interest in a nearby mission work.
“Membership changes every semester, students after graduation move to other area, because there is no industry here to sustain them and their families. Nevertheless we continue in the struggle. Someone has said, before you go to El Salvador, to do mission work, come next door, 45 miles Northwest of Houston.”