Sixty-three committed Christians. That’s how it began. In the basement of Mt Sinai Tabernacle Church on November 11 1969. They gathered to pray. They sought God’s guidance. They were establishing Triumph Baptist Church.
Triumph Baptist Church. The name itself. A declaration of hope. A victory cry against the struggles of the time. The name Triumph was chosen unanimously. It resonated deeply with the founding members. Victory in Jesus became their theme song.
Pastor James S Hall Jr was elected pastor for life. He had a vision. A vision that went beyond traditional church structures. He wanted evangelism. He wanted discipleship. He wanted a church rooted deeply in the Bible. The first ministries started were the Daycare Center and the Triumph Baptist Federal Credit Union. A bold step for a new church.
Early financial pledges amounted to over $5000. An offering of $1100 was given that very first night. A testament to their faith. A testament to their commitment.
For four Sundays they worshipped at Mt Sinai Tabernacle. Then in December 1969 they moved. They moved to the vacated Mt Herman Church of God building. A white congregation had left it. Rev Joseph Gilmore helped them find this new home. This space became a place of ministry. A place of growth. A place blessed by God’s power. Outreach ministries flourished. Many souls were won to Jesus Christ.
Tragedy struck in 1978. A fire destroyed Triumph Baptist Church. For three years they worshipped elsewhere. They held church school in members’ homes. They were resilient. Their faith was unshaken. They rebuilt. They returned to their church on the first Sunday of March 1981.
Triumph Baptist Church continued to grow. They purchased and demolished houses. They built an educational wing. This housed a daycare a Christian school. It held a senior citizen ministry and a food distribution ministry. They even added a chapel for small weddings and meetings. They purchased properties for a supermarket and originally for a new church building. They eventually built their new edifice at Germantown and Hunting Park in 2007.
The church is more than bricks and mortar. It’s about community outreach. It’s about supporting missions. Triumph Baptist Church supports foreign missions. They support the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention. They even feed hundreds of people in Haiti annually. They contribute to black colleges. They are life members of the NAACP. Their motto? Victory through Christ.
From 63 members to over 5400. A testament to their unwavering faith. A testament to the power of their community. This is Triumph Baptist Church. A church built on faith resilience and an unwavering commitment to God and its community.