On April 8, 2008, the church community was shaken as they mourned the loss of a great and legendary leader, Dr. Evron E. Stafford. Dr. Stafford served the Los Angeles Christian community for more than 45 years. He served as the Senior Pastor of the historical Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church for more than 30 years. He is known as the "GODFATHER" to many Pastor's and Ministers across the country and world. More than 7,000 people responded to the call of salvation through his ministry. Mt. Tabor has always been a leading congreation here in the LA area.Mt. Tabor was organized June 29, 1958 in the sanctuary of the Three Oaks Baptist Church with Dr. H. D. Higdon, deceased Pastor of the Israel Baptist Church and the late Dr. N.E. Taylor, deceased pastor of the Zion Baptist Temple of Compton officiating. The Group of ninety-nine baptized believers moved about from place to place worshipping in homes, sometimes garages until Dr. J. T. Stewart of Shreveport, Louisiana was called to pastor the newly organized church. Dr. Stewart accepted the call July 1958. Due to failing health, Dr. Stewart retired December 16, 1976 and was given the Honorary Title of Pastor Emeritus by the membership. Reverend B. D. Eldridge was very instrumental and did a wonderful job in keeping the membership together until a pastor was able to close his pastorate in Shreveport Louisiana and officially take over the leadership of our Church. Reverend Evorn E. Stafford of Los Angeles was called to Pastor Mount Tabor and accepted this responsibility July 17, 1977. Pastor Stafford was serving as an Assistant Pastor at the Paradise Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Pastor Stafford began right away to lay the groundwork for the success experienced by our Church once he became Pastor.
We purchased and converted lots on 67th and 65th Streets for additional parking space. Our facilities expanded to include the property on the Southeast corner of 66th Street and we purchased the property on the northeast corner of 66th Street. In addition to the never ending duties as Pastor of Mt. Tabor, President Stafford served as a member of the Fellowship Baptist District Association, past President of California United Baptist State Convention and Corresponding Secretary for the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. We are blessed with a great Pastor who strives for a wholesome and joyful atmosphere for all the Church Family. He teaches us to care and be concerned for our brothers and sisters in Christ. In that vein, the Lord has allowed us to continue our bus ministry to visit the sick and the shut-in and reach out to the community through our radio ministry. Twice a year our members and friends donate clothing which we give to those in need and we distributed food to the Community during the year. As we look back, we can see that Mt. Tabor has been tremendously successful under the leadership of two gracious leaders that we have been privileged to call Pastor over 48 years. Dr. Stafford leaves to cherish his memory a lovely wife of more than 40 years, one son and two daughters. He will be cherished and missed. "He has gone to a city older than Eden, and taller than Rome" ~ Dr. C.A.W. Clark
