Congratulations Class of 2016! 4040 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SouthSouth BBeltelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thursday, June 2, 2016 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 41, No. 18 Graduation issue inside Look inside for the Leader’s special high school graduation section. Graduates from Sagemont Church celebrates 50 years Dobie, Clear Brook, South Houston and Clear Horizons Early College high schools and Sagemont Church will celebrate its 50th an- ed, and by the mid-’70s, the church had accumu- Following the construction of the new auditori- property along Beltway 8 near Interstate 45, which Lutheran South Academy are featured. niversary with multiple services Sunday, June 5, lated a $600,000 debt. At this point, Morgan set a um, the church was in desperate need for additional is seen by more than 1 million people each week. culminating with a special outdoor celebration that goal to get the church out of debt and move forward land. Once again paying in cash, the church pur- The expansion also included the construction of a Active shooter class set evening. (See Page 2A for additional photos.) on a cash-only basis. chased 25 acres of land, using roughly $1 million new $30 million worship center and adult educa- The Sagemont Civic Club will host a pre- Over the past fi ve decades, the church has grown The debt was paid in 13 months, and just a few of funds raised over a 13-week period. An adjacent tion facility. Like all Sagemont projects, the new sentation at its meeting on Monday, June 13, from a mere 16 members to a congregation of more months later in March 1979, 300 families gave their 25-acre piece of property was also donated to the building was constructed debt-free. from Houston Police Offi cer Stephen Daniel than 20,000 – one of the largest in the country, with total income for 40 days, contributing more than $1 church, in what Morgan describes as a miracle. Overall, Sagemont’s buildings and property are on how to survive an active shooter. ministries all around the globe. million to begin constructing a new auditorium. As Around the year 2000, the church added a $12.5 now valued at more than $50 million. Sagemont’s The business meeting will begin at 6 p.m., The church, then known as Sagemont Baptist the building was constructed, another $1.5 million million children’s building and parking lot expan- budget and offering receipts total roughly $20 mil- with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Church, was founded in 1966 by the Rev. John D. was given to complete the project. sion and a church retreat in Danbury – again paying lion annually. Mission gifts have increased over the presentation is open to anyone, not just Sage- Morgan. The original church, located on 5.46 acres The church then began to help hundreds of other cash. years to more than $2 million per year, and total mont residents. of land, cost a meager $160,000 to construct. churches come out of debt, bankruptcy and foreclo- A recent expansion at Sagemont included the in- gifts received over the church’s history total around Additional buildings were constructed as need- sure – a practice that continues to this day. stallation of a 170-foot, 90-ton cross on the church’s $250 million. Lariaette car wash June 11 The church has now baptized more than 16,800 people, and more than 300 people have been li- The Dobie Lariaettes will hold a car wash censed or ordained through the church. Saturday, June 11, in the Snowie’s Shaved Ice Sagemont has also served as a headquarters for parking lot at 10902 Scarsdale. Tickets are $5 Sagemont Church transforms over the years the American Red Cross during storms and other each presale and can be purchased from any emergencies and has provided shelter for hundreds current Lariaette. Driveups are welcome and of families in times of need. donations will be accepted. Morgan Sunday’s celebrations will also honor Morgan, Genealogy group meets himself, as he has been the only senior pastor in The Parker Williams Genealogy Group will Sagemont’s entire 50-year history. meet June 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the library at Morgan was licensed and ordained at First Scarsdale and Beamer. This group meets the Baptist Church in Pasadena, where his father, the fi rst and third Mondays to discuss genealogy Rev. L.D. Morgan, served as pastor for more than research. Meetings are free and open to any- 33 years. The pastor went on to minister at Posey one interested in tracing family history. Baptist Church is Sulphur Springs before opening Sagemont. Summer party luncheon set A product of the Pasadena Independent School District, Morgan attended Kruse Elementary and Catholic Daughters from St. Luke the Jackson Intermediate before graduating from Pasa- Evangelist Church is once again sponsoring dena High School in 1959. its annual Summer Games party and luncheon Morgan was named PISD’s 2013 Distinguished Wednesday, June 22. The event will begin at Alumnus, and in 2015, was placed on Pasadena 10:30 a.m. in the social hall, 11011 Hall Road. High School’s Wall of Honor. There will be games, prizes, door prizes, raffl e Following graduation, Morgan continued his ticket opportunities for prizes. Included is a Sagemont Church will celebrate its 50th anniversary with education at Baylor University where he earned a homemade lunch with desserts and drink. three separate services Sunday, June 5. Founded in 1966 by bachelor’s degree in 1963, before earning a second Cost is $12. Public is invited. Profi ts go for the the Rev. John D. Morgan, the church has grown from a single, one from the Southwestern Baptist Theological scholarship program, charities, and special small building with only 16 members to a sprawling multi- Seminary in 1966. events. For tickets, call 830-860-9663 or 281- million facility, featuring several buildings and a congregation Postgraduate degrees include a Litt. D. degree 734-3184. of more than 20,000. The photo above to the left is the fi rst from the California School of Theology in 1982 known photo of the church, shown as it was being constructed. and a doctorate of sacred theology from Southwest Quilt guild to meet June 7 The photo above to the right shows an aerial view of how the Baptist University in 1986. church stands today after extensive renovations. Morgan will In 2005, Morgan received the Distinguished The Bay Area Quilt Guild meets the first also be honored at Sunday’s festivities, as he has been the only Tuesday of each month at Mount Olive Alumnus Award from Southwestern Baptist Theo- senior pastor in the church’s 50-year history. (See additional logical Seminary. Lutheran Church at 10310 Scarsdale Blvd. pictures Page 1A.) Photos submitted Fellowship begins at 6:30 p.m. and the general Continued on Page 2A meeting and program begin at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be on June 7 and the speaker will be Peggy Baldwin-Clayton with her program, Start with a Story. Baldwin- Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital undergoes $14M renovation Clayton is a quilter, lecturer and teacher, and is By James Bolen “When we’re done, we’ll have a brand new be self fi nanced. invest it into the organization so we can serve the known for her whimsical story quilts. All Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital is cur- hospital,” said Kelly Ochoa, vice president of “Memorial Hermann is a not-for-profi t, and community in a way that is up to date with the guests are welcome to attend the presentation rently undergoing a $14 million renovation proj- operations and chief nursing offi cer. we’re very good stewards with our resources,” latest technology to produce the best results that and to learn how to make a story quilt. ect. The ongoing renovations are in addition to Ochoa said. “And one of the things this organi- the community deserves.” For more information, call Debby Benson at the $650 million renovation project at Memorial zation does very, very well is take money and re- Continued on Page 5A 713-248-8757 or check the website at bayarea Hermann’s Texas Medical Center branch and the quiltguild.org. recent opening of the Memorial Hermann Con- venient Care Center in Pearland. July 4 parade, fireworks scheduled Highland Meadow to meet “There’s been a lot of expansion in the Greater Independence Day is around the corner, and commercial entries. Noncommercial entries may The monthly meeting of the Highland Houston area, particularly in the southeast com- the 29th annual South Belt parade is scheduled to enter the contest for $25. Meadow HOA will be held Wednesday, June munity,” Ochoa said, noting the South Belt area’s take place Monday, July 4, beginning at 10 a.m. Entry forms are available at www.south 8, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be at the Parker aging demographics. “We’ve been very busy. The parade route will wind from Beverly beltleader.com, the Leader offi ce and in next Williams Library at 10851 Scarsdale Blvd. We’ve experienced double-digit growth every Hills Intermediate to San Jacinto College South. week’s paper. Homeowners are encouraged to attend. Ques- year for at least the last fi ve years. We’re getting While the parade starts at 10 a.m., participants The forms are to be fi lled out and returned tions prior to the meeting may be directed to people well quicker.” are urged to arrive early, as the lineup for the to the Leader offi ce, faxed to 281-481-5730 or Gina Victor with C.I.A.