Pastor Lee Earnest Mathews 

January 5, 1926 - August 31, 2013 

Pastor Lee Earnest Mathews was born in Safford, Alabama on Jan. 5, 1926, to Deacon Will and Matilene Mathews. He united with Christian Light Baptist Church of Safford, AL. in 1938. He accepted Christ, by way of the mourner’s bench, at the age of 12. It was at this same time that he received the “Divine” message to not only spread and teach God’s word but be His salvation and teach his path. However, to avoid his calling he fled to New York, hoping that God would change His mind and release him from that responsibility. 

After a time of sowing his carnal seeds, he then knew it was time to settle down. Empowered by his biblical background and spiritual foundation he knew he needed a virtuous woman and did not trust himself to find her on his own, so he prayed and asked God for a wife. The Lord answered this prayer and showed him in another vision a very pretty woman who we now know is “Ann Mathews”. Even though the lord was faithful in answering his prayer, Pastor still refused to accept his commission. In fact, for many years he ran until his sprint was abruptly cut short by a second calling from God through a vision. In this vision the Lord reiterated by asking him, “Didn’t I tell you to preach my word”? Without allowing Lee to answer, the Lord then followed that question this time with a warning, where He said “If you don’t preach my words I’m coming back to get you” (John 14:14-15). The result of the aforementioned experience was an epiphany compelling him to rebuke riotous living and sent him running back to Alabama. Soon after his return, during an afternoon drive with his cousin, he happened upon a young lady sitting on the porch… the same pretty woman of his vision. Seeing her in real life was confirmation that she actually was to be his wife and the two were married on September 27, 1949 and had four children. After he was married he initially began to preach God’s word at anonymous churches preaching in secret so that he could both obey God’s command and yet still please his wife who wasn’t sure if she wanted to be married to a preacher. However, as luck would have it he was noticed and word spread rapidly that he was a preacher. 

Now that the preaching was in full swing and well on its way he decided to continue his education and attended Selma University where he earned an AA degree. He then moved to Montgomery, AL where he received a BA in Science from Alabama State University in 1955. In 1956 he moved his family to Oakland, Ca where he joined the Morning Star Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Jacobs. Being the studious man that he was throughout the remainder of his life Pastor Mathews would attend various colleges around the Bay Area UC Berkeley, Cal State Hayward & Golden State’s School of Theology earning his M.Div. and teaching credentials. This allowed him to spend the remainder of his days operating in his gift, teaching both elementary school as well as God’s word. 

Inspired by God, in 1965 he organized The Corinthian Baptist Church. While the churches’ first meeting was in his home it quickly out grew that location and services were moved to 2705 San Pablo Street in Oakland. In 1982 he was blessed to march his congregation to 928 Castro Street in Oakland where the church still stands today. In 1952 he joined the Masons and was a member of Model Lodge #29 Oakland, CA where earned the degree of 33rd Mason. Though he started off in construction he used that experience as a catapult to his own Janitorial business, Mathews Building & Maintenance Janitorial Service. Pastor Mathews was a; dutiful loving husband, wonderful patient father and faithful Pastor who was fully committed to the work of God and to the love of his family and church. He was known and will be remembered for insuring that those under his tutelage knew the Lord for themselves and for his famous quote 

”Am I Right About It?”