By Jon Wolff

editorial note: Each Beachhead Collective Member has a right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the view of the Beachhead Collective.
The following is from a recent conversation with Pastor Oscar Rhone about the future of the First Baptist Church of Venice.

Jon Wolff: Describe your relationship with the church over the years.

Pastor Rhone: I was a member, first of all. My grandmother was the mother of the church for over sixty years. Most of my family were members. We all became members through being baptized, and reared, and taught there by Pastor E.L. Holmes. He was our spiritual leader, our pastor, our mentor. Also, his staff: Brother Glenn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, Mr. Ford. These were deacons, men that impacted our lives, and helped us, tutored us, showed us how to become better productive citizens in our lives. And we turned out pretty good. Most of the children that went there, that are grown now, turned out pretty good because of the leadership. It started with Elder Holmes and his deacons, and his mother board with my grandmother and his wife, Sister Holmes. She was a First Lady of the church. She was a First Lady that taught. The children have been taught the word of God. Everything that Pastor Holmes and his wife, First Lady Sister Holmes… All the learning and teaching that was given to us through them, out of the scripture, has had a lasting effect on my life and on the life of people that I know that went there. We still talk about Pastor Holmes and First Lady Holmes. We still talk about how they taught us, and how they made sure that things were okay with us throughout the Oakwood community, and how they reached out into the community. Pastor Holmes was such a leader that even when the riots broke out he took his coat off and got in the front of the line and walked with those that were supporting the ceasefire. He was on the front lines. He was a real mentor. He didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. He was an amazing man. He was a business man also. He had properties all over. He had properties, apartments, housing, and things that he had acquired. Not through the church, but through his wise business dealings. He was a wise man in dealing with business. He was a principal. His wife was a school teacher. They called him from Arkansas. And he came out here with a vision. His vision was to lead the First Baptist Church to the future. And that’s what he did. He brought to fruition, through the aid and the support of members, the structure that we now see there.

JW: You went on to pastor a congregation yourself.

OR: Yes, I did. That was God’s First True Witness Missionary Baptist Church, which was in Los Angeles. My father-in-law had a stroke and he couldn’t handle the work as a pastor there. I was going to school myself over at Crenshaw Christian Center, and I was called to the ministry through just being at the right place at the right time, but doing the work. I was going to Bible college. I was putting forth effort to study. I was preaching and teaching when he had a stroke. So I was able to walk into that ministry as a pastor, but still learning. I was still learning when I stepped to the pulpit. It’s been a long journey. But it’s been a blessing.

JW: What would you like to see happen with the church in the near future?

OR: I would like to see the church be refurbished and brought back into existence. And we have a church down there right now that’s at Oakwood Park. Ship of Zion Christian Center. I would like to see them be able to occupy that building. I would like to see Pastor Shipp and I. I think that we could really have an impact in that community. We believe that the front line stops at the foot of the cross. There’s not a nationality thing with us. We don’t care what race you are, because we reach out to all. The rich, the poor… It doesn’t matter. We’re trying to serve God. We’re trying to preach the precepts and teachings of Jesus Christ. We reach out to the community and we’re there. And they know we’re there. I’d just like to see First Baptist come back and be the church that it is. We’ve got to have the foundation. The Bible says that “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The righteous have to pray. We have to study God’s word. We have to live this Christian life as Jesus has taught us in His word. The vision of the church is that if it’s given, and the opportunity comes about, Pastor Shipp and I can go in there and pastor. We believe that God will do a great work there. He will get the glory. Not us. Will the community be glad? Yes, they will. Because the church will be open to all. There’s no lines to be crossed except biblical lines. We have to hold those up. We have to hold the line as far as when it comes to biblical teaching. That’s the main thing. That’s what holds the church together. Keeping the biblical guidelines out front. And we’re doing them.