church history

In the year of 1966 a group of people got together and a church was organized at the Seatack Community Center in Virginia Beach, VA under the leadership of Dr. L.W. Chase, as pastor. The church members got together and decided on a name for the church, which is Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church of Virginia Beach. We worshipped regularly at the Seatack Community Center for 5 years before we purchased 3 acres of land for $13,400.00 under the direction of Deacon Eddie Druitt(deceased). 

Dr. L. Warren Chase served as pastor from 1966-May 1984. Dr. Chase was a firm believer in making sure the church operated on a foundation of God. He held many workshops for our church members to grow spiritually and educationally. He was married to Eleanor Chase and they have 4 children. They are Elaine Chase, Patricia Chase, Minister Larry Chase, and Minister Percy Chase. Minister Chase and his beloved wife are both deceased.

In the year of 1985 Dr. Harry Poole came to preach for us until he was ordained and asked to be our pastor in 1986. Rev Poole is married to Brenda Wingate-Poole, they have 2 daughters, and 3 grandsons.   He is a warm, kindhearted person. He exemplifies what Christ wants us to be.  

Dr. Poole has been an asset to Rehoboth and since his arrival we the members have accomplished many goals such as the following: completing and renovating the sanctuary, purchased an organ, church van, completed the paving if the church parking lot, installing a new public address system,  formed a Male Chorus, Gospel Choir, Youth Ministry, Education Ministry, Family Day, expanded our Deacon, Deaconess, & Trustee Boards, and a host of other things.

Dr. Poole was very much loved and respected by the Rehoboth congregation. From 2020 through January of 2022 Dr. Poole led the congregation safely through the national COVID pandemic. He encouraged participation in virtual bible study and Sunday School for the youth as well as parking lot Sunday service and an abbreviated Sunday service once we were able to go back inside. All recommended CDC safety measures were taken including contact tracking, mandatory face covering and weekly cleaning of the church. Dr. Harry C. Poole retired as senior Pastor for Rehoboth Baptist Church after 35 years, January 2022.

Rev. Dr. James Allen accepted the interim position in June 2022 to lead Rehoboth through the transition of seeking a new Pastor.  Under his leadership the church was able to payoff it's mortgage in December of 2022.  In January of 2023, Dr. Allen was installed as the senior Pastor of Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church.

Dr. Allen and his love for Rehoboth has been a godsend. As Pastor, he has installed seven new Deacons, seven new Deaconess and four new trustees. In addition , the church was able to purchase a new organ, acquire a church van, host two summers of Free Lunch Fridays for the community, establish the Keeping it Real 100 Youth Program and hold an Ole’ Fashioned Tent Revival. Dr. Allen’s vision of establishing an outreach program came to fruition in April 2024 as the Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church Outreach Foundation received its 501(c)3 status. 

The following people who helped organize Rehoboth Trustees: William Granby, Min David Whitehurst, William White, Jerry Etheridge, Curl Snowden, Charles Owens, JJ Brown, Corine Ferebee, W.Frances Taylor, George Burford. 

Deacons: Eddie Druitt, Steve Wilson Sr, Jerry Etheridge, George Burford, Kenneth Lamb, Min David Whitehurst, Charlie Sutton, Clarence Wheaton, John Sharp. 

Deaconess Hazel Robinson, Katie Braswell, Melissa Berry, Geneva Minns, Eliza Mangrum, Annie Goffigan, Richetta H. Greene, Sophie Owens, Mrs. Florence Wheaton Whitehurst, Bettie Berry. 

Other persons who helped pave the way were: Ruth Wilson, Eliza Mitchell, Odie Lloyd, Florence Spain, Lucille Manigo, Louise White, Sarah Taylor, Beaulah Sutton, Blanche Etheridge, Ethel Falcon, Mary Liverman, Rosa Harmon, Mary Parker, Albert Ferebee, Mary Riley, Martha Hankins, Mary Novell, Edna Touchstone, Eva Drew ,Deaconess Mary Wilson, Oscelleta Grimes,  Deaconess Ruth Owens ,Elizabeth Veasy, Doretha Lamb, Emily Outlaw, Francenner Pinckney, Bessie & Minister Lessel Parker, Sarah Parker, Frances Wilson, Deaconess Marguerite Wright, Deaconess Mary Wheaton, Barbara Wright-Lewis,  Deaconess Ella Snowden, and Elbert Parker. These persons are deceased.

Other person who are still living who helped pave the way since 1966

Minister JoAnn Langston, Gloria Manigo-Ridges,  Brenda Wright-Owens, Yvonne Veasy-Johnson, Hallowed Wright Jr, Frank Owens, Kenneth Lamb,   Francine Wheaton-Kennedy, Renee Parker.

Dr. Harry C. Poole is the son of the late Clarence Poole and Mrs. Ella Poole.  Dr. Poole accepted Christ Jesus at an early age. He was baptized at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where he served in the choir and on the junior Deacon Board.

After receiving his diploma from Union Kempsville High School he joined the United States Marine Corps in which he served three years. Upon returning, he was called by God to spread the message of salvation to the saved and the unsaved. He received his Theology training from Virginia Union University Gulf Coast University.  In 1982, he began his service as Associate Minister of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop William Daryl Scott.

In 1985, he was ordained into ministry. In 1986 he was invited to serve as Pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.  He came to Rehoboth with a vision and a fresh word from God.  Under his direction of Dr. Poole, the sanctuary was completed, the stage of the sanctuary was added, paved the parking lot, an organ  and van were purchased. He established the Male Chorus, Men’s Fellowship, Women’s Fellowship, Gospel Choir, Youth Ministry, Sr. Ministry, Noon Day Prayer, Sunday School Breakfast, Education Ministry, Family Day, Aides Ministry, and expanded our Deacon, Deaconess, & Trustee Boards. 

In 2009, he was appointed President of the Interdenominational Minister Conference of Virginia Beach and spearheaded a Back to School Roundup that served over 350 students. Dr. Poole was one of the senior spiritual leaders of the Seatack Community Civic League and registered Rehoboth Baptist Church as on of the first churches with lifetime membership to the civic league.

From 2020 through January of 2022 Dr. Poole led the congregation safely through the national COVID pandemic. He encouraged participation in virtual bible study and Sunday School for the youth as well as parking lot Sunday service and an abbreviated Sunday service once we were able to go back inside. All recommended CDC safety measures were taken including contact tracking, mandatory face covering and weekly cleaning of the church. 

Dr. Harry C. Poole retired as senior Pastor for Rehoboth Baptist Church after 35 years, January 2022. His legacy lives on in Rehoboth and the Seatack community.

Dr. Poole is a man who not only knows the word, but also travels with the word and a vision from the Lord everywhere he goes. The vision that he carries includes helping others at all times. He is a man carrying the word to the sick and shut-in, the homeless, the incarcerated while traveling all over. Dr. Harry C Poole is unselfish when it comes to other people. 

He is the husband of Brenda Wingate-Poole and father of two beautiful daughters Tonya and Mischallelean and a supportive son in  law, Floyd and the grandfather of Daijreous, Linnaijeos, and Daijlinn.