| Dr. Marvin C. Griffin, pastor and visionary leader of Ebenezer Baptist Church since 1969, is a native of Wichita, Kansas, and was educated in the public schools of Dallas, Texas. Prior to assuming leadership of Ebenezer, he served as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church of Waco, Texas for eighteen years. He holds degrees as follows: B.A., Bishop College; M.Div., Oberlin Graduate School of Theology; M.R.E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; D.D., Union Baptist Seminary; and D.Min., Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
A nationally recognized man of God, Dr. Griffin has contributed in many different ways to the dissemination of God’s Word across the nation. In addition to his primary role of pastor, he has assumed roles of lecturer, author, editor, board member, and office holder of numerous local, state, and national posts. Some examples include: Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas; Director of Christian Education Enrichment Program, National Baptist Fellowship of Churches; President, St. John District Congress; member of Truett Board, Baylor University; member of the OneStar Foundation, Inc., State of Texas, and a Certified Deacon Trainer for the Southern Baptist Convention. In addition, Dr. Griffin has served as Historian of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., Dean of National Baptist Congress of Christian Workers, Director and Lecturer for the Teacher Training Department of the National Baptist Sunday School and BTU Congress, Chairman of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, Instructor, “Pastoral Ministry in the Black Church” at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, and Statistician of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Hardin-Simmons College, President of Board of Trustees Texas Southern University, and President of the Austin Independent School District Board.
Dr. Griffin, editor of The President Speaks, was writer for the National Baptist Sunday School Commentary and has contributed sermons and articles to numerous religious periodicals and journals including Bridge Over Trouble Water, International Review of Missions, Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, and Texas African American Baptists.
A significant element of Dr. Griffin’s ministry to mankind has been his visionary leadership of community-based efforts to “concretize” the Gospel.
He founded the East Austin Economic Development Corporation (EAEDC) which has been one of the contributors to revitalization of an area that had previously been characterized by a legacy of shame due to blight, crime, and deterioration of what was once a vibrant business sector of the African American community. EAEDC activities include affordable housing programs for rental and home ownership, housing counseling, down-payment assistance, rental assistance, projects for the elderly, and state-wide technical assistance to faith-based community development organizations.
In July 2002, the building that houses EAEDC was named the Marvin C. Griffin Building in honor of Dr. Griffin on occasion of his 33rd Anniversary as Pastor of Ebenezer.
Dr. Griffin and his late wife, Mrs. Lois King Griffin, have three daughters: Dr. Marva Lois Carter, Attorney Gaynelle Jones, and Ms. Ria Griffin.
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