Dr. Joseph Randolph Richardson, the Founding Pastor of Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, of San Francisco, Ca., was  born to the late Reverend Joseph and Celestine Richardson on February  4, 1930.  Completing his early education and graduating in 1948 from the Gilbert High School in New Orleans, La., young Joseph R. was captain of the High School Football Team, showing signs of leadership early in his life.

        Pastor Richardson accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age, and being raised in a Christian home, was taught to use his musical and oratorical gifts in the service of the Lord.  Additionally, Young Joseph Randolph pursued his singing career by touring with the Lillian Randolph Corral throughout the United Stated of America.

        In 1953 Pastor J. R. Richardson accepted his call the ministry at the Victory Baptist Church in Los Angeles, Ca. under the leadership and pastorate of the late Dr. A. A. Peters.  Pastor Joseph was licensed as a minister in that same year as well.  In 1955 he married Zeora Bea Moore, and together they raised seven children, and currently have a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family and friends.  Dr. Richardson continued his education in the ministry by attending several theological institutions, including Biola College.

        In 1957, Reverend Joseph R. Richardson was called as Pastor of the Greater Faith Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Ca.  In 1965, he became Pastor of the Prosperity Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Ca.  He was then called as Pastor of the El Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of San Francisco, Ca. in 1974, where he remained until 1987, when he founded the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church of San Francisco, Ca.  Dr. Joseph Randolph Richardson remained a committed servant, Pastor, husband, father until he passed from this life November 8, 2000.  Pastor Richardson made many great contributions to the Body of Christ, and the San Francisco Bay Area.  The El Bethel Arms Senior Housing Complex; The El Bethel Terrace Housing Complex; Camp Fricot Convention Campsite; as well as the

 J. S. Pough Foundation.

        We are blessed to have our First Lady Emeritus, Mother Zeora Bea Moore-Richardson as Chairperson of the Pastor’s Aide Ministry under the pastorate of our current Pastor, Reverend James Edward Lawson Jr.  She remains a living memorial to the history of Greater Faith, and a virtuous model for the young ladies as well as the young men and others in the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, our City, and the entire Body of Christ.

As God has ordained, the legacy of Pastor Joseph Randolph Richardson lives on. Many of the charter members of Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, family members, friends and love ones have carried this legacy, and the banner of the Greater Faith Church for several years until the calling of our current Pastor, Reverend James Edward Lawson Jr. “To God be the Glory, or the things He has done”.