Saint Ruth Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1908 in Modello, Florida, by Charlie Chambers and a few other faithful souls, and it was named in honor of Chambers's daughter, Ruth. Its first place of worship was a small house on Northwest Fourth Avenue, and its first sanctuary on that avenue was built from lumber recovered from the Atlantic Ocean front, now known as Dania Beach. In the early 1900s, Saint Ruth housed the first colored public school in Modello, which had nine students. In 1920, Isadore Mizell, Joseph Sidney, and others moved the sanctuary from Northwest Fourth Avenue to Northwest Fifth Avenue and Second Street. The church's first pastor was Reverend Watson, its first two ushers were Jesse Davis and Marilyn Henderson, and its first offering trays were saucers from Mrs. Della Chunn's kitchen. A hurricane in 1926, commonly called the 26 Storm, destroyed all but the floor of the church, but the members continued to worship on the platform. In 1947, under the leadership of Rev. L.W. Wright, Saint Ruth's membership divided and Greater Trinity of Dania Beach was organized.