Published: October 04, 2008 12:36 am            

Church reaches milestone

150 years of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church

special to The Star



The Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church will observe its 150th anniversary on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Dr. Jim Henry, former pastor and President of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be the guest speaker.

On September 24, 1858, a group of men and women met under a brush arbor near Nicholson's store (now Melvin, Alabama) and organized Mr. Pisgah Baptist Church in Choctaw County, Alabama. The following charter members were enrolled: Rev. A. Daugherty, Rev. William Campbell, Christopher Owen, Wilda Owen, John Hulett, Mary Hulett, R.B. Kennedy, Sarah A. Kennedy, S.M. Cummings, J.J. Hulett, Mary Kennedy, Isaac Owen, Mary Ann Owen, Martha Owen, and Martha Legrand.

Articles of Faith were written and Rules of Decorum were established. These rules were read to the church in conference and at least once a year. The first pastor was William Campbell. The original church building was used for around 34 years. During the early years of the church, committees were appointed to build a sufficient number of seats, build a pool for baptism, buy candles to light the building, and provide wood for the stove. Member met on Saturdays for conference to attend to all business and for reception of all new members. A Bible was presented to the church by Christopher Owen in 1877.

On July 23, 1859, the church was attached to the Liberty Baptist Association of Mississippi. Sunday School was organized in the early years of the church, and among those who served as Superintendent were; Dr. J.D. Harrell, E.J. Reaves, and R.B. Kennedy. in 1883, R.B. Kennedy who had served as church clerk for thirty years, requested to be released from duty. S.D. Owen was the next to be elected.

Mt. Pisgah was one of the churches that organized the Choctaw Association in 1917. The first BTU was organized in 1929. A WMU was organized in 1923 and continues to be active. Vacation Bible School was held in 1946. Miss Frances Davidson of Birmingham, AL, was sent by the Alabama Baptist Office to lead the first VBS. During the pastorate of Carl Martin in 1955, the church went from quarter to half time. In 1957, the church went from half to full time.

In 1892, a new church building was erected on the same lot where the old building stood. A pulpit and communion table were presented to the church by the Owen family in memory of their parents and grandparents. Miss Lena Brock donated funds to have electrical wiring installed in the building during the 1940's. New pews were placed in the church in 1949. Three Sunday School rooms were added and gas heaters were installed during the years of 1950-1954. A separate building was erected to be used as Sunday School rooms and for church socials during the years of 1956-1957. A barbeque-pit and tables with seating were built for recreation. During the late 1950's, an apartment was rented as a pastorium, while siding was installed on the church, and the front entrance was remolded. The interior of the church was repainted and a nursery was opened.

Mt. Pisgah celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1958. George Underwood, pastor at the time, led the occasion in which many members, former members, and former pastors attended. Dr. J. Hardee Kennedy, professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, was the keynote speaker. He is the grandson of R.B. Kennedy, one of the charter members of the church.

The original part of the Mt. Pisgah Cemetery was owned by James Bedwell and his wife, Lucy. They died one week apart in 1846 and upon their request were buried on their land. Their graves are the brick above the ground graves with a cement top. They received the land from the Choctaw Indians due to the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek of 1830. The land was later given to the church by J.S. Yarborough. Mrs. Mattie Harrell Atchley, great-great-granddaughter of the Bedwells, donated additional land for the cemetery in the 1950's. The Mt. Pisgah Cemetery Association maintains the cemetery. Cemetery expenses are met by contributions from the families who have loved ones buried there.

During the early 1960's a small pastorium was built. Jim Henry and his family lived there on weekends while he attended seminary. Before the pastorium was built, they stayed in the homes of church members on the weekends.

In 1976 a vote was made to build a new church. The building was dedicated in 1978. A note burning ceremony was held in 1980. A new pastorium was completed in 1981. Bro. Jesse Griffith and his family lived in the four bedroom, two bath, brick home for 15 years.

The present pastor, Pike Smith and his family, make the pastorium their home now.

The Lord has blessed the congregations of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church since its beginning in 1858. Many souls have been saved and many people have recommitted their lives to Christ. May God continue to bless the ministry of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.

        

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