Church History
History of the Mount Olive Missionary
Baptist Church
The
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church had its humble but vivid
beginning in the hearts and minds of the slaves of the Caffey
Community, Burkville, Alabama. This history is very colorful and
reveals the faith that the founders/organizers and members had in God
and themselves.
The wife of the slave
owner, known as Mrs. Turner, kindled this religious inspiration. Mrs.
Turner, as revealed, was a Christian woman. She allowed the slaves on
her plantation to hold church services. It was stated that Mrs. Turner
herself held Sunday school classes at her home for the slave children.
The
slaves didn't have a building to hold their worship service in, so
these services were held outdoors under the brush harbors to shield
them from the sun and cold. To keep themselves warm in the cold
weather, they would build a fire on the outside of these brush harbors
and would occasionally go out and warm themselves.
There was a
little black boy by the name of William Gaskins who lived on the
Turner's plantation. His job was to drive the buggy...
|
|
Pastor Page
Rev.
Eric Elton Brown Sr. is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, born to The Rev.
Roosevelt and Sarah Brown. He received his calling to the gospel
ministry at the age of 18 and preached his first message October, 1978.
In the fall of 1979, Rev. Brown moved to Nashville, Tennessee and
attended the American Baptist College.
While
attending American Baptist College, he also worked for the State of
Tennessee as a youth service worker. In 1984, Rev. Brown graduated from
the American Baptist College with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Bible
and Theology. Rev. Brown is currently working on his Master's of
Divinity at the Amridge University in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1985,
Rev. Brown became the Pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in
Columbia, TN were he served as pastor for 13 years.
In
June, 1998, Rev. Brown became the Pastor of the First Baptist Church
also of Columbia, TN where he served for eight years. While pastor of
the First Baptist Church, he was a member of the Duck River Association
where he has served as Vice President of the Sunday School Congress,
Chairman of the Permanent Committee, Chairman of the Evangelism
Committee, member of the Advisory Board of the extension of the
American Baptist College in Columbia, TN, and the First Vice Moderator.
In February 2008, Rev. Brown was elected as the 17th
Pastor of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
Rev. Brown is married to the former
Mrs. Linda Fay McCathern. They
met at the American Baptist College. Rev. and Sister Brown have been
blessed with three sons, Rev. Eric Elton Brown Jr., Cordarius Devon
Brown, Jackson Devon Brown, and a god child, Andrew Mitchell.
In his spare time, Rev. Brown enjoys coaching basketball
and playing softball.
|