Church History
On October 13th, in the year of our Lord 1873, about seventy (70) members under council from Sharon Baptist Church received permission to organized the First Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Before the first house of worship was built the members had access to the house of worship owned by Sharon Baptist Church for more than two years.
Reverend E. V. White (1873 - 1902) was elected as first pastor. Brothers A. Marshall, Henry Smalley, and Swift Cummings were ordained as the first deacons. Brother A. Reese was the first clerk.
In 1894, the second house of worship was built and Reverend E. V. White served until the time of his death in April 1902. He served for twenty-nine (29) years.
Reverend G. W. Harrison (1902 - 1941), the second pastor, was called to lead the flock in December, 1902. He proved himself to be a man worthy of the confidence imposed on him by the people. Under Reverend Harrison’s leadership, membership grew quickly. The third house of worship collapsed making it necessary to build a fourth. On August 22, 1941, Reverend G. W. Harrison was called to his heavenly home. He served for thirty-nine (39) years.
The church called Reverend R. C. Calhoun (1942 - 1947), the third pastor, on September 5, 1942. He served for five years and three months. On December 3, 1947, he resigned. Again the church was without a leadership. The church continued to pray and trust God for a leader worthy of leading His people.
On June 6, 1948, Reverend T. L. Benniefield, the fourth pastor, was called to lead this band of Christian followers. During his pastorship the church accomplished the following: concert steps, celotex overhead, sheet rock on walls, new piano, and pump in well. Reverend T. L. Benniefield worked faithful until his death, September 12, 1956.
Reverend C. I. Benniefield , our fifth pastor, was called to lead the flock on September 1, 1957. Under his leadership many additions were added to the old building with much envision for the future. Realizing the need for a new house of worship, the pastor and members began making plans. The officials ground breaking ceremony service for the new house of worship was held January 13, 1979. It took almost ten (10) months of labor for the present building to be completed.
The first worship service was held in the new church building, November 29, 30, and December 2 with the following churches participating: Sharon, Mt. Zion, Rehoboth, Springfield, and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Churches. The final segment of the dedication services climaxed with Rev. J. S. Wright and Macedonia Baptist Church in charge.
The mortgage burning ceremony for the new building was held on January 5, 1986, with Reverend J. S. Wright and Macedonia in charge.
Under the leadership of Reverend C. I. Bennifield many accomplishments were made to the present building to enhance GOD's program: a new piano, a copy machine, a typewriter and calculator were purchased.
New organizations were formed: Youth Adult Choir, Hattie M. Marshall Choir, Youth Choir, and the Mission In Action. Three were licensed to preach: Bro. Fermon Thomas, Dea. Stanford Shanks and Dea. Roger Boyd, Jr. The church grew to having worship twice a month, first and third Sundays. Initially the third Sunday Worship was lead by an associate minister, Rev. Tommy Burgess, Jr. Rev. Burgess was called to pastor Macedonia Baptist Church in Sparta, Georgia and he accepted the call. Rev. Bennifield felt the need to be with us more resigned from St. Claire and came to be with us on third Sundays. Under the leadership of our pastor we continued to have worship service on the first and third Sundays.
Dea. Roger Boyd was the first minister to be ordained from this church on May 17, 1987. Rev. Standford Shanks was later ordained on January 18, 1988 and on June 13 1999, Rev, Larry Neal was ordained. We thank God for Rev. Boyd and Rev. Shanks and Rev. Neal.
On March 18, 1987, Reverend C. I. Bennifield, like all others, was called to his eternal home. At the untimely death of Reverend Bennifield, First Mt. Carmel was in the process of upholstering the pews. This was completed in September of 1987.
Reverend Bennifield was truly a great leader and a man of God who exhibited great understanding and dedication in helping others. He served for 29 years and 6 months.
For one year and five months we were like a ship without a sail, sheep without a shepherd, praying and asking God to send us a leader. On August 6, 1988, Reverend Roscoe Fitzgerald Perry was called as the sixth pastor of First Mount Carmel, a man whom we believe to be worthy of the call. We wish for Reverend Perry much success and many years with us. Under the leadership of Rev. Perry, Mt. Carmel has accomplished much. We are elated to say we are now having Worship Service every Sunday. Under divine teaching, many have received salvation and others have rededicated their lives to Christ. 100 members have been added to the membership by water baptism, 44 have come by letter and 18 have come from Christian experience. Five deacons have been ordained with extensive training: Deas. Eugene Bailey, Robert Benning, Milledge Samuels, Alvin Frails and Julius Rogers. One minister has been licensed and ordained to preach, Reverend Larry Neal.
Other accomplishments under Rev. Perry's leadership include the organizing of the following ministries: Sacrafice Ministry, Political Action Ministry, Bus Ministry, Season Saints Ministry, Couple's Ministry, full time Minister of Music, Bible Study, MAMA, individually taught Men and Women Sunday School Classes, Children Worship, full time nursery, Educational Scholarship Committee established, tremendous growth in Youth Ministry, annual budget has more than tripled and an education building was added with the construction being done by M & M (McCord and McCord) Contractor.
Under Rev. Perry's leadership we have had workshops on Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Experience, Trustee Workshop, Single Parenting Worshop, Deacon Ministry Training, Tithing, Preparing for College Education and others.
With mountains of faith and a body of believers, we broke ground November 1994 for expansion to the existing building. The new addition includes: an education facility with four classrooms, each room being named after a former pastor, a conference room, a church office, two storage rooms, a fellowship hall, a sound room, a music room, pastor study with bathroom, children worship room, nursery, kitchen, men and ladies bathrooms. The Lord blessed us to complete this renovation in April 1995. We held a Dedicatory Service June 25, 1995, 2:00 pm with Rev. Coy Henderson and Popular Spring Baptist Church in charge of the Dedicatory Service.
Knowing that God blesses the cheerful giver, members, friends and neighbors donated the following items: monies, draperies for the following areas: sanctuary, fellowship hall, children worship area, kitchen and nursery. Other items donated include: tables, chairs, church office furniture, blinds for education rooms, table linens, pictures for pastor study and conference room, bathroom towels and rugs for pastor study.
First Mt. Carmel has been blessed with six outstanding pastors, many deacons and members over the years. It is impossible to name each person and his contribution or tell in detail what has been accomplished in such a brief summary; however, it is good to know God has a record of each person and everything that has been done.
It's hard to say what the future holds for First Mt. Carmel, but as a church family, we know who holds the future. As we go forth let us go in Jesus' name, joining hands and hearts, that we may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, continuing always to be:
"A CHURCH COMMITTED TO CHRIST."
Copyright © 2008 Titta Usry-Bland. All Rights Reserved.