Church History

Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church History

Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1860. Initially it was located behind its current location of 118 Johnson Street. The late Burton, Adeline and Katie Moore Jones donated the land for the church. In addition to the Jones family, numerous other families (See Mount Olive Founding Families) were instrumental in supporting Mount Olive in its earlier days.

Mount Olive’s early wooden structure with shutter-covered windows lacked electricity, making it necessary for an oil lamp to be brought in for evening service. Positioned between two oak trees in the front yard of the church, was a farm bell used to remind members of worship service. It also served to notify the community of other important information. Brother Joe Roger Williams was one of the known bell ringers during that time.

Communion Sunday at Mount Olive was popular and well-attended by the community. With only one communion glass to serve the congregation, the minister was always the first to receive communion. On Communion Sunday, each member paid one penny known as the Poor’s Collection.

Mount Olive Earlier Families

The Baldwin Family
The Butler Family
The Buxton Family
The Carver Family
The Dudley Family
The Evans Family
The George Family
The Hart Family
The Long Family
The Jones Family
The Maynor Family
The McKoy Family
The McPherson Family
The Montague Family
The Smith Family
The Well Family
The Wiley Family
The Durden Family
The Young Family

Mount Olive was indebted to its Pastors in its early years. Reverend(s) Timon Council, Oliver Watkins (called to Mount Olive twice), E.D. Womack, William Allen, J.C. Williams, George Burney, W.H. Rhone, James Smith (called to Mount Olive twice), Lonnie Raeford, J.R. McNair, Sylvester Avery and Edmond Council rendered untiring and sacrificial service to the church’s development. Other current pastors’ contributions to Mount Olive’s history and foundation carry on the legacy started by earlier ones.

Reverend Sandy McDonald was called to Mount Olive after Rev. McNair.

Notable contributions included:

Organized the Pastor’s Aid Club
Added brick veneer to the church
Purchased the first piano for the church

Reverend Julius Butler came to Mount Olive while attending Seminary at Shaw University.

Notable contributions included:

Promoted the Music Department
Recommended the church purchase and used seats to supplement those already existing

Reverend James Everett was called to Pastor Mount Olive (1952 – 1973).

Notable contributions included:

Continued to promote the Music Department
Formed a Senior Choir
Added Deacons: Charlie Smith, John W. Jones, Joe Henry Gilmore, Earl McNeill, George Green, and Sasser Vereen
Purchased new furniture, central heating, air conditioning, an organ, and sound system
Installed a baptismal pool, dining room, and carpet
Added shrubbery and walkways

Reverend (Dr) Maurice B Hayes was called to Pastor Mount Olive (April 14, 1974).

Notable contributions included:

To accommodate the expanding congregation, Reverend Hayes founded plans to construct a new church on a new site. The building’s design and location were conceptualized by the late Jason W. Jones, who left as a legacy a plot of land with enough room for the building and more space to accommodate other demands.
Introduced a program where the youth served in many capabilities.
Organized a Young Adult Choir
Conducted a Children’s call for the ages one to nine, where bible stories were read and children were encouraged to talk about Jesus
Encourage members to tithe.

After the resignation of Pastor Hayes, Reverend Edward Jones was called to Pastor Mount Olive where he served until the second Sunday in October 1978. Following Pastor Jones, Reverend Ronald Swain served as interim Pastor until the fourth Sunday in November 1979.

Reverend Perry B. Irby served as interim Pastor (December 1979 – January 1980) and later was installed as Pastor in February 1980.

Notable contributions included:

In 1982, constructed the present sanctuary
Formed the Christian Education Department, Mass Choir, Bible Study, Youth Department, Nursery Department, Bus Ministry, Budget Committee, Hospitality Committee, Deacons and Ministers Wives Group, Community Missionary Circles, New Members Orientation, and the Church Sports Program
Re-organized the Gospel Choir
Appointed the first women to the Board of Trustees that included: Sisters Stella Boykins, Valerea Jones Russ, Erie Bell, Arnetta Gore and Willie Ann Gillis.
Added an 8:30 am service to accommodate the growing congregation.
Licensed four ministers: Reverends Carl E. Brinkley Jr., James Scruggs, Johnnie Stowe and Wilford McQueen
Enlarged the Board of Deacon with the ordinations of Deacons: Failus Potts, Josephus Gilmore and Martel Jones

Pastor Irby left Mount Olive (September 23, 1984) for a new calling as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force.

Reverend (Dr) Carl E. Brinkley, Jr., our present Pastor served as interim Pastor (October 1984 – March 1985) after which he was installed as Pastor of Mount Olive. Pastor Brinkley is still serving as Mount Olive’s Pastor and has made numerous noteworthy achievements.

Notable contributions include:

In 1985, added the administration/classroom wing
Saw the growth of numerous organizations and activities to include: The Music Department, the Missionary Department, and the Christian Education Department
Added three Worship Services to accommodate the growing congregation: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and 12:00 pm.
Added three Sunday School Services: 7:00 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am.
Reorganized Missionary Department to include Young Adults, Bereavement and Senior Members Missionary Group. Full-time Director added to Christian Education Department
Added a Tutorial Program to assist students in the church and the community. Teacher certification classes added for potential Church teachers.
Added a full-time Maintenance Technician to maintain the church property and grounds.
Children Church Ministry conducts full service during the 10:00 am service and the 12:00 pm service.
Implemented New Ministries to include Security, Singles, Couples, Senior, Laymen’s League, Men and Women’s Ministries.
Added a Full-time administrative assistant and secretary/bookkeeper to the administration staff.
Purchased new computer system and software to upgrade the automation requirements of the church.
Established a method in which 10% of the total budget is given in support of schools and missions.
In 1993 Church mortgage was retired.
Van purchased to provide transportation for church members and support the church’s travel requirements.
Added Summer Reading Enrichment Program to the summer schedule.
Installed a closed-circuit video system to accommodate the overflow in the chapel area, fellowship hall and nursery area.
Renovated the interior of the church with new paint, carpet, chairs, paneling, and floor tiles.
In 1996, God gave Pastor Brinkley a vision of building a new facility to accommodate a growing congregation.
In May 1996, the Church purchased 10.4 acres of land on Johnson Street.
In March 1997, an additional 10 acres of land adjacent to the 10 acres purchased in 1996.
Established a building steering committee consisting of seven groups of 10 members to design, develop and plan the new facility.
In 1997, the church began a Stewardship Capital Campaign to raise funds for the new facility.
In 1999 and 2000, two additional vans were purchased bringing the total to four vans for Van Ministry.
In March 1999, Mr. Kenneth Martin and John S. Clark Construction Company were hired to design and construct the new sanctuary on the present site. The Stewardship Capital Campaign was extended to September 2004.
In April 2000, the church purchased 2.1 acres of land, with a refurbished home on property, later converted into a Child Care Center, which is another level of the Pastor Brinkley’s vision of growth and support for the community.
On March 18, 2001, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of a new 2.6 million-dollar sanctuary. The MOMBC Child Development Center was also dedicated and opened. On June 23, 2002, Pastor Brinkley led the congregation into a new sanctuary and facility. The guest speakers for the dedication of the new facility were: Chaplain (LTC, USAF) Perry B. Irby (former Pastor of Mt Olive), Rev (Dr.) Sidney Lock (Pastor of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist, Greenville, NC) and Rev (Dr.) John D. Fuller, Sr. (Pastor of Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC and President of the General State Baptist Convention) The former sanctuary was converted into a Multipurpose Room to support the other ministries of the church.
As a result of Pastor Brinkley’s vision, the church has added more real estate and land, a Clothing Boutique and Food Pantry was opened to support the community and the Outreach Ministry.
Several of the purchased buildings have been converted into a Thrift Shop, Ministerial Training Building, School Community Interaction Program Building (SCIP), Counseling Centers, Health Center, Scout Buildings, and an additional Child Center to support other age groups.
On 18 September 2003, Mt Olive was televised on Channel – 9 (PAX) from 7:30-8:30 am each Monday morning.
In 2004, three Specialty Ministers were added as part-time staff members: Counseling Ministry, Visitation Ministry and Vision Development Ministry
A new Military Support Group (MG #12 Military Support) added to Missionary Department.
Church Vision has been expanded with the addition of the School of Prophets developed to train Ministers in their outreach ministries.
Transformation 2005 – bringing the ministries of the church in line with the Nehemiah Process. Seven pillars represent the following ministries: Working His Works, Economic Empowerment, School of the Prophets, Nehemiah Process, Godly Leadership, Tightening the Nets and Building for Ministry. Each ministry is represented by colored rings which are connected one with another. The connection of these rings signifies that there is no beginning or end and that being joined there is strength in unity. The purpose of Transformation 2005 is that the leadership of the church will be trained to minister to the congregation and take them to a higher level of ministry.
In 2017, four new positions were added to the Mt Olive Staff: Multimedia Specialist, Multimedia Assistant, Custodian Assistant and Youth Pastor. Youth Pastor John Langley was hired on June 1, 2018. He was responsible for the “Joshua Generation”, which consists of the Children, Youth and Young Adult ministries of Mount Olive.
From 2020-2022, we faced unprecedented times with a worldwide pandemic and church closure for 18 months.
After partial reopening in January 2022, regular 08:30 and 11:00 am services resume to include Sunday School and Children Church. In the following months, an Office Manager became a part
of the Office Staff, Ms. Kimberly Breedlove, and Part-time sexton William Johnson, III and Children Church Director Gladys Breedlove.

Pastor Brinkley has licensed/and ordained the following ministers:

Rachel Addison*

Augustin Baez*

Robert Blocker

James Clark

Pamela Dabney*

Charles Dixon

Josie Gore

Patricia Hill*

Linda Jenkins

Shirley Jones*

Gail McKoy

Marvin Newkirt*

Wanette Patterson*

Delores Redmon*

Karen Simmons

Renee Stephenson*

Antonio Underwood

Skip Walker

Duane Woodard

Denise Alston

Calvin Brewingston

James Campbell

Audrey Coppins*

Victor Dabney*

S.Lee Downing*

Shelia Gorman

Joan Hoffman*

Kenneth Johnson*

Phillip Marks*

Laverne McLamb*

Carla Page*

Ted Pittman

Karlene Ricketts

Phyllis Sneed

Gloria Thomas*

Joseph Varnor*

Valeria Walker

Edward Woodard

Marcus Alexander

Carol Lynn Brinkley

Beverly Carmichael*

Chum Cunningham*

Preston Davis

Donalle Evans

Brenda Hampton*

Tanya Hoffman*

Letaz Jones*

Dorothy Matthews*

James Merritt

Najean Parker*

Sylvia Pompey*

Larry Riddick

Valerie Snead

Tommie Thomas

Dwayne Waddey

Benjamin Webb

Gwendolyn Young

Dorothy Anderson*

Leslie Blocker

Wanda Charles

Evelyn Craighead*

William Dingle

Calvin Germany*

Preston Harris*

Olevia Jackson*

Martel Jones*

James McGhee

Felicia Montgomery

Christopher Parker*

Alphonso Pompey*

Patricia Seams

Eloise Starr*

Sandra Holland Trotter*

Cheryl Walker*

Belva Wilker*

Thomas Smalls*

*Ordained Minister

The following ministers who served under Pastor Brinkley’s leadership have been called to pastor churches:

Wiley Alston
Victor Dabney
Letaz Jones
Sherry Gail McKoy
Christopher Parker
Sandra Holland Trotter
Robert Blocker
Preston Davis
Martel Jones
Laverne McLamb
NaJean Parker
Demetrius Williams
Calvin Brewington
S. Lee Downing
Phillip Marks
Carla Page
Johnny R. Pearson
Belva Wilker
Carolyn Brewington
Preston Harris
Anthony Mallory
Warnette Patterson
Gloria Thomas
Alphonso Pompey
Allen Wentworth

The following Deacons have been ordained under Pastor Brinkley:

Cortez Colbert
James Hoffman
Victor Dabney (now Rev Dabney)
Julius Green
Wendell Stephenson
Sammie Haskins
Tommie Thomas (now Rev Thomas)

Ordained: February 20, 2011

Josiah Blue
Pedro Garcia
Charles Smith
Willie Smith
Bobby Johnson Joseph West
Fred Norman

Ordained: February 2018

Harry Boone
Larry Smith
Clara Brown (1st Woman Deacon)
Linda Compton (1st Woman Deacon)
William McAlpine
George Greene*
Josephus Gilmore*

*Emeritus

The following Trustees served under Pastor Brinkley’s leadership:

Finally, as we celebrate our 164th Church Anniversary and Homecoming, let us reflect on our theme for 2024, “Serve the Lord with Gladness” from Psalm 100:2. There is nothing more important than serving the Lord and serving others in Christ’s name with gladness.

Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ and His Church. We WILL come through stronger and better.