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Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Celebrates 111th Year Anniversary

Celebrating 111 Years of God’s Blessings and Grace

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Flint’s oldest African American Baptist Church, will celebrate its 111th Church Anniversary during the entire month of November.  Mt. Olive will hold its Commemorative Service on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 10:00 A.M.  Following the service, a Fellowship Brunch will be served in the Roy I. Greer Family Life Center.

The anniversary theme, “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”, was inspired from Hebrews 10: 24-25. The scripture directs us to “. . . consider one another in order to stir up love and good works . . .”

Our guest speaker will be Reverend Dr. Emil Thomas. Reverend Thomas is a native of Flint, MI and was raised in Mt. Olive. He graduated from Flint Central High School, Bishop College in Dallas, TX, and acquired his Doctorate of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. Reverend Thomas is revered for his anointed preaching and teaching of God’s Word. He currently resides in Palo Alto, California where he is the Senior Pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church.

In 1907 Mt. Olive was established at 509 E. Ninth St. in the home of Sarah Howard.  Reverend William Lyons was the first pastor of Mt. Olive. Mt. Olive had several short-term pastors until 1939 when Reverend Dr. Robert R. Turpin was called to serve. He served as pastor from 1939-1972 adding spiritual leadership, stability and growth to Mt. Olive as well as the growing Flint Community.  Eleven years after his arrival Rev. Turpin led the congregation to build the church that today stands at 424 E. Kennelworth Avenue.  On a bright Sunday morning in 1950 Rev. Turpin and the joyous church family marched parade style, clapping, singing hymns of Thanksgiving and praising God, from their Clifford Street church site of 30 years to their newly erected church.  Rev. Turpin retired in 1972, after 33 years as beloved pastor.

God continued to favor Mt. Olive, sending them another pastor to lead and guide them.  In 1972, Reverend Dr. Roy I. Greer became Mt. Olive’s Pastor.  Rev. Greer and his wife, Lois, greatly impacted church life at Mt. Olive.  His vision led to several administrative updates, additions and renovations to both the interior and exterior of the church building, as membership continued to climb. In 1999, he led Mt. Olive to erect a multi-level Family Life Center. It was his vision for the Life Center to be not only recreational but provide educational opportunities for the church as well as the youth in the Flint Community.  Reverend Greer faithfully served as Mt. Olive’s Shepherd for 36 years, until his untimely death in 2008.

In November 2009, the Lord sent Rev. Dr. Major A. Stewart to shepherd the Mt. Olive congregation.  Immediately, Reverend Stewart understood and undertook the membership’s fervent desire to become debt free (Romans 13:8). During a Sunday worship service in June 2014, the membership watched in elation and thanksgiving as Rev. Stewart burned the mortgage for the Family Life Center. In recognition of Reverend Greer’s commitment to its construction, Rev. Stewart and Rev. Greer’s son, Minister Michael Greer, led the congregation in rededicating the life center and, proclaiming its new name as the Roy I. Greer Family Life Center. Rev. Stewart was a blessing in many ways to Mt. Olive, and served diligently until his departure in 2016.

The historical sign that stands today on the Mt. Olive campus reads in part, “. . . the Mt. Olive membership stands poised to continue its dedication to Christian Service.”

Today, the historic Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church continues to remain poised for Christian service. We are so grateful to God for the opportunity to be led by our new pastor, Reverend Jevon Q. Catlett. Reverend Catlett was called to Mt. Olive from Birmingham, AL.   He is a gifted teacher and accomplished preacher of God’s Word, being led by the Spirit to preach his first sermon at the young age of 13. He and his wife, Symone, have three young children.

The entire month of November is dedicated to celebrating our 111th Church Anniversary. On Sunday, November 11, 2018 service will begin at 10:00 am, with Sunday school beginning at 8:45 am.  Mt. Olive family, friends and neighbors are all invited to join us in worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for His continued Blessings!

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