Over one hundred forty years ago, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church began its’ Christian journey. The members attended Sunday school in a Bush Harbor and had regular church service once a month with Old Kingston Missionary Baptist Church. The first church was built across the road from our cemetery on what is now County Road 6. Sometime later we moved to our present location, where we went from a wood frame church to a block church. Following those years, several improvements and additions were made to the church inside and out. Ministries were added to enlarge our worship service.
We continued to improve our church through remodeling and additions. In 1981, we began the with the leadership of Rev. James D. Milliner, Sr. The church was remodeled on the inside, and air conditioners were installed. Later, a central heating and air units were installed. The Pastor’s study was enlarged to include a bathroom. A wheelchair ramp was added to accommodate our Senior Ministry “The Harvest House,” which still continues to meet five days per week, now called the “Senior Center.” In 1994, we began meeting every Sunday for our worship and praise service.
Pastor Milliner instilled in us his vision of building a new sanctuary. Under this administration and much hard work from Pastor Milliner, part of the vision was completed as you see it today. We moved into our new sanctuary June 15, 2003, by marching from the existing edifice to our new edifice. A Male Chorus was organized, Minister Roy Williams was licensed, and our constitution and by-laws were approved.
In 2004, we began with the leadership of Rev. Timothy Robinson. We named our existing edifice Mount Sinai Family Life Center. We ordained two deacons (James Milliner, Jr. and John W. Brown). Our church motto became “The Mountain Top Experience.” A men’s Sunday school class and a tutorial program for students was started. The improvements continued as we added: gutters, a beautiful steeple, and paved the parking lot. The Mount grew spiritually and increased its membership.
In October 2005, we began with the leadership of Pastor Jeffrey Thompson. Many reunited and many were baptized. The Trustee Ministry was revived, and Minister Conchita England was licensed and appointed Youth Minister. A praise and step team was added to our youth ministry. Through the increase of our tithes and offering intake we were able to make extra payments, which greatly reduced our mortgage. We continued making improvements to both buildings and moving forward by adding new ministries, staff, computer software, and the church website. In April 2010 Rev. Bobby Hall was ordained.
In October 2010, we began with the leadership of Pastor Matthew Ezell, three were baptized and families were rededicated. A co-ed softball team was created, and “First Friday Live @ The Mount” was started. He initiated Leadership Meeting monthly. Facelifts to the Family Life Center and church building was continued.
In March 2012, we began with the leadership of Pastor David L. Benton. We started a Nurses Guild-(Sister Debra Robinson), Adult Dance Ministry (Sister Sherrae Thomas), Christian Education Ministry (Sister Regina Lucas–Director) and appointed a church clerk (Sister Willie Mae Rawlinson). We were blessed with members reuniting, members joining, and members being baptized. In February 2015, Deacon Terry D. Gibbons was ordained. As God continued to pour out his blessings upon us, we purchased the property across the street from the church to enhance our ministry to the community. We installed a beautiful mural over our baptismal pool. We have burned our mortgage, started a restaurant, and purchased a van.
In 2019, repairs and face lifts were added to the Church, Family Life Center, and The Mount Cafeteria. During our 2020 search for a pastor, we praised God for our Pastor Search Committee diligently working. Our Search Committee consisted of Sister Bess Gibbons (Chairperson) Deacon Robert Holifield, Deacon Marcus Houser, Dr. Regina G. Lucas, Sister Cassandra Dixon, Sister Mary Adair, Sister Edna Milliner, and Sister Cassandra Morris (Secretary)
In May 2021, we resumed full service by praising and worshipping God in our sanctuary. We also followed the guidelines of the CDC by wearing face masks and social distancing. We were also sanitizing our church weekly and providing temperature checks upon entering the church. Our first clothes closet was started under our Mission Ministry, chaired by Sister Zebrah Smith and co-chaired by Sister Mary Adair. In September 2021, we elected Rev. Willie James Morgan, Jr. as our Pastor. We are very excited that he accepted his call to come to The Mount along with his wife Evangelist Elizabeth A. Duncan Morgan. He preached his first sermon as pastor on September 26, 2021. Since his time here, three members have joined, and others have returned to the congregation. We have enhanced our Audio and Video Ministry with television monitors, sound cameras, YouTube, Facebook Live, and online giving. On January 30, 2022, Pastor Morgan licensed our second female Minister (Minister Mary Olivia Robinson Adair) at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. We have resumed our Bible study, where Pastor Morgan has included in his teaching “Living the Baptist Faith” a series of Bible studies.
Our early beginnings had us walk in the valley. Now after over 140 years, we have the privilege of looking back from the mountaintop on all God’s blessings, His goodness, faithfulness, and tender love. In looking back, we see generations praising God, as we are remembering our past, engaging our present, and inspiring our future. May we continue to walk by His word and commandments to honor our Father creator of heaven and of the earth.