Our Church History

Mount Olive Baptist Church was established in 1866 in the annals of Georgia slavery.  The original building was a single room with a dirt floor built on land that was awarded to them by former slave owners.  The building also served as a schoolhouse for children of former slaves.  The trailblazing organizers were Reverend Berry Austin, Deacon Graves, and Deacon Solomon Glass.  Their pioneering efforts were supported by a host of other faithful members who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Throughout the years, God has stationed the following shepherds over the Mt. Olive flock: Rev. Reed, Rev. Bell, Rev. Ware, Rev. Goer, Rev. R.N. Martin, Rev. McClusky, Rev. Manuel, Rev. Covington, Rev. Dartz, Rev. Bennie Smith, Rev. Horace Milan, Rev. Hopie Strickland, and Rev. Edward Brown.  

Through God’s divine direction, the church built a new sanctuary in 1986 located at 192 Graves Road.  Major improvements to this facility included a paved parking lot and construction of a new access road to the property.  The interior of the church and fellowship hall were refurbished in 2001.

In October 2004, Rev. Brown retired from the church thus leaving the position vacant. In that same month, the Board of Deacons and the Church membership extended a call to Reverend Melvin Ware in October.  Reverend Ware accepted the call and began his pastorate on the 3rd Sunday during that same month.  Under the leadership of Pastor Ware, God called two servants into the ministry who were licensed.  Rev. Judy (J.T.) Ware was licensed on the 2nd Sunday in November 2006 and Rev. Myrna Malone was licensed on the 2nd Sunday of December 2006.

Past serving Deacons were Deacon Mitchell, Deacon Hightower, Deacon J.T. Dorsey, Sr., Deacon Oscar Dorsey, Deacon J.H. Hood, Deacon Paul Dorsey, Deacon Robert Allen, Deacon T.C. Davis, Deacon Bill Davis, Deacon Robert Williams, Deacon J.A. Hood, Deacon Jessie James Chandler, Deacon Waymon Thompson, Deacon Alvin Ponder, Deacon Henry Scandrick, Deacon Clifford Gay, Deacon Alvin Elder, Deacon J. T. Dorsey, Jr., Deacon Fred Slaton, Deacon Andre Slaton, Deacon Alvin Ponder, Deacon Jimmy Rainey, Deacon Cleveland Feemster, Deacon Norman Baskin, Deacon James Camp, Deacon Ray Calhoun, Deacon Ray Stargent, Deacon Calvin Warren, Deacon Donald Clark, Deacon Edgar Davis  Deacon Willie Ponder and Deacon Simeon Thomas

The Deacons currently serving are Chairman Louis Ross, Chairman Emeritus Joseph Smith, Deacon Willie Willis, Deacon George Ponder, Deacon Amos Bell and Deacon John Winters.

The Church Administrative staff includes Rev. J. T. Ware who serves as the Church Administrator and Director of Education.  Additional staff members include Sister Karen Neal (Church Treasurer), Sister Vicky Ponder (Executive Secretary), Sister Vicki Dewberry (Financial Secretary) and Deacon Simeon Thomas (Chairman of Trustee Ministry).

Past Church clerks include Sister Della Dorsey, Deacon Oscar Dorsey, Sister Gertrude Dorsey, Deacon J.H. Hood, Deacon J.T. Dorsey Jr., Sister Frances Elder, Sister Annie Bell Barlow, Sister Sarah Chandler, Sister Janie Slaton, and Sister Vivian Robinson.  The current Church Clerk is Sister Vicki Ponder.

In 2001, God blessed the Church with eight and a half acres located at 1565 Highway 92 North in Fayetteville, Georgia.  The ground-breaking ceremony for the new sanctuary was September 3, 2006. Deacon Alvin Ponder served as Chairman of the Construction Committee and Bro. Johnny Ponder as Co-Chair. Other committee members included Deacon Willie Ponder, Deacon Calvin Warren, Deacon Ray Calhoun, Sister Elizabeth Ponder, Deacon Willie Willis, Sister JoAnn Calhoun, Sister Karen Neal, Sister Sherry Stinchcomb, Sister Tracey Lester, Rev. J.T. Ware and Pastor Melvin Ware.  On April 20, 2008, the Church led a procession from the location at 192 Graves Road to the newly constructed facility.

On November 2, 2008, the church observed another historical event by ordaining the “First Lady” Rev. J.T. Ware, as our First Female Minister.  Rev. Myrna Malone was the second female to be ordained in December 2008.

The Church also installed the first Trustee Board under Pastor Ware’s leadership.  The members were Deacon James Camp, Chairman; Bro. Johnny Ponder, Co-Chairman; Deacon Calvin Warren, Deacon Alvin Ponder, Bro. Anthony McElhaney, Sister Carol Theus, Bro. Jimmy Rainey, Sister Sharamie Darrington, Sister Sharon Sanders, Rev. J.T. Ware and Sister Karen Neal.  Sister Marian Camp was appointed as Assistant Treasurer, and she as well as Deacon Willie Ponder served as Ex-Officio members of the Trustees Ministry.

Under the leadership of Pastor Melvin Ware, the church organized several ministries to meet the needs of the church and to fulfill its mission to reach out to the surrounding communities.  During 2008, Pastor Ware established a Music Committee to serve as a steering group for all musical activities and services for the church.

Throughout the years, the church family has continued to grow by winning souls for Christ and adding members to the church roll.  Down through the years, God has been good to the Mt. Olive Family.  God has brought us through trials and tribulations. The building has endured sunshine and rain, storms and tornadoes.  The Mt. Olive Church Family has made it through the days of wooden stoves, oil lamps, horse-driven carriages, mule and wagons and all other dangers seen and unseen.

As we celebrate 155 years, we resolve that we will follow the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit and trust God to be faithful to His Word.  So, as we learn from looking back over a rich and colorful past, we prepare for a glorious future and the challenges of a bright new tomorrow.  We boldly acknowledge and accept God at His Word.  

This year, we operate from the theme “Operating in Faith!” (For we walk by faith, not by sight) 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV.  We affirm in our walk of faith, if the Word of God says it, we believe it, and God will do it.  God’s word shall not and cannot return to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11)