Our Sacred Journey

Embracing Faith

Our church was established approximately eighteen months following President Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 and seven months following the end of the Civil War on April 12, 1865. At the end of the Civil War, many African Americans were members of the Baptist Churches of the USA, where memberships were available only through the white churches.
Provisions for African Americans within white churches were in the galleries or partitions.

Reverend Bryant Lee, a native of Bertie County and born in slavery, was the founder of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. His first membership was at Connaritsa Baptist Church, where he was also ordained and licensed as a minister of the gospel. Reverend Lee always had a quest for knowledge and freedom. His yearnings for these freedoms, including religious freedom, were the principal motives which led to organization of African Americans, who sat in his and other galleries, for the purpose of the establishment of a church. Thus, during November of 1865 under the leadership of Reverend Lee, a bush harbor was utilized for worship.

This group was comprised of sixty (60) African Americans, prior members of the Republican Baptist Church, and a few persons who had previously belonged to Connaritsa Baptist Church. Although, the Republican Baptist Church had ninety (90) African Americans in its membership, only thirty (30) preferred to remain there.

During 1865, the first efforts towards building a structure began. A bush shelter was built on the Benjamin Gilliam farm about a half mile from the present site. This structure was referred to as the Roberson meeting House. Services included Wednesday night prayer meetings and regular Sunday services. Men, women, and children walked many miles to serve God, who brought them out of slavery.

As attendance grew, a decision was made to build a church. During 1866, land was purchased from the late Benjamin Gilliam and the first building was erected. This building faced what was known as the Halifax Road, now known as NC Highway 308/Governors Road.
In 1868, the first service was held in the newly named Mount Olive Baptist Church. Much jubilation and praise could be heard as people made their way through sand and mud toward and into the first church building. During the first revival, thirty-nine (39) women and men were baptized.

Thus, Mount Olive began its march toward advancing the kingdom of God.
Since its founding, seventeen (17) ministers have served as pastors of Mount Olive, namely: