The State in Columbia SC Logo

Sumter church celebrates 150 years of ministry | The State

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Archive Search
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Photo Posters
    • Sponsorships

  • Obituaries
    • All News
    • Local News
    • Crime & Courts
    • South Carolina
    • Business
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Military
    • State
    • Nation/World
    • Civil Rights
    • Charleston Shootings
    • Data, Weather and Traffic
    • Databases
    • Weather
    • Traffic
    • All Politics
    • The Buzz
    • SC Salary Database
    • All GoGamecocks
    • Football
    • Recruiting
    • Phil Kornblut
    • Baseball
    • Men's Basketball
    • Women's Basketball
    • Other Sports
    • Columnists
    • Josh Kendall
    • Sports
    • GoGamecocks.com
    • Clemson Tigers
    • High School Sports
    • College
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • NASCAR
    • MLB
    • Golf
    • Columnists
    • All GoColumbia
    • Entertainment
    • Celebrities
    • Contests
    • Events & Movies
    • All Living
    • Food & Drink
    • Midlands
    • Health
    • Home & Garden
    • Religion News
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Social
    • Place Announcement
    • Features
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Special Sections
    • Living Here Guide
    • All Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • Editorials
    • Opinion Extra
    • Columnists
    • Cindi Ross Scoppe
    • Robert Ariail
    • Business
    • National Business
    • Technology
    • Shop Around

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Virtual Career Fair
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place an ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Religion

Sumter church celebrates 150 years of ministry

BY JADE ANDERSON - janderson@theitem.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 15, 2013 11:12 PM

During its 150 years on a little hill in Rembert, Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church has seen a number of changes.

Starting Monday, church members will gather at Mount Pisgah for a week of anniversary celebration services. Many of the scheduled speakers are “sons of the church,” men who came through the church and were ordained there.

The theme this year is “Celebrating the past, and marching toward the future in Christian fellowship.”

The public is invited.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The State

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“Church anniversaries are fun,” said Martha Wright, church historian. “Furthermore, they provide excellent opportunities not only for reviewing and honoring the past but also for evaluating the present and planning the shape of the future.”

MARKING THE PAST

Records show the church began as a single building set up on “chalk hill” under “bush harbor” in 1863, Wright said, about where the cemetery is now located. It cost $300, and a communion set was $19. There were 12 members, she said.

The current building is about the fourth incarnation with the sanctuary portion having been completed in 1959 and the fellowship hall added in the 1970s.

Naomi Sanders will mark her own milestone of 74 years at the church later this month.

“I was born in this church,” said the county council woman. “I have seen changes for the better, and I’ve seen some bad times that have made us stronger.”

Her father, the Rev. Abe Dennis, was the church’s pastor for 52 years.

Deacon Robert Parker remembers the pot belly stove and large fans in the third version of the church. He was about 12.

The roof was remodeled during this time, and Sanders said the steeple area looked like a bird house.

Deacon Jerry Wilson recalls baptisms in the creek across the road. Like many others, he grew up going to Mount Pisgah but in adulthood moved out of state. When it was time to retire from New York about six years ago, he headed back South.

“This is my home,” said the chairman of the deacon board. “I came back because there is no place like home.”

Then there is the hard period. In 1996, the deacons voted to fire the preacher, a move that divided the church. A few times, the reverend returned to the pulpit, but some deacons refused to welcome him. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the church on several occasions, and one member’s home was even vandalized. A judge even ordered the church closed that Christmas.

The pastor’s supporters sued the deacons for the building, the grounds, the bank accounts and financial and membership records. But eventually, the two factions parted ways with the preacher and his supporters starting a new church.

Nearly 16 years ago, current pastor Anthony Taylor Sr. took the helm.

“We needed a very humble pastor,” Sanders said. “I prayed and asked God to send us one.”

He was raised on Broad Street and graduated from Sumter High in 1980, the same year the church added Wednesday night services.

“It’s a great blessing,” Taylor said about the 150th anniversary. “A church, as with anything, has a story. It’s not all good, but it’s unique to them and their history. It needs and ought to be celebrated.”

In 1997, the church began meeting every Sunday instead of alternating services with Rafting Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

LOOKING AHEAD

Each member has an area in the church where he or she would like to see growth.

Wright said she’d like to see a more active membership.

“They need to be strong in their belief,” she said. “There is training on how to operate in a church but not a lot of them take advantage. I’m not a preacher, but I know what one is supposed to do. I know what a deacon and a clerk is supposed to do.”

She’d also like to see the church purchase more property and expand.

Parker would like to see financial growth and a stronger adult Sunday school. He was previously a superintendent of Sunday school.

He’d also like to see more young people become active in ministry.

“People didn’t used to send their children to church,” Sanders said. “They took children to church.”

Parker said he’d like to see some more safety measures around the curve the church is situated on, too.

“My concern is always a spiritual concern,” Taylor said. “I’d like to see the love of the church and of God to expand and flourish. I’d like to see them in Bible study and see Sunday school grow. Sunday school and Bible study gives you the opportunity to ask questions. If you are only coming every Sunday, you can’t learn all about the God we serve and how He thinks and what He wants of us.”


SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES

The week of fellowship will kick off at 7 p.m. Monday night at the church, 7355 Camden Highway, Rembert, and will be held at that time all week. The culminating service will be at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Monday: Welcome Reception, Mt. Pisgah Praise Angels will perform, a slide show of church events will be presented and light refreshments will be served.

Tuesday: The Rev. Edward Sanders will preach and his churches, Mt. Joshua Baptist, Camden, and Calvary Baptist, Pinewood, are invited

Wednesday: The Rev. Willie Dennis will preach and his church, Union Baptist, is invited.

Thursday: “An Appointment With History,” a dramatization of the church history will be performed.

Friday: The Rev. Eugene Dennis will preach and his church, Joshua Baptist, is invited.

Sunday: The Rev. Frederick Crawford will preach and his church Union Grove Baptist, Bronx, N.Y., is invited.

  Comments  

Videos

West Columbia church relies on faith, prayer after robbers steal music equipment

His House: it's more than a thrift store and its mission has helped men for 44 years

View More Video

Trending Stories

Colorado ‘red flag’ gun bill passes first hearing

February 22, 2019 01:55 AM

Scores, schedule and live updates from SC high school basketball playoffs

February 23, 2019 12:11 PM

Big innings power South Carolina to dominant series-opening win over Utah Valley

February 22, 2019 07:30 PM

Five storylines for South Carolina’s offense entering spring practice

February 22, 2019 07:50 AM

Forest Acres bank robbery suspect arrested in Florida

February 23, 2019 09:14 AM

Read Next

Religion

Victims make their presence known at Pope Francis’ conference on sexual abuse

By JEREMY ROEBUCK The Philadelphia Inquirer

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 23, 2019 03:00 AM

VATICAN CITY – As a boy raised Catholic in Erie, Pa., Jim VanSickle never imagined that his first trip to Rome would be to talk about the priest who tried to sexually assault him in a rundown hotel room just days before his high school graduation.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The State

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE RELIGION

Religion

At Pope Francis’ sex abuse summit, American cardinal offers plan for bishops to police each other

February 22, 2019 03:00 AM

Religion

Diocese removes priests who championed gay rights from list of those accused of sexual abuse

February 22, 2019 03:00 AM

Religion

Pope Francis seeks solutions, victims skeptical as historic clergy sex-abuse summit opens in Rome

February 21, 2019 03:00 AM

Religion

Pope presents 21-point reform road map at Vatican anti-abuse summit

February 21, 2019 03:00 AM

Religion

Oakland diocese sat on secret of five priests’ abuse of kids for years

February 20, 2019 03:00 AM

Religion

Oakland diocese names 45 priests accused of sexual abuse

February 18, 2019 03:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

The State App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Rewards
  • Pay Your Bill
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Special Sections
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story