For OVER 70 YEARS of worshipping God and serving our community,
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1949 in a storefront on East Palifox Ave. by a few devoted Christians, with Rev. Levi Nelson as Pastor.
As the church progressed, the Lord led them to purchase property on North 44th Street to build a small edifice for worship service. Later, they purchased it and moved to the current location at 4008 E. Cayuga.
Following Rev. Nelson’s service as Pastor, the following pastors served our church: Rev. Howard, Rev. Parish and Rev. Mac Williams.
In 1959, the Holy Spirit directed the Church to call Rev. C. P. Epps, a young minister, to preach for them. He accepted the invitation and was later called to be the Pastor of Mount Olive.
Under his leadership, Mount Olive began to grow. The church paid off their mortgage and enlarged the building on both sides.
In 1975, they purchased property from the Brown family and marched into another edifice.
To accommodate growth, the annex was moved back across the street in 1978 into the little white church. The annex wing in the new edifice was opened for seating due to the growing membership.
The Greco family donated valuable property to Mount Olive. The Church also purchased property from Powell’s Cleaners on the corner of Cayuga and 40th Street.
Mount Olive began occupying the current edifice in 1992. During the construction process, Sunday Worship was held at Williams Elementary School.
The Church paid off the 15-year mortgage in 1998, proudly taking just six years. In 2005, the Church held the groundbreaking for the new education building. The New Dr. C. P. Epps Education Building Dedication Services were held on November 19, 2006.
Our church celebrated the mortgage burning of the Education Building on July 12, 2009.
On November 30, 2011, after 52 years of loyal and dedicated service as Pastor of Mount Olive, Rev. Dr. C. P. Epps retired. In December 2011, Rev. Michael V. White was chosen as pastor of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and was installed as pastor January 22, 2012.
Over the past decade, a dynamic new vision became a reality for the church. New landscaping, a playground for the kids, stage lights & new lighting for the sanctuary, a state-of-the-art sound system & sound booth, window treatments, a digital sign, a new logo for the church, a nursery, a computer lab, combine choirs, remodeled restrooms, a new foyer and new monitors were all installed as part of an effort to enhance the spiritual experience and modernize the church for the new generation.
On the first Sunday in January of 2024, Mt. Olive called its seventh Pastor, Rev Keith Butler Sr in his short time here, he has already fully digitized the office, gave us a full digital footprint via social media, church app, added ministries, upgraded lighting, sound, parking lot and much more.
We are excited to introduce the Mount Olive Center for Evolving Minds, LLC. Through this center several services will be offered: Epp’s Kids Camp, Olive Branches for Evolving Minds Daycare Center, and other social services to be opened in 2024.
With fresh vision and a willing followship, Mt. Olive will Continue to lead the way to Christ in this new era.
