The Start of Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church

 

In early September 1992, Brother Tony Jeffers felt God’s lead to start a mission.  He talked to Brother Woody Jackson, Pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church at the time, about his desire to start the mission.

 

On September 13, 1992, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church sent out the following people to begin a Mission, with Brother Tony Jeffers being the Moderator of the Mission: Linda Ball, Sandra Barnes, Mary Jo Bostic, Tony & Melinda Jeffers & family, Ronald & Felicia Lawson & family, Rick & Gayle Sebastian & family.

 

On September 19, 1992, the Mission met at Rick Sebastian’s home and agreed to name the Mission 'Olive Branch Mission'.

 

The first two Sunday services were held at Rick & Gayle Sebastian’s home, and the third service, on a Wednesday night, was held at Ron & Felisha Lawson’s home.

 

On September 23, 1992, the Mission agreed to rent a meeting place in a little storefront building in Amelia, Ohio. All of the members of the Mission immediately began working hard and fast to get the building ready so we could begin to have our worship services there.  Everyone was excited and had great zeal and anticipation of what the Lord was going to do.  With a piano and 40 folding chairs, we began having our services in the storefront.

 

Brother Rick Sebastian was ordained as Deacon on January 15, 1994.

Brother Ron Lawson was ordained as Deacon on July 14, 2001.

Brother Eddie Lawson was ordained as Deacon on May 2, 2015.

 

Olive Branch Mission was constituted into a church on September 11, 1993.  The name was then changed to 'Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church.

 

The church later purchased three and a half acres of land on Mt. Holly Road in Amelia, Ohio.  We were a church on a mission!  Construction of the new church, on this new property, began in July 1996 and it was completed by the end of October 1996.

 

The Sunday School & Fellowship Hall addition was completed in the Fall of 2002.

 

The pavilion/shelter was built in the Summer of 2006 by the men of the church.  The steeple was built and mounted on top of the church in the Summer of 2006 as well.

 

The baptistery was added on in 2017 and the baptistery mural was painted by Ron Keith shortly after completion. 

 

God has truly blessed.  Countless souls have been saved at Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church.  It’s been worth every mile of the trip. What a journey this journey has been!!!