Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30
Sharing God’s Love
Founded in 1951, Olivet Baptist Church believes in the teachings of the Southern Baptist Church. We believe the Bible is God’s revelation to humanity, and that the Gospel message of redemption through Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation.
Join Us For Sunday Services
9:45am Sunday School • 10:50am Prayer Room • 11:00am Worship Service • 6:15pm Bible Study
Our Church
History
Two years before, after a cottage prayer meeting was held in the home of Mrs. Mable Spencer Benson by Mr. Woodrow Wroten of Calvary Baptist Church, one of the children present asked if they could have a Sunday School. Mrs. Spencer began a Sunday School with fourteen neighborhood children on Sunday afternoon in a vacant building, formally the Red Cross Sanitarium on county owned property, now a part of the New Hanover International Airport. With very little outside help, they managed to procure their literature, furnishings, and fuel. As membership grew some volunteer teachers came from Calvary and Wrightsboro churches to help.
Dr. Charles A. Leonard, a retired missionary, who had served thirty years in China and other Asian countries, became missionary for the Wilmington Baptist Association. The county owned building was to be demolished, so Dr. Leonard, after talking with area churches and making a survey of prospects, with the leadership of the Holy Spirit, selected a site on Newton Lane (now Glendale Dr.) and erected a tent in June of 1951.
He saw an opportunity to provide a place of worship for adults as well as children, so he began a Bible School and Mrs. Leonard began Bible Classes for Adults. Fay Nichols (at that time a student preparing for full time Christian service) led the children in Bible School, with as many as seventy-seven attending. A revival soon followed. Many un-churched families were showing a desire to have a permanent church in this community and they supported the effort with their money and service. Rev. Charles D. Murray was called as the mission pastor September 2, 1951 and became Olivet’s first pastor.
On the organization day October 14, 1951, a council of representatives from all churches in the association met in the tent and voted unanimously to accept the mission into the Wilmington Baptist Association, the church was organized with twenty-six requesting membership by letter or statement from other Baptist churches and fourteen as candidates for baptism.Four more were added in the next thirty days making a total of forty-four charter members.
On the organization day October 14, 1951, a council of representatives from all churches in the association met in the tent and voted unanimously to accept the mission into the Wilmington Baptist Association, the church was organized with twenty-six requesting membership by letter or statement from other Baptist churches and fourteen as candidates for baptism. Four more were added in the next thirty days making a total of forty-four charter members.
Work had already begun with volunteer labor from the community and the back part of the present building became the first permanent building. On November 18, 1951 the structure was completed and the first service was held in the new building. This same volunteer force, working mostly at night, completed the sanctuary for the Easter service in 1953.
Construction of the parsonage was started in June, 1955, with the men of the church furnishing the labor and was completed in July, 1956. On June 6, 1981 the ground was broken for the present education and fellowship hall. The parsonage was moved to the property behind the church facing Brentwood Drive. The Educational building was completed and dedicated September 30, 1984.
Many other improvements have been made through the years and we look forward to continued growth.
On October 14, 1951, we covenanted together “Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we are looking forward to a church conforming to New Testament doctrines, being a saving power to the individual, an inspiration to our community, a credit to our denomination, and worthy to be called the Bride of Christ.”
