The members of Mt. Olive Baptist Church celebrated its 142nd anniversary by moving into a brand new facility.

The congregation was organized in 1866 in a one-room building with a dirt floor. Former slave owners gave the land near the corner of Graves Road and Gingercake Road. The building also served as the schoolhouse.

Early names in its organization are the Rev. Berry Alston, Deacon Graves and Deacon Solomon Glass.

Pastors throughout the years include the names of Reed, Bell, Ware, Goer, R. N. Martin, McClusky, Manuel, Covington, Dartz, Bennie Smith, Horace Milan, Hobbie Stricklan and Edward Brown.

A new sanctuary was built in 1986, with subsequent improvements to include paving the parking lot and constructing a new access road. The interior of the church and fellowship hall was refurbished in 2001.

In October 2004, the Rev. Melvin Ware accepted the pastorate here and, under his leadership, a new facility was built. It is located not too far away, at 1565 Ga. Highway 92 North. Though located in Fayette County, its address is Fairburn, Ga. 30213.

The congregation met at the former facility on this past May 20, and, led by several Fayette County Sheriff’s vehicles, they motored as a convoy to the new location.

The sermon was an apt one; it relayed the ups and downs of obtaining funds, clearing the site, and constructing a new facility to the approval of county authorities. Ware likened it to a fight, only this one was overseen by the Lord. Consequently, the fight was fixed as to its victory. He pointed out that Moses and his followers spent 40 years in their travails, but at least Mt. Olive’s travails only lasted from September 2006 to May 2008.

Here is the breakdown of this fight, round by round.

The first round ended when the reputable architect they had hired left after six months.

The church authorities first went to the Fayette County bank which had housed all its accounts for many years to obtain a loan, but the bank turned them down. This was the end of round two.

Some of the congregation became discouraged and left, thinning out the tithes and offerings it had expected to be receiving.

Though the church was to face Hwy. 92, it wanted a decelerating lane and entrance on Davis Road. Nope, end of round three.

Mt. Olive was told it had to have five acres even though only one and a half acres were all that would be taken up with the building and parking. And, oh yes, they had to plant a lot of trees, all of which set them back six months, and was the end of round four.

A loan was finally obtained, and the foundation was poured, not, however, to the pleasure of county authorities. Yes, this was the end of round five.

Round six found engineering problems, round seven found the project manager wasn’t doing his job, and round eight found the funds on hand were used up. Special contributors gave $150,000 and they were able to continue to round nine, which found county authorities not being pleased with the back walls. Round ten occurred when the electrical box was put in the wrong place and had to be moved.

Round 11 came when the plumber walked out, but round 12 went to Mt. Olive. County authorities weren’t pleased with the depth of the drainage hole and a friend with a backhoe scooped out some more dirt, and the depth of the hole was approved.

On a Thursday a load of copper was delivered. On Friday it had been stolen, to the tune of $10,000 and thus ended round 13.

You’re not going to believe what happened in round 14. The parking lot was striped in preparation for the grand opening, but Planning and Zoning said it was two inches off, and it all quickly had to be re-striped.

If you turn to I Timothy 6:12, you will find: “Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” This is just what the congregation of this church did, and the final round of the good fight went to Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

“This is a ‘new beginning for the next generation,’” said the Rev. Ware.

Sunday School is at 9:50 a.m., morning worship is at 11 a.m., praise service is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., with Bible study following at 7 p.m., and Leadership Class is Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

There are a number of church ministries and at least one of them might interest you: Singles Ministry, Marriage Ministry, Blessed Trinity I, General Missionary Society, Usher Board, Voices of Praise Choir, Male Chorus, Youth and Teen Chorus and a Praise Team. The facility is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The phone number is 770-892-7508.

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