Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

On June 10, 1828, the Constitution was written and approved at the home of William M. Stokes with the signatures of James Reeves and John Woods. 

On May 18, 1867, 39 years later, the races separated and established individual churches.  Ebenezer Community became known as Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.  The following pastors served at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (in chronological order):

• Rev. C. C. Scott
• Rev. Joe Leavell
• Rev. F. D. Moore
• Rev. I. R. Hall
• Rev. W. J. Smith (ordained the first Deacon Board with Deacons Roscoe Stokes, William Henry Neely, Bud Brown, A. M. Leavell, Jim Tom Smith, Bud Dennis, John O. Herring, Jody Mark Herndon, James Storey, Lora Smith, and Hayward North),
• Rev. O. F. Foster
• Rev. E. T. Strozier
• Rev. J. S. Pullens
• Rev. James Pittman
• Rev. Tucker (interim pastor)
• Rev. J. S. Hammonds (ordained Deacons Willie Ed Leavell, Jesse Johnson, William Smith, George Moses, Crofford Smith, and Howard Cook)
• Rev. R. L. Horton (ordained Deacon Robert Smith and Jesse Wilson was already an ordained deacon)
• Rev. Rufus Smith (ordained Deacons Harvelle Smith, Eugene Williams, and J. W. Arnold was already an ordained deacon)
• Rev. Phillip Baker (ordained Deacons Lovely Smith and Birpe Leavell), Rev. J. T. Davis (ordained Deacons C. L. Ray, Gregory Henry, Joseph Houston, and Melvin Carter; Rev. Gregory Turks and licensed Rev. Crofford Smith, Sr.; Mortgage Burning Ceremony held June 14, 1992)
• Rev. Coleman Hayes, Jr., (appointed Rev. Crofford Smith, Sr. as assistant pastor)
• Rev. Crofford Smith, Sr.
• Rev. Collier J. Starks (ordained Deacons James Arnold, John Ransom, Jr., and Nolan Young joined as an ordained deacon; Rev. Marcellus Ware (2007) and Minister Sara Brooks (2008) ordained as a ministers, Elder Robin Brooks joined as an ordained minister (2008), (in 2012 ordained Deacons Curtis Arnold, Jr., Larry Astin, Nathan Gullatte, André Jackson, Danny Ponder, Dexter Smith, Tony Harris joined as an ordained deacon), and ordained Minister Tameka Starks as assistant pastor (2013).
• Rev. Joe T. McCrary, Jr. (2014) (ordained Deacons Elwood Smith and George Tennie)
• Minister Sara Brooks (2017 interim pastor)
• Rev. Stevie Dennis (2019)

Ebenezer Community Church was established on May 10, 1828. The founders were three whites and three blacks with William M. Stokes serving as first clerk and first moderator. During this time, there was no ordained minister, but Sunday sermons were preached by any brother who felt the Spirit to preach.

June 10, 1828, the Constitution was written and approved at the home of William M. Stokes with the signatures ofJames Reeves and John Woods. The Church membership grew from 6 to 89 members. (with 1,000 active members), the 4th pastor was Rev. I. R. Hall, and the 5th pastor was Rey. W. J. Smith who ordained the first Deacon Board with Deacons Roscoe Stokes, William Henry Neely, Bud Brown, A. M. Leavell, Jim Tom Smith, and Bud Dennis. He also ordained Deacons John O. Herring, Jody Mark Herndon, James Storey, Lora Smith, and Hayward North. The 6th pastor was Rev. O. F. Foster, the 7th pastor was Rev. E. T. Strozier, the 8th pastor was Rev. J. S. Pullens, and the 9th pastor was Rev. James Pittman. When the church was without a pastor fora short period of time, Rev. Tucker preached.

The 10th pastor was Rev. J. S. Hammonds who ordained Deacons Willie Ed Leavell, Jesse Johnson, William Smith, George Moses, Crofford Smith, and Howard Cook.

The 11th pastor was Rev. R. L. Horton who ordained Deacon Robert Smith. Deacon Jesse Wilson came as an ordained deacon.

The 12th pastor was Rev. Rufus Smith. Under his leadership, a new church was built; Deacons Harvelle Smith, Eugene Williams, and J. W. Arnold were ordained.

The 13th pastor was Rev. Phillip Baker who ordained Deacons Lovely Smith and Birpe Leavell.

The 14th pastor was Rev. J. T. Davis who ordained Deacons C. L. Ray, Gregory Henry, Joseph Houston, and Melvin Carter; ordained Rev. Gregory Turks and licensed Rev. Crofford Smith; established the Pastor’s Aid, Deaconess Board, Courtesy Guild, and Junior Usher Board. After paying off the church’s mortgage, Rev. Davis held a Mortgage Burning Ceremony on June 14, 1992.

The 15th pastor was Rev. Coleman Hayes, Jr. who re-instated Bible Study, re-organized the Pastor’s Aid and Deaconess Board. Rev. Crofford Smith was appointed as assistant pastor under Rev. Hayes.

The 16th pastor was Rev. Crofford Smith, Sr. His leadership ushered in the Fellowship Hall being tiled, installed a larger air conditioning unit, and the church parking lot was paved. March 2001, Rev.

Collier J. Starks became the 17th pastor and ordained Deacons James Arnold and John Ransom, Jr. Deacon Nolan Young joined as an ordained deacon. Rev. Starks’ tenure added many Programs to Ebenezer: the men’s softball team (2005); the Praise Dance Ministry (2007); Rev. Marcellus Ware ordained as a minister (2007); Youth Department organized by Rev. Ware (2007); Minister Sara Brooks ordained as a minister (2008); Elder Robin Brooks came as an ordained minister (2008); enacted Women ofPurpose Ministry; CARE (Christians Assisting, Reaching Out, and Encouraging Others); and launched Ebenezer’s first website (2008); In 2009, the sanctuary was refurbished (ceiling fans, light fixtures, and repainted); added Junior Deacon Ministry and Baptism Committee created and re-organized (2009); Media Ministry and New Members Committee established (2011); ordained Deacons Curtis Arnold, Jr., Larry Astin, Nathan Gullatte, André Jackson, Danny Ponder, and Dexter Smith (July 1, 2012); Deacon Tony Harris joined Ebenezer as an ordained deacon (2012); and, Minister Tameka Starks ordained and named as Ebenezer’s assistant pastor (April 7, 2013).

November 24, 2013, Ebenezer was without a pastor. Our faithful Lord and Savior never leaves His flock without a shepherd. During the transitional period, God blessed us with The WORD from Minister Sara Brooks, Rev. Raymond Ames, Rev. Alvin G. Baker, Pastor Roderick O. West, Rev. Marcellus Ware, Rev. Joe T. McCrary, Jr., Rev. Nathaniel Russell, Rev. Steve Dennis, and Bishop J. D. Means, Sr. Favored Into Our Destiny, Rev. Joe T, McCrary, Jr. was named the 18th pastor of Ebenezer on April 27, 2014, Rev. McCrary’s spirit-filled leadership mirrors Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3:14 — Ipress toward the mark for the high calling ofGod in Christ Jesus. Twenty new members Joined the church; Deacons Elwood Smith and George Tennie were ordained: continuous church improvements (smoke detectors, tree removal, handrails installed, youth ministry resumed, utility shed added, new gutters, added canopy and handicap Tamp to fellowship hall); reorganized the Mother Board, Nurses Guild, Courtesy Guild; published a 2-year calendar; and volunteer members who were certified CPR trained
responders.

February 12, 2017, Minister Sara Brooks was elected as Interim Pastor and the 19th pastor of
Ebenezer. Minister Brooks assisted with drafting our By-Laws and plotting the cemetery. The Church By-
Laws were adopted under Minister Brook’s leadership.

June 16, 2019, Rev. Stevie Dennis was elected as our 20! pastor and installed on November 17, 2019. Every pastor brings his or her legacy to a church. Shortly after Rev. Dennis’ installation, the world was impacted by COVID-19’s virus causing a global pandemic and a suspension of indoor gatherings. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Rev. Dennis was determined to virtually minister, lead, and preach God’s Word to members, visitors, and friends via Facebook. Bible Study continued via Zoom before switching to Facebook. Ebenezer temporarily suspend in-person services from March 22, 2020, through May 2021; resumed in-person service June 6, 2021, through December 19, 2021, and suspended in-person services again on December 26, 2021, due to an increase in COVID cases, then resumed in-person service again on March 6, 2022. We are blessed to have Rev. Dennis as our pastor and look forward to continuing growth under his leadership.

Happy 196th Church Anniversary May 5, 2024