| 1938: |
Rev. Henry
Morris and a small group of men and women
met to organize Mount Olive Freewill Baptist
Church. |
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|
| 1939: |
Mount Olive
Freewill Baptist Church was founded by the
late Rev. Henry Morris. Mount Olive’s first
home was located on McCulloh Street.
The Church moved from to Bond and Lombard
Street, to East Pratt Street and later to
the one hundred block of South Bond Street. |
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|
| 1945: |
The Church
moved to Bond and Lombard Streets because of
the growth of its membership. |
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|
| 1947: |
Rev. Henry
Morris was called to his eternal rest. |
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|
| 1948: |
Rev. J. J.
Johnson was elected Pastor of Mount Olive
Freewill Baptist Church. He served for one
year due to failing health. |
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|
| 1949: |
Rev. Leo K.
Ceasar was elected Pastor of Mount Olive
Freewill Baptist Church. |
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|
| 1956: |
(January)
Mount Olive moved to its new/present home at
Saratoga Street and Fremont Avenue. |
| 1956: |
In 1956 and
sequential years, there was additional
remodeling and renovations. The church was
formstoned, a baptismal pool was installed
and many other improvements were made. |
| |
|
| 1974: |
Mortgage on
the property at Saratoga Street and Fremont
Avenue was burned. The church’s cornerstone
was also laid. |
| 1974: |
Reverend
Leo K. Ceasar was elected to the Office of
Bishop.
Mount Olive withdrew from the General
Conference and the Church then assumed the
name of First Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist
Church. |
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|
| 1982: |
(November
26) - Bishop Leo K. Ceasar was called by God
to his eternal rest. |
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|
| 1983: |
Rev. F.D.R.
Williams was elected Pastor of this church.
He served until 1985. |
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|
| 1986: |
Rev. Oscar
E. Brown was elected Pastor of First Mt.
Olive Freewill Baptist Church. |
| 1986: |
Danita L.
Dickens Memorial Book Scholarship Ministry |
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|
| 1987: |
Three new
ministries established: |
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 |
New Members
Ministry |
|
Media Ministry |
|
Seasoned Seniors
Ministry |
|
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|
| 1988: |
The Olive
Branch began its monthly publication.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry |
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|
| 1989: |
Owens
Memorial Outreach |
| 1989: |
Establishment of a church Leadership group
consisting of Ministers, Ministers’ wives,
Deacons, Deaconesses, and Trustees for the
purpose of enhancement of the officers’ roll
as Leaders.
* 50th Anniversary Celebration (June 25) of
the First Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist
Church.
* 50th Anniversary Banquet (June 30) held at
Martin’s Eastwind. |
| |
|
| 1990: |
Due to
extensive water damage, the church had to
enter into emergency renovations of the
sanctuary. The total amount of these
renovations was $500,000.00 and it was paid
in cash.
* (June 8) - With an 11:00 a.m. worship
already in place and overflowing in
attendance, an 8:00 a.m. worship was added
to the church’s schedule to accommodate the
growing membership. |
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|
| 1991: |
Pastor
Brown and Mt. Olive celebrated his 5th
Pastoral Anniversary with a banquet at
Martin’s West. |
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|
| 1994: |
(May 21) –
New windows were installed in the church at
a cost of $25,000.00. A new lighting system
was added to the Sanctuary at a cost of
$50,000.00. A Ground-Breaking Ceremony was
held in preparation for building the
Education/Administration Building. |
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|
| 1995: |
(April) -
First Mt. Olive becomes a member of the Full
Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference. |
| 1995: |
(July) Rev.
Oscar E. Brown named Full Gospel Maryland
State Overseer.
(July) - Grand Opening of the First Mt.
Olive Freewill Baptist Church Spirit and
Truth Administration Building. This was a
$2,000,000.00 project. |
| |
|
| 1996: |
(November)
- Bishop-Elect Oscar E. Brown travels to
Atlanta, Georgia. He is appointed by Bishop
Paul S. Morton, Sr. to the office of
Maryland State Bishop and Bishop of
Stewardship for the Full Gospel Baptist
Church Fellowship.
(July) - Bishop Oscar E. Brown travels to
New Orleans for the Fourth Annual Full
Gospel Conference. Preached in the Late
Night Worship. He also preached for the Full
Gospel Youth Division. |
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|
| 1997: |
(April) –
Worship times extended to accommodate an
ever growing ministry. New worship times:
7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 5:00
p.m. (only on designated Sundays)
(April) - Installation of new media
equipment (projectors, screens, etc.) at a
cost of $60,000.00. |
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|
| 1998: |
(September)
- Two church buses were purchased. |
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|
| 1999: |
(July) -
Bishop Oscar E. Brown is appointed to the
Bishop’s Council of the Full Gospel Baptist
church Fellowship by the Presiding Bishop,
Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. |
| 1999: |
(May) -
First May Fest held in conjunction with the
neighborhood community association
(September) - Bishop Oscar E. Brown
celebrates his 13th Pastoral Anniversary.
(December 31st) – Bishop Oscar E. Brown and
the First Mt. Olive Church Choir release
their first Music CD entitled, “He Has
Anointed Me.” |
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|
| 2000: |
(September)
- Bishop Oscar E. Brown celebrates his 14th
Pastoral Anniversary.
(September) Wednesday Morning Bible Study
begins (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
(December) - Renovation of Sanctuary
($150,000.00)
(December) – First Mt. Olive observes Year’s
Eve Celebration at the Baltimore Meyerhoff
Symphony Hall
Wednesday Morning Bible Study begins
Purchased property at 2730 Wilmarco Avenue
for First Mt. Olive’s future location. |
| |
|
| 2001: |
(February)
– Beautification of church and the Spirit
and Truth Administration Building.
($6,000.00)
(April) - First Mt. Olive observes
Resurrection Sunday at The Meyerhoff
(September) – New Pavement surrounding
church. ($4,000.00)
(September) – Bishop Oscar E. Brown
celebrates his 15th Pastoral Anniversary at
Martin’s West. Over 1,500 well wishers were
in attendance.
(October) - Church purchased 1.5 acres of
land at 2730 Wilmarco Avenue – our future
location.
(October) - Leadership Retreat – Xerox
Document University – Leesburg, Virginia |
| 2001: |
(November)
- Wrought iron fence installed ($7,000.00)
(December – 30th and 31st ) – Church Family
Fellowship and New Year’s Eve at the
Meyerhoff. The estimated budget is
$50,000.00. |
| 2001: |
(April)
Resurrection Sunday Worship at the Meyerhoff
(December) New Year’s Eve Worship at the
Meyerhoff |
| 2001: |
(April)
Resurrection Sunday Worship at the Meyerhoff
(June) Bishop Oscar E. Brown and First Lady
Jacqueline D. Brown lead the First Mt.
Olive Freewill Baptist Church in our first
FAITH WALK. The church walked from its
present location at 809-811 W. Saratoga
Street and walked to its future location at
2730 Wilmarco Avenue.
(July) The Full Gospel Baptist Church
Fellowship of Maryland, Bishop Oscar E.
Brown and the First Mt. Olive Freewill
Baptist Church host the 9th International
Full Gospel Conference at the Baltimore
Convention Center and the Baltimore Arena.
The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront served as
our host hotel. Over 10,000 delegates from
all over the world were in attendance.
(December) New Year’s Eve Worship at the
Meyerhoff |
| 2001: |
(April)
Resurrection Sunday Worship at the Meyerhoff
(December) New Year’s Eve Worship at the
Meyerhoff |
| 2001: |
(April)
Resurrection Sunday Worship at the Meyerhoff
(December) New Year’s Eve Worship at the
Meyerhoff |
| 2001: |
(January)
Opening of the New Directions Owens Memorial
Outreach Center.
Deaconess Lutricia Felder is the Director.
(April) Resurrection Sunday Worship at the
Meyerhoff
(July) Bishop Oscar E. Brown joins the
Kingdom Association of Covenant
Partners (K.A.C.P.), Bishop Walter Scott
Thomas, Presiding Prelate. |
| |
|
| 2001: |
(April)
Resurrection Sunday Worship at First Mt.
Olive
(April) An After School Program is
established under the direction of Deaconess
Lutricia Felder and the New Directions Owens
Memorial Outreach Center. Sis. Patricia
Clanton and Bro. Robert White – instructors.
Sis. Joyce Willis, instructor’s assistant.
(May) Renovation of Church Steeple and Bell
Tower
(June) Grand Opening of the newly renovated
Fellowship Hall
(September) First Mt. Olive Freewill
Baptist Church celebrates the 20th Pastoral
Anniversary of Bishop Oscar E. Brown and
Lady Jacqueline Brown at the Baltimore
Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Over 1,300 well
wishers were in attendance.
(October) Leadership Retreat at the
Chesapeake Hilton Hotel in _________,
Maryland.
(October) Twenty-Five (25) candidates
consecrated to the Diaconate Ministry. |
| |
|
| 2005: |
(September)
Renovation begins on the first floor of our
Fellowship Hall
(December) New Year’s Eve Worship returns to
First Mt. Olive |
| |
|
| 2007: |
(Tuesday,
July 10) Lightning strikes the church
steeple. First Mt. Olive experiences
catastrophic fire that destroyed the main
sanctuary.
Bishop Brown and congregation invited by
Rabbi _____ _____ to have their Sunday
morning worship services at the Temple Oheb
Shalom located at 7310 Park Heights Avenue.
Transition Team organized to assist in the
rebuilding process. Rebuilding Theme:
“Reviving, Rebuilding and Reclaiming”.
Established Transportation and Parking Team |
| 2007: |
(Sunday,
July 15) First Mt. Olive holds post-fire
Sunday worship at the Meyerhoff Symphony
Hall.
(Sunday, July 22) – First Mt. Olive worships
at Temple Oheb Shalom.
(July) Pastor Tyrone Thomas invites Bishop
Brown and the Administrative Staff to share
his office space at the Charity Community
Church of God.
3208 Frederick Avenue.
(August) Pastor Marcus G. Wood invites
Bishop Brown and First Mt. Olive to hold
Baptism at Provident Baptist Church, 1401
Pennsylvania Avenue.
(September - November) Dr. Dennis Proctor
invites Bishop Brown and First Mt. Olive to
hold Bible Studies and Baptisms at
Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, 1128
Pennsylvania Avenue.
Various Pastors and their churches open
their doors to Bishop Brown and First Mt.
Olive to hold ministry activities. |
| 2008: |
(January)
Bishop Brown and congregation invited by
Rabbi Emeritus Rex D. Perlmeter to have
Sunday morning worship services at the
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation located at
7401 Park Heights Avenue.
(February) First Mt. Olive and the Baltimore
Hebrew Congregation share in our first
Exchange Service reinforcing that there is
One God, One Name, One Worthy of Our
Continual Praise.
(June) SummerFest 2008 (Saratoga Street and
Fremont Avenue)
(October 18) Ground Breaking Ceremony for
Phase I (Spirit and Truth Administration
Building). Renovations begin.
Held Holy Convocation 2008 at the Baltimore
Hebrew Congregation
(November) Graduated 4 ministers from our
Ministers-In-Training ministry
Leadership Retreat – Chesapeake Hilton
Hotel, __________, Maryland
(December 16) Bishop Brown and First Mt.
Olive host noted Leadership Architect,
Change Strategist and Author, Dr. Samuel R.
Chand in a Leadership Workshop. Over 35
pastors joined in support of the workshop. |
| |
|
| 2009: |
(February)
First Mt. Olive and the Baltimore Hebrew
Congregation share in our second Exchange
Service
(March) Phase I renovations completed on
Spirit and Truth
(May) Grand Opening of Spirit and Truth
(May) Bishop Brown and Administrative Staff
return to work in Spirit and Truth
(May 9) Thomas ‘TJ’ Johnson Memorial MayFest
(Sarah Ann Park - Lexington and Schroeder
Streets) – First Mt. Olive gathers with
Carter Memorial Church of God in Christ for
fun, music, food and fellowship
(September 8) Church Anniversary Committee
host first Senior Luncheon and Fashion Show.
(September 22) Bible Study held throughout
the Spirit and Truth Administration Building |
