Spangle Banner M. B. Church
Spangle Banner M. B. Church
You are more than welcome; You are wanted !!
Church's History
Church's History
Spangle Banner Missionary Baptist Church was organized in October 1913. On the bayou known as Snake Creek. Services were later held in the Woodman Hall building. The congregation began with fourteen members. Rev. W. M. Gibbons was elected pastor; Brothers Jack Christmas, Ben Howard, and Jimmy Green were the deacons. The first mothers were Hannah Christmas and Nettie Howard. Sisters Jimmy Green and Mary Frazier were the ushers. Two years later, they built their first church structure at our present location.
In late September 1968, the members voted that the old building be torn down and rebuilt. The building committee consisted of Brother John Page, chairman; Sister Marie Washington, secretary; and Sister Florida Woodruff, treasurer. The project to rebuild began with the sum of $2, 151.05. With other donations, the building project was underway. On January 21, 1969, the building was framed on one side; one side was roofed and partly wired. By February 12, 1969, the roof was completed. On April 27, 1969, the first Sunday School Class was held in the new structure. The dedication services were held May 7 - 11th, 1969. Brother Johnny Frank Bradley was the carpenter; Brother John Page was the painter; and Rev. W.B. Brown was the pastor.
In February 2000, we acquired 3.8 acres of property to be used as the church and community cemetery. On June 1st 2000, the church became incorporated. The following officers were in place: Trustees: Brothers Johnny Bradley, Robert Taylor, Lee Burt Watkins, David Washington, Sisters Lucille Archie, Catherine Hall and Lillie J. Pates. The mothers were: Sisters Viola Johnson, Lucille O'Neal, Virgie Pates, Virginia Tate and Marie Washington.
In May 2003, we became a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, and members of the Mid Delta Baptist Association and the Mississippi Baptist Convention. As a result, we have participated in numerous local, state, national and international mission projects. We are supporters of missionaries around the world and support many new church starts.
On July 18th 2010 We held a ground breaking worship service as a part of the building process of a new worship sanctuary. The Exterior of the building was complete in October2010. In March 2011 a Southern Baptist Missionary team called "Campers On Mission" arrived from several parts of Mississippi, and following the detailed design and specifications drawn by Rev Charles E. Young, they did the frame work and the wiring of the fellowship hall, rest rooms and kitchen. With additional assistance from volunteers from Morrison Chapel, First Baptist of Cleveland, Walter Tate and Ed Sykes of Pace and Inmates from the Bolivar County Correctional Facility, Isaac and Robert of Franklin's Construction and others, and financial contributions from many who have become excited about what God is doing, we are pressing on toward completion of this great task.
Although not completed at the time, on August 25th of 2012, our 2nd Annual Women's Conference was held in the fellowship hall of the new building. The next day; Sunday, August 26th we held our regular Sunday School and Worship Service in the fellowship hall of the new building. On the First Sunday of December 2015 at 3:00 pm. the dedication of the Sanctuary was held, with Rev. Dr. James Price, an associate of Green Pastures Baptist Church of Jackson, MS as the guest speaker. This would not have taken place had it not been for mission teams and individuals from Ruleville Baptist church of Ruleville, MS; Calvary Baptist Church of Cleveland, MS, Crossroads Baptist Church of Marshall, TX, Harmony Baptist Church, New Albany, MS and Combined teams from Kentucky, Mississippi, Yazoo City, Brandon Baptist Church, Brandon, MS and individual contributions from all across the country. To God be the Glory for touching the hearts of men.
The preaching ministry of the following individuals was nurtured here in this vineyard: Charles Walker, George Bradley Sr., Levon Jackson, Fredginol Wilson, Timothy Coley Jr., Charles E. Young, Anthony Burns and DeAron Washington.
Within the history of Spangle Banner, there have been ten pastors: Pastor W.M. Gibbons; Pastor Johnson; Pastor Kelly, Pastor Lewis, Pastor P.M. Smith; Pastor W. B. Brown; Pastor Leroy Johnson; Pastor Jessie King; Pastor Milton Evans and our current under shepherd: Pastor Larry D. Young.
In October of 2014, during the Mississippi Baptist Convention, Pastor Young became the first African American elected official of the Convention; being nominated and voted in as the Second Vice President of the Convention. He was as later re-elected in 2015 to the same position.
On December 6th 2015, at 3:00 p.m. the new sanctuary was dedicated, with the Rev. Dr. James Price, former African American coordinator of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board as guest speaker.
The first Help Me Tell Someone Conference was held March 17th and 18th 2017 with representatives from the Southern Baptist Convention Board, and Mississippi Baptist Convention Board in support.
Pastor Young was appointed to the Governor's (Gov Phil Bryant) Mississippi Faith Based Advisory Council in August 2017. Their first meeting was August 10th in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, Jackson. Later they met with the governor at his mansion for refreshments and acquaintanceship.
The regular Sunday and Wednesday Worship, Sunday School and Bible Study, Prayer Services were interupted by the Corona Virus 19 pandemic begining in March 2020. As a result only a few individual attended Sunday School and viewed the Live Facebook streaming of Pastor Young's Sermons. Services began with prayer at 11:00 am and went live at 11:15 am with the message presented by Pastor Young. After the sermon, we again had prayer and blessed the offering, which was brought to the altar and members exited the sanctuary.
In remembrance of his father and Grand mother, Keith Watkins helped established the Lee Burt Watkins, Lucille Oneal Educational Scholarship to be presented to high school seniors as they graduate and strive for higher education. The first presentations were presented on May 24th 2020 to Delmariyea Roy who graduated from West Bolivar High School of Rosedale and Mateo Hall from Cleveland Central High School of Cleveland.
We are excited to operate a free to the public clothes closet. We also strive to provide food items to all who reside in the town of Pace.
We encourage and support the ministry of the local Gideon chapter and have a special guest representative to explain the mission of the Gideon's each October.