In the year 1868, just five years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, an ex-slave and preacher Commodore Reed organized a small mission in Whistler, Alabama under the auspices of the St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church of Mobile. This small group located in the Eight Mile area because of the Eight Mile statute on all nonwhite and non-Catholic churches during that era and was known as the St. Louis Mission Church. Sometime after organization, it became known as Reed's Chapel Baptist Church. For several years, Rev. Reed and his congregation struggled for the advancement of Christ in the community.
The first public school in Whistler was taught in the St. Louis Mission Church. Under the pastorate of the late Reverend Mose J. Thompson, the Church was moved to the location of our old building and renamed the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. In 1906 God sent a storm which partially destroyed· the Church. It was remodeled under Reverend Thompson's administration. God saw fit to completely destroy the building in 1916. However, the building was rebuilt under the administration of the late Reverend Sam Powe and remained in use until January 17, 1971.
From 1868 to 2010, Mt. Sinai has been led by 14 shepherds. Each shepherd will be remembered for his loyalty, service and untiring labor for the cause of Christ. These shepherds included Reverends C. Reed, Mose J. Thompson, E.B. Young, C.S. English, S.H. Powe, Barlow. L Caleb, B.F. Dudley, Sr., TJ. Hayle, Sr., B.T.M. Smith, A.D. York, Sr., T.M. McAboy, J.J. Phillips and presently, Bernard Lambert, Sr.
Church History
On February 28, 1961, Mt. Sinai called to its pastorate Reverend J.J. Phillips. Reverend Phillips served as pastor until his retirement in 2010. Some of the accomplishments under his administration were:
Ordained 21 Deacons and added two for a total of 23.
Trained 8 Youth Ministers: Nathaniel Gibbs, George Patterson, Frank Mabien, Alphonso Brady, Charles Phillips, Arthur Powell, the late Eric Howard, and Bernard Lambert, Sr.; and one Departmental Minister: Marion Ayler.
Licensed 6 Ministers: Artis Pruitt, Marcus Spraggins, Charles Phillips, the late Eric Howard, Davis Cochran, Michael Cox and James Robinson.
Ordained 7 Ministers: Nathaniel Gibbs, George Patterson, Alphonso Brady, Artis Pruitt, Charles Phillips, the late Eric Howard and James Robinson.
Organized two Usher Boards and two Choirs: Martha J. Phillips Junior Ushers, Young Adult Ushers, W.R. & Mariah Simmons Choir and J.J. Phillips Inspirational Chorus.
Reorganized Missionary Department consisting of Senior Mission, Deaconess, Louvina Cochran Mission Circle A, Young Matrons, and Laymen.
Initiated the purchasing of 9 - 1/2 acres of land (adjacent properties purchased in 1998 and 1999) and the construction of our present edifice for which the Entrance Service was held on January 17, 1971.
Coordinated construction of bell tower and covered walkway on east side of Church in 1999.
Published a membership guide and information booklet.
Organized a Deacons, Deaconess and Trustees Training Class.
Having been led by God and the Holy Spirit, the membership of Mt. Sinai overwhelmingly voted to elect Reverend Bernard Lambert, Sr. as Pastor on August 6, 2010. Under his leadership, the Church has completed several needed renovations including updating and structural improvements to the exterior of the building, renovating the Clerk and Pastor's Offices, updating restrooms, resurfacing and extension of the parking lot, and addition of a sound room, monitors, alarm system and playground, and the purchase of additional properties on Mt. Sinai Avenue.
Under Reverend Lambert's leadership a Married Couples Fellowship has been established, our Youth Department is active and awards scholarships to college freshman, a professional counselor has been hired as part of our staff, a Tuesday Night Bible Class, and we host educational prayer retreats for our youth, women and men. Reverend Lambert has reorganized the New Members' Class and our choirs for better efficiency and updating our record keeping system. Reverend Lambert ordained 4 Deacons, Robert Floyd and Byron Sigler, Sr., in July 2012; and Victor Autry and James Grimes, Sr. in March 2020; and in April 2017 licensed Bernard Lambert, Jr. We look forward, through Reverend Lambert's pastorate, to continuing the fulfillment of our mission as a Church and spreading the news of the Gospel throughout all nations.
Our Church is presently affiliated with the Sunday School and N.B.C. Congress of Christian Education, Sunlight Women's Convention, Alabama Baptist State Convention, Inc., Alabama Baptist State Women's Convention, National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., Baptist World Alliance and others.
Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church has hosted the following Conventions: In 1965, the Mobile Baptist Sunlight District Association (MBSDA); in 1972, the MBSDA Women's Convention; in 1975, the Alabama Baptist State Convention, Inc.; in 1979, the MBSDA Sunday School and B.T.U. Congress; in 1987, the National Baptist Convention Evangelistic Board; in 1989, the Southwest Baptist State Convention; in 1994 and 2008 the MBSDA Congress of Christian Education held at the Sunlight District Auditorium; and in 2011, the MBSDA Women's Auxiliary Convention.
The Church has sponsored and aided several young people and adults in attending Selma University and other colleges, as well as Cedar Grove Academy. Our church contributes to local, state, national and foreign missions. We work in prison reform and service mental institutions as well as hospitals. We adopted a special program of patient care and support of Searcy Hospital in Mt. Vernon until its closure in 2012.
Consideration of history awakes in all of us a time to reflect and to assess one's contributions. None of us would find fault in any of the works that have preceded us. All of the 14 shepherds have made valuable contributions, and none of the shepherds, nor their achievements, will ever be forgotten.
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (KJV)
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