Mt. Ollie Baptist Church

Our History

January 24, 1932	Church was organized at 83 Osborn Street, Brooklyn, NY, by Rev. Henry Milerson.
1939	Rev. Milerson was succeeded by Rev. R. T. Williams.
1937	Rev. Randolph D. Brown, was called as Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church, he took over his duties the first Sunday in May.
1944	This edifice was built.
1952	Mortgage was paid off.
1955	The first Chairman of the Deacon Board was Deacon Willie White. The next Chairman Deacon Abraham Hughee followed by Deacon Abe Sanders. Deacon Robert Henderson was ordained December 22, 1955, as a Deacon. He was appointed as Chairman of the Deacon Board in 1959 by our late Pastor Rev. Brown.
1964	Balcony was added and a new Baptism Pool was built downstairs along with the renovation of two bathrooms, the kitchen and Dining Hall and we purchased the lot next to our church.
1983	First Lady Elzata Brown was called home to be with the Lord on November 3rd.
1985	November 16th, Pastor Randolph D. Brown was called home to glory.
1987	Rev. Dr. Spurgeon E. Crayton was called back home to Pastor the church. Dr. Crayton was reared up in this church, serving as a Sunday Teacher and Superintendent of the Sunday School. He took over the pulpit in April. Since April 1987, under Dr. Crayton’s leadership many accomplishments have been made. Mt. Ollie Baptist Church has a Parsonage; two lots which adjoin our property; a newly renovated kitchen, dining hall, trustee room and two renovated bathrooms. The Mt. Ollie Baptist Church Bowling League was formed. Some of the other accomplishments were our Mt. Ollie Mets Little League which won the 1996 Championship.
1990	Sister Marsha T. DuPont was voted in as Chairperson of Trustee Board. Her work, her love and loyalty speak for itself. Our Chairman Emeritus, of the Trustee Board, Brother Thomas McMichael, served unselfishly from 1961 to 1990.
1991	October 26, 1991, the Deaconess Board # 1 and Deaconess Board #2 were combined.
1995	The Senior Choir and Gospel Chorus were combined, and the R. D. Brown Chorus and the Elzata Brown Chorus were combined.
1997	July 20, 1997, Ribbon Cutting ceremonies for the “Pastor’s Office,” located on the first floor of the church.
1998	Saturday, September 26th, The Mt. Ollie Baptist Church along with the City of New York paid tribute to our late Pastor Rev. Randolph D. Brown. The street on which the church is located was renamed, Rev. R. D. Brown Place. The new address for the church is Mt. Ollie Baptist Church, One Rev. R D. Brown Place, Brooklyn, New York.
1999	In March the church marched into a newly renovated sanctuary with new pews, new carpet, new choir stand and preaching setting.
2000	In September, Deacon Henderson was called from labor to reward. As first Vice Chairman, Deacon Benne McCants, Sr. became the new Chairman of the Deacon Board. In December of 2000, Deacon McCants was voted in as Chairman and served until 2002.
2002	In December 2002, Deacon Ira C. Williams was voted in as Chairman of the Deacon Board
2005	In the month of February the choirs of Mt. Ollie were combined to form the R. D. Brown Mass Choir with the S. E. Crayton Chorale still singing on their own on the fourth Sundays of the month. On Sunday, March 27, 2005, the choir had its first concert and Rev. Crayton had a dedicatorial prayer over them. Also, in that service the youth choir was renamed the Madam C. Hemmitt Youth Mass Choir. August 2005 marked the 50th Anniversary for Rev. Spurgeon E. Crayton being in the ministry. He preached his initial sermon on August 28, 1955, here at the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. A celebration of this momentous occasion was celebrated on Friday, August 26, 2005, spearheaded by Sister Claudia Crayton and the S. E. Crayton Chorale.
2008	After 2 years of Pastoring the Calvary Baptist Church of East Hampton, 24 years of Pastoring the Holy Trinity Baptist Church, Amityville, New York and 21 years of Pastoring the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church, on July 29, 2008, Rev. Crayton retired as Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. On Sunday, August 3, 2008, in an emergency call meeting the church sorrowfully and humbly voted to accept his retirement. On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Rev. Crayton preached his last sermon as Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church honored Rev. Crayton with a Retirement Banquet, Chaired and Co-Chaired by Sister Marsha DuPont and Sister Rebecca Harrison.
2010	The Youth Church along with the Adults sponsored a Block Party called “Hope Street.” The Community was fed, entertained, and given an inkling of what a loving, kind, generous and hospitable church family we are. The day was a great success.
2011	January, Pulpit Committee brought 5 candidates to the church in preparation for choosing a new Pastor. On April 2, 2011, the church unanimously voted to call Rev. Reginald Lee Bachus to serve as Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. On Sunday, April 17, 2011, the church along with Rev. Reginald Bachus had a “A Palm Sunday Praise Party” as he preached his first Sermon as Pastor-Elect. On Sunday, July 31, 2011, in a grand celebration, Pastor-Elect Rev. Reginald L. Bachus was installed as the fourth Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. We thank God for his precious gift of our new pastor. April 2011 – September 2014 A few of the accomplishments Pastor Bachus and the church have shared; Pastor’s Office was renovated and relocated to the basement of the church. Mt. Ollie Summer Institute for the youth and in the fall the Mt. Ollie Institute for youth on Wednesdays, Mt. Ollie Café by our Youth Church, Bible Study and Prayer, Noon Day and evenings on Tuesdays, Prayer Line on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. New Members Classes, Audio Visual Ministry Started, 50” Flat Screen Monitors in the Sanctuary, Audio Visual Equipment Purchased (Cameras, projector, screen, microphones, lights, etc.) Launched the Mt. Ollie Voice of Praise, Street witnessing and passing out helpful information in the community-Community Corners, Know Your Rights; Stop and Frisk Seminar held at the church, Hosted Prayer Conference and Evangelism Conference, Started GEMS ministry for young ladies, producing CDS and DVDS of all services, streaming of our services across the country, started Mt. Ollie Community Development Corporation started Power Hour service at 9:00AM Sunday Mornings and Children’s Church was started. December 2014, Deacon Benne McCants, Jr. was voted as Chairman of Deacon Board
2015	Instituted Young Believers University. On February 22, 2015, Pastor Reginald L. Bachus read a letter to the congregation resigning as Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. He preached his last sermon as Pastor on Sunday, March 8, 2015. The church is Worshipping and Praising God as we “Trust God” while awaiting our Solomon. March 10, 2015, Pulpit Search Committee was formed. Saturday, November 14, 2015, Church voted to elect Rev. Rodney McFarland, Jr., as the 5th Pastor of the Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. Sunday, December 13, 2015, Rev. McFarland preached his welcome sermon, Genesis 8:15,16, “The Other Side.”
2016	Sunday, April 24, 2016, Installation of Rev. Rodney McFarland, Jr. as fifth Pastor of Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. We cherish our new First Family, Rev. Rodney McFarland, Jr., Lady Falon McFarland, Miss Ava McFarland, and Miss Bella McFarland.
2017	The church is celebrating our 85th Church Anniversary with a celebratory Banquet at Russo on the Bay.
2018	Instituted Vision Statement as well as Mission Statement for the church. Rev. McFarland brought on two Associate Ministers: Rev. Amber Munnerlyn and Minister Yvette Harrison. Began Finish Strong Friday into our Prayer Line. Rodney McFarland III was born in July to Pastor and Lady Falon
2019	This year the church is celebrating our 87th Anniversary. Church participated in Fellowship in the Park along with Pleasant Grove Tabernacle and Merrick Park Baptist Church. Celebrated Pastor McFarland’s 30th birthday at Russo on the Bay. Fellowship with the community in Hope Street and the entire church went out into the community to witness on Church Anniversary September 22nd as we lived our yearly theme of “Experiencing Greater in Our Witness.”
2020	March 22, 2020, due to Corona Virus and lockdown of country, church services went into virtual mode. September 2020, Three Deacons were Ordained and Two Deaconess were Consecrated. Sunday, October 18, 2020, Pastor McFarland read a resignation letter to the church in a call meeting with the Deacon Board, Deaconess Board and Trustee Board. December 3, 2020, a telephone church meeting was held, and it was voted that Rev. Reginald Lee Bachus would become our Interim Pastor until June 30, 2021.
2021	In a Church Meeting on July 31, 2021, it was unanimously voted to have Rev. Reginald L. Bachus as the Sixth Pastor of Mt. Ollie Baptist Church, the Second Time Around. On October 10, 2021, the Installation Services was held at the church with the Theme: “Back Together Again, The Second Time Around; With God’s Grace”. Isaiah 11:11. Rev. Reginald E. Bachus preached the Installation Sermon. “Trusting God in the Lean Times”. Psalm 107:1-9. In September a partnership was made with the Brownsville Recreation Center to house MOBC on Saturdays from 6:00PM-12Midnight in our effort to work within Brownsville.
2022	This year the church celebrates its 90th Church Anniversary. Our Youth Ministry ventured on a trip to Washington DC in August.
2023	Our theme for the year, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” The Prayerline was extended to everyday. A Monthly Prayer, Healing and Testimony Service, and our Six-Fold Ministry was established based on Matthew 25:35-40. The Men’s Bible Study along with the Youth Successful Saturday happens every 1st Saturday of the Month. Deacon Benne McCants, Jr. preached his Initial Sermon in June 11, 2023. The Youth Ministry had a trip to Baltimore, MD in August. We are in celebration of the church’s 91st Church Anniversary. Pastor Bachus is celebrating his 2nd Pastoral Anniversary.
2024	Church Theme: “2024 The Year Of More” The church is reinstituting the Tribe Ministry to ensure no one falls through the cracks and each member is contacted periodically. The Men are establishing a Mentoring Program as well as a Security Team. The church is in the process of organizing a Youth Choir.