Church History
The Riceville Mount Olive Baptist Church was organized in a Brush
Arbor on March 11, 1889,
by the late Rev. John L. Lilly. Its membership numbered eight.
On October 11,
1889, a developer by the name of John Ruby
donated a site for the church and burial grounds on the back of
Keegans Bayou. After several meeting were held and many
discussions, the late Jake Rice (longest community resident) decided
who would become pastor and the people acted accordingly. The
Rev. John L. Lilly was called as pastor and the Church was name
Riceville. Rev. Lilly was successful in building the Church
and served as pastor for twenty years until he departed this life,
from labor to reward. Rev. Lilly was succeeded by the late
Rev. I. Griffin who stood on the walls for sixteen years. In
1916, the Church was destroyed by a storm.
Rev. Griffin departed from life of service after having done much
for the Church.
Rev. Lee Moton was called as
interim pastor and served for one year.
Rev. J.C. Smith was elected
and served three years.
The Rev. Earl W. King was
called and served nearly three years.
Rev. King was succeeded by
the late Rev. Morris Goodman, who served four years.
Rev. Goodman was succeed by
the late Rev. D. Pope, who acted as interim pastor for one year.
The Rev. T. H. Shermann was
called by the Church, and he came with the vision of a greater
Riceville. Under his leadership,
12
feet were added to the building and the Christian Union was
organized, which is still a part of Riceville today. After
seven years of faithful leadership, Rev. Shermann resigned due to
ill health. In 1942,
Rev. Travis Spiller was called. He came with real courage and
determination and began the task of building the membership.
The first of many major changes was the idea of having service every
Sunday instead of customary second and fourth Sundays, as had been
for the last fifty-three years. In
1944, a new building
34’ X 70’
was erected by the Rev. C. H. Mitchell, the youngest son of the late
Deacon John E. Mitchell. After the Church building was paid
for in 1947, the
pastor saw a need for a cafeteria. Rev. Mitchell worked at
night to construct the cafeteria. A two story building was
erected and attached to the existing church building. The
cafeteria occupied the lower portion of the new building and upper
portion was used for classrooms and other accommodations. In
1953, Rev. T. E. Spiller resigned. That same
year, Rev. C. L. Miller was called and served for fourteen years
before resigning in
1967. In August of
1967, Rev. Joe D. Johnson, a spiritually lead
gospel preacher of unusual discernment, was called as Pastor.
On July 4,
1968, the Church Building
was destroyed by fire; and all was lost, except the Holy Bible.
After the fire, Sunday Church services were held in the wooden frame
house at the property on Riceville School Road (now known as
11231
South Gessner). Under Rev. Joe Johnson’s leadership, a new
building was erected. The first Church services in the new
sanctuary were held in May of
1971. Through the help of the Lord, the
balance on the church was paid in June of
1974. In January
1975, a house was moved to the present site,
remodeled, and named the Fellowship Hall. These remodeling
costs were paid off on April 24,
1978.
In July,
1981, a van was purchased; later that year a second
van was purchased.
In
1983, the Church purchased property on South Breeze
for parking accommodations. That same year, the Church added
30
feet to the front of the sanctuary. Property behind the
existing church was acquired in
1985, because of the growing congregation.
Later that year a mobile building was placed on the site and is
presently used for classrooms. Due to continued growth, in
July of 1986,
the church acquired
9.983
acres on South Gessner on which to build a new church building.
On September 30,
1994, the Church purchased an additional
16.82
acres, and was blessed to pay the balance on this property in
cash in 1996.
Through divine guidance,
prayers and continued support, Pastor Johnson’s vision to build a
bigger Riceville has become a reality. On December 8, 2002,
the new church building construction was completed. On December 22,
2002, the new edifice open it's doors and held the first service
under the guidance of Pastor Joe Johnson.
On November 21, 2010, Pastor
Terry E. Mackey was Installed as the 13th Pastor of Riceville
Mt.Olive Baptist Church. Pastor Mackey brings a wealth of
knowledge, experience and spiritural acumen to Riceville. We
are excited about having him as our Pastor and "Moving from
Impression to Impact".
