by Kathy Foster
“On this 39th Homecoming celebration and 149th Church Anniversary I greet you in the powerful name of JESUS who has US in His names (you and me alike).” This was the opening given by the Rev. Malcoln Nelson as we welcomed members of the Orange Hill Missionary Baptist Church to Sunday services at the church.
In his ‘Pastoral Greeting’ Nelson reminded members of the blessings bestowed upon the congregation throughout the 149 years of ministry. “The impact of the church in the lives of people of our community is tremendous,” said Nelson.
As part of the service it was announced that Yasmin Guilford had received a $500 scholarship toward her secondary education; the congregation is growing; a children’s choir has been formed; and although many hardships were suffered as a result of Hurricane Michael, the church and congregation are stronger and remain in harmony.
Rev. Nelson describes the Orange Hill Missionary Baptist Church as the oldest African American Baptist Church in Washington County. “It was founded in 1870 when President Ulysses S. Grant was President and in the year the 15th Amendment, giving blacks the right to vote, was added to the Constitution,” he noted in the ‘History of the Church’.
