First Missionary Baptist Church
A group of believers in Our Lord and Savior Jesus, who is Christ, were inspired to begin a house of worship where liked mined people could fellowship. The house of worship we now know as First Baptist Church was founded in 1912 under the name of Mount Gilead. Records indicate that a deed was prepared on
December 9, 1915 by Belle Murchison deeding property in the name of First Missionary Baptist Church to trustees June Robinson, Dan Whitted, Luther McNair and their
successors in office. The deed was filed in Bladen County on February 12, 1916 and recorded February 16, 1916. This seems to indicate that the church took on the name of First Missionary
Baptist Church in 1915. The church was founded at a time when most Black Southern Baptist Churches had to share a pastor. Pastoral Services were held once a month or twice a month.
Pastors
Reverend Sip Smith was the first pastor. Following Reverend Smith were Reverend George Williams, Reverend T.H. McKoy and Reverend Johnny Simpson. Reverend McKoy returned as pastor, followed by the return of Reverend Williams and Reverend Smith. Reverend W.D. Mitchell served as pastor in the late 1920’s. Reverend C.E. Perry became the next pastor for
22 years. Reverend W.B. Washington assisted Reverend Perry during his last years of service. The next pastor was Reverend N.B. Benjamin followed by Reverend Sam Moss. In the late 1970’s, following years of growth, the church became without a pastor. Reverend James Carter served as interim minister. The next pastor was Reverend W.D. Flowers of Longwood, N.C. After his death
(1982), his son Reverend Sam Flowers became pastor (assistant pastor Reverend John D. Herring). The next pastors were as follows: 2001Reverend Harry McGill, Jr. 2005 – 2008 the congregation was without a pastor. January 2008 – May 2016 Pastor Clifton Freeman, Jr. June 2016 – January 2018 the congregation was without a pastor. Present pastor since February 2018 - Reverend Corey M. Lyons.
Deacons
Our first deacon were borrowed from the Baldwin Branch Community. Deacon Wash Gillespie offered his service for that position. Deacons as follows: (1912 – 1940) M. Lewis, J. Lewis, L. McNair, Dan Whitted, W. Melvin, R.F. Smith, G.W. Gillespie, P.A. Kemp, J.C. Currie, James McKoy, and John Orr. (1940 – 1975) Rome Martin, Essic M. Williams, Jack C. Smith, J.D. Lewis, C.H. McKoy, S. Burden and Burnie Currie. (1975 – 1989) Johnny Lewis, Essic M.
Williams, Jack C. Smith, Rome Martin, Rufus Lloyd, Burnie Currie, Junior Deacons - Roland McKoy, and Leroy McLaughlin. (1989 – 2008) Burnie Currie, James Daniels, Carl Smith, Johnny Wilson, Essic M. Williams and Rufus Lloyd. (2012-Present) Rufus Lloyd, Dewitt Sanders and Johnny Wilson.
Choir:
The choir was organized about 1915 by Reverend S.W Smith. He and Reverend T.H. McKoy served as the first choir directors. Following Smith and McKoy, the church appointed Brother Webster Melvin and Brother C.W. Shaw as choir directors. Brother Webster worked until his demise. Later, Mr. Johnson came and helped for a while. Today, we continue with a choir and thank God for where he brought us from.
A group of believers in Our Lord and Savior Jesus, who is Christ, were inspired to begin a house of worship where liked mined people could fellowship. The house of worship we now know as First Baptist Church was founded in 1912 under the name of Mount Gilead. Records indicate that a deed was prepared on
December 9, 1915 by Belle Murchison deeding property in the name of First Missionary Baptist Church to trustees June Robinson, Dan Whitted, Luther McNair and their
successors in office. The deed was filed in Bladen County on February 12, 1916 and recorded February 16, 1916. This seems to indicate that the church took on the name of First Missionary
Baptist Church in 1915. The church was founded at a time when most Black Southern Baptist Churches had to share a pastor. Pastoral Services were held once a month or twice a month.
Pastors
Reverend Sip Smith was the first pastor. Following Reverend Smith were Reverend George Williams, Reverend T.H. McKoy and Reverend Johnny Simpson. Reverend McKoy returned as pastor, followed by the return of Reverend Williams and Reverend Smith. Reverend W.D. Mitchell served as pastor in the late 1920’s. Reverend C.E. Perry became the next pastor for
22 years. Reverend W.B. Washington assisted Reverend Perry during his last years of service. The next pastor was Reverend N.B. Benjamin followed by Reverend Sam Moss. In the late 1970’s, following years of growth, the church became without a pastor. Reverend James Carter served as interim minister. The next pastor was Reverend W.D. Flowers of Longwood, N.C. After his death
(1982), his son Reverend Sam Flowers became pastor (assistant pastor Reverend John D. Herring). The next pastors were as follows: 2001Reverend Harry McGill, Jr. 2005 – 2008 the congregation was without a pastor. January 2008 – May 2016 Pastor Clifton Freeman, Jr. June 2016 – January 2018 the congregation was without a pastor. Present pastor since February 2018 - Reverend Corey M. Lyons.
Deacons
Our first deacon were borrowed from the Baldwin Branch Community. Deacon Wash Gillespie offered his service for that position. Deacons as follows: (1912 – 1940) M. Lewis, J. Lewis, L. McNair, Dan Whitted, W. Melvin, R.F. Smith, G.W. Gillespie, P.A. Kemp, J.C. Currie, James McKoy, and John Orr. (1940 – 1975) Rome Martin, Essic M. Williams, Jack C. Smith, J.D. Lewis, C.H. McKoy, S. Burden and Burnie Currie. (1975 – 1989) Johnny Lewis, Essic M.
Williams, Jack C. Smith, Rome Martin, Rufus Lloyd, Burnie Currie, Junior Deacons - Roland McKoy, and Leroy McLaughlin. (1989 – 2008) Burnie Currie, James Daniels, Carl Smith, Johnny Wilson, Essic M. Williams and Rufus Lloyd. (2012-Present) Rufus Lloyd, Dewitt Sanders and Johnny Wilson.
Choir:
The choir was organized about 1915 by Reverend S.W Smith. He and Reverend T.H. McKoy served as the first choir directors. Following Smith and McKoy, the church appointed Brother Webster Melvin and Brother C.W. Shaw as choir directors. Brother Webster worked until his demise. Later, Mr. Johnson came and helped for a while. Today, we continue with a choir and thank God for where he brought us from.
Summary Conclusion:
We give God the glory as we reflect on the foundation of First Missionary Baptist Church. Today with our focus on God, we strive to initiate new ideas and develop great service. We pray for God’s continuing grace, mercy, and strength as our collective ministries blend to create one dedicated congregational ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. Our goal is for successful growth of our church, spiritually and physically.
We give God the glory as we reflect on the foundation of First Missionary Baptist Church. Today with our focus on God, we strive to initiate new ideas and develop great service. We pray for God’s continuing grace, mercy, and strength as our collective ministries blend to create one dedicated congregational ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. Our goal is for successful growth of our church, spiritually and physically.
MEET OUR PASTOR
Rev. Corey Lyons
Rev. Corey M. Lyons is the current pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church of Elizabethtown, NC. He is a native of Forestville, MD and US Army veteran after serving 9 years active duty. Reverend Lyons joined the US Army in 1996 three years after graduating from Suitland High School in Forestville, MD in 1993. He achieved the rank of SGT E-5 while serving from 1996 until 2005. He is married to the former Ms. Iris T. Milon. They have two sons Ashton and Trenton and a host of nieces, nephews and godchildren.
Reverend Lyons completed basic training in Ft. Knox Kentucky and would go on to complete Advanced Individual Training in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD for diesel mechanics. After completing Advanced Individual Training he went on to serve in various duty assignments both stateside and abroad. Duty assignments include Camp Stanley, Korea; Fort Stewart, GA; Ft Benning, GA; Giessen, Germany and Ft Bragg, NC.
His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), Army National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Over Seas Service Award(2nd award).
While serving in Ft. Benning, GA in 2001 Rev. Lyons served a deacon in training before transitioning to Germany. It was while in Germany from 2001 until 2003 that Rev. Lyons realized that he was called to the ministry. Reverend Lyons would announce the call to ministry in 2004 while serving as a member of the Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Whiteville, North Carolina under the Pastorate of Dr. Timothy A. Lance.
Reverend Lyons has attended the MD Drafting Institute of College Park, MD; Southeastern Community College of Whiteville, NC and the University of NC Pembroke of Pembroke, NC. Reverend Lyons obtained his Masters degree in Religious Studies in 2021 and Bachelors degree in Religious Studies in 2018, both from the Divinity Bible Institute of East Orange, New Jersey.
He has served as Associate Minister of the Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Whiteville, NC and he is the former pastor of the New Beginnings MBC, Chadbourn, NC from June 2011 until June 2016. Reverend Lyons is currently employed with the US Post Office in Dublin, NC where he enjoys serving and assisting customers.
Reverend Lyons has found joy in serving the Lord and finds it an honor to be called as one to proclaim the gospel.
Reverend Lyons completed basic training in Ft. Knox Kentucky and would go on to complete Advanced Individual Training in Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD for diesel mechanics. After completing Advanced Individual Training he went on to serve in various duty assignments both stateside and abroad. Duty assignments include Camp Stanley, Korea; Fort Stewart, GA; Ft Benning, GA; Giessen, Germany and Ft Bragg, NC.
His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), Army National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Over Seas Service Award(2nd award).
While serving in Ft. Benning, GA in 2001 Rev. Lyons served a deacon in training before transitioning to Germany. It was while in Germany from 2001 until 2003 that Rev. Lyons realized that he was called to the ministry. Reverend Lyons would announce the call to ministry in 2004 while serving as a member of the Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Whiteville, North Carolina under the Pastorate of Dr. Timothy A. Lance.
Reverend Lyons has attended the MD Drafting Institute of College Park, MD; Southeastern Community College of Whiteville, NC and the University of NC Pembroke of Pembroke, NC. Reverend Lyons obtained his Masters degree in Religious Studies in 2021 and Bachelors degree in Religious Studies in 2018, both from the Divinity Bible Institute of East Orange, New Jersey.
He has served as Associate Minister of the Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Whiteville, NC and he is the former pastor of the New Beginnings MBC, Chadbourn, NC from June 2011 until June 2016. Reverend Lyons is currently employed with the US Post Office in Dublin, NC where he enjoys serving and assisting customers.
Reverend Lyons has found joy in serving the Lord and finds it an honor to be called as one to proclaim the gospel.
DEACON AND MINISTERIAL STAFF
Deacons
- Rufus Lloyd
- Johnny Wilson
- Dewitt Sanders
Ministers
- Rev. Annie Lewis
- Rev. Donald Overton
- Rev. Otis Nowling
- Rev. Barbara Cogdell