Fires, finances and uncertain future have never dimmed the faith of the members of Mount Olive M.B. Church.

Founded in 1873 by a small group of spirit-filled Christians, its members today share the same vigor of faith, thanksgiving and optimism that enabled the original members to build their church —  before they even had land to put it on.

Under the leadership of the Rev. Leon Nelson Jr., Mount Olive will celebrate its 135th anniversary Sunday with a special program, music and dinner.

If you go

Mount Olive M.B. Church, 1925 Baldwin Ferry Road, will celebrate its 135th anniversary during an 11 a.m. service Sunday. Dinner will follow.

“Inspired and enlightened by the Holy Spirit” in 1977 to become a pastor, Nelson has served Mount Olive for 28 years. “Since God called me to do it, I don’t know that I like anything better than to preach the gospel,” he said while relaxing for a few minutes Wednesday night in one of the cushioned pews recently added at the church. The congregation has also put in new carpeting and ceiling fans, part of an effort to refurbish and renew what members still see as a gift from God.

“We were reminded of what our original members went through, that they worked so hard for this church in 1873,” said Mount Olive secretary Jenny Drake. Once they got the parcel of land the building sits on, the people raised $12,000 to put up the church. “We wonder how they did that. They prayed more; they shouted more.”

“They trusted more in God than they did their money,” added Fannie Thomas.

Both Drake and Thomas are lifelong members of Mount Olive. Thomas has taken on just about every job possible during her long years at Mount Olive, including terms as president of the executive board, Sunday school superintendent and behind-the-scenes jobs. “Whatever nobody else will do, Fannie will do it,” she laughed.

“It truly is a family church,” Drake said.

With about 55 members, everyone has to pitch in to keep things running smoothly. Drake, who has taught junior and senior English at Vicksburg High School for years, said church secretary was one job she never imagined she’d have when she was growing up there and trying to stay in the back row of the choir. “But there was a need. There’s something in you — that you can’t see a need and let it go. I couldn’t let Rev. Nelson and Miss Fannie down.”

Mount Olive was originally a church — a group of believers — without a building. Early members met in various locations, usually walking, but sometimes riding on horses or in wagons. According to the written church history, sometime between 1889 and 1891 the tract of land was acquired and registered. “Even though the financial situation of the early members was not a bed of roses, this was a great accomplishment to build a church and pay for it as well as the lot,” the history states.

In 1931, fire destroyed the church and all its records. Members secured a loan to rebuild in 1932 and, in eight years, they’d paid for it in full. Over the following decades, improvements were made to the building and the congregation grew and was led for 37 years — until his death in 1980 — by the Rev. M. J. Gilbert.

Thomas recalled that the Mount Olive congregation raised money in the early 1970s to construct brick walls and install air conditioning. Members again faithfully pitched in, putting their talents to work to raise the funds. They made cakes from scratch and held bake sales. “My own sister made aprons and sold them all over the city.”

And sometimes they had to go back to walking miles to get to church, recalled Drake. During the construction of Mission 66, many of the homes nearby were destroyed, displacing some of the families from the Lane’s Hill community. The One-Mile Bridge on Baldwin Ferry Road was also torn out for a while, requiring walkers to climb down and then back up the kudzu-covered hill. “We had to stay clean and neat while we were doing it, too,” Drake laughed.

Sunday’s celebration will feature many of the congregation’s young people, as well as the first lady of the church, Nelson’s wife, Pearl, who will sing. Afterward, they will feast on turkey with all the fixings and homemade cake. Invitations have been sent to many former members, including former Vicksburg Mayor Robert Walker and state Rep. George Flaggs.

Today’s congregation also faces challenges, as they would like to increase membership and continue building improvements. But their faith is strong, said Nelson, “We trust that God is taking care of us.”

Sunday, he plans to preach a sermon titled Why I believe in the Church — with a capital “C” — as he continues to exhort and encourage his members to come together in unity, he said, just as they have for 135 years.

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Contact Pam Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com.