HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
A group of Negro Baptist worshippers withdrew from the white Baptist Church of Knoxville (currently First Baptist Church) in 1855. In 1869, this group split, one moving to Patton Street and the other remained. The Patton Street group became known as Mt. Zion, the other group was known as Second Baptist. The pastor of the Second Baptist Church was the Reverend William Howell. Second Baptist later became Mt. Carmel Baptist Church (1900). In 1918, the Reverend E.H. Hamblin was called as pastor, and he recommend that the name of the church be changed to Mt. Olive Baptist Church. After several pastors, the Reverend Alexander Mack was called in 1933 and he served until 1935, when he resigned.
That same year, the Reverend Dr. W.T. Crutcher was called to pastor Mt. Olive. During the 54 golden years that he served, he led the church in building the current church structure (1971). In addition, the Bus Ministry was established (1972) as an evangelistic tool (Dr. Crutcher later wrote a book about Bus Ministry development) as well as the Children’s Church (an outgrowth of the Bus Ministry); the Church Media Library, founded by his daughter, Mae Blanche Moore, was established; Mt. Olive housed the Knoxville extension unit of the American Baptist College; supported many Christian endeavors; had several sons in the ministry to come out of the church; over 3,600 people joined the church during the years of Dr. Crutcher’s pastorate; the Sunday School grew to 700 members. Dr. Crutcher passed away at home in his sleep in November, 1989, a few months before the debt liquidation project that he initiated was completed. In March, 1990, elaborate Mortgage Burning celebration worship services were held.
Fifteen months later, Pastor Kelly M. Smith, Jr., of Nashville, Tennessee, was called as pastor (March 3, 1991). Under his leadership, Mt. Olive has experienced tremendous spiritual, numerical and financial growth. Many areas of the Church’s ministries have been revitalized and new members have been added. Some of these include moving to two Sunday worship services, establishing full-time and part-time staff ministry positions, developing a multi-faceted Wednesday Night Church School that includes classes for children, youth and adults, establishing a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors and budgeting to various academic institutions as well as various community groups. In addition, the Mt. Olive Music Academy (MOMA) was established in January, 2003. Currently, work is in progress to establish an academic preschool called The Garden of Discovery Learning Center (GODLC), sponsored through the Church. The Church’s current membership is 600. Additional ministry and Church highlights include the ordination of the first female deacons (1993) and the licensing to the preaching ministry of Minister Latisha D. Reeves (February, 2000), the first female to be licensed at Mt. Olive.
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