Star Stories: The Rich History Of Brown Missionary Baptist Church
SOUTHAVEN, Miss . – For many Mid-Southerners, the church is a source of inspiration, faith, and calm. Historically, in Black communities, churches also provided vital information and shelter — especially during the Civil Rights Movement.
As we celebrate Black History Month, were sharing the story of how a church of brush and sticks became a safe harbor for former slaves and their families and is now a sanctuary for thousands.
Brown Missionary Baptist Church, with its two campuses in Southaven, Mississippi, has a rich history.
This is our 140th year that weve been in existence and Im only the eighth pastor of the church, recalled Senior Pastor Bartholomew Orr.
And it all began in 1882 with a group of former slaves and a bush harbor in what is now the church cemetery.
They just took trees and brush and just kind of made a little covering…went underneath it and started having church. Talk about dedication, talk about a tenacity, a tenacious spirit, said Orr.
Over time, the church built a log cabin on the corner of Swinnea and Stateline Road where its main campus is still located today.
When they were having service they could look through the boards of the church and see the chickens running underneath the church, said Orr.
When Orr was elected senior pastor 33 years ago, he learned about the churchs history from one of the founders grandchildren.
Orr, who also grew up in the area on Swinnea, remembers the day the church burned down.
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Security Threat Shuts Down Brown Missionary Baptist Church
A Southaven church was forced to close its doors for the day due to a potential security threat.
According to Southaven Police, the church received a phone call around 11:56 on Wednesday from an individual threatening to shoot up the church.
Church officials closed the campus and all in-person events out of an abundance of caution. A statement from the church said ALL BMBC staff, volunteers, students and other personnel are safe and were never in any danger.
Officers and detectives investigated and were able to develop a suspect, who was on the scene and was taken in to custody without incident.
Specific details of the response will not be disclosed.
The Southaven Police Department would like to thank Brown Missionary Baptist Church for their assistance and patience during the course of the investigation, Major Seth Kern said. The Southaven Police Department would also like to thank the public for their understanding during this sensitive time. We are mothers and fathers as well, and we would like to put out as much information as we can during the active scene. However, this would not be prudent, or safe for the officers on scene. The Southaven Police Department will continue to use any and all resources to protect our children, and the citizens of Southaven.
Giving Is An Act Of Worship
Brown Missionary Baptist Church believes that giving is not an issue of money but rather an issue of FAITH and of the HEART . Through your faithful giving, we are able to achieve our mission of Changing Lives and Making a Difference!
We are transitioning to a new online giving platform within our new MyBrownBaptist portal that will allow for a more simple and secure giving experience. It is our goal to complete this process by the end of June, so we need your help to move your previous online giving to the new system. Its a simple, two-step process.
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Brown Missionary Baptist Church Receives Shooting Threat
According to the Southaven Police Department , Brown Missionary Baptist Church got a call just before noon Wednesday from a man who threatened to shoot up the church at a specific time.
Officers and detectives responded and began to assess the scene, said the department in a statement. The specific details of the response will not be disclosed. Investigators identified a suspect at the scene and took him into custody. He was charged with making a terroristic threat and also has a warrant for contempt of court, said SPD, which increased the police presence in both of Brown Missionary Baptist Churchs locations. The SPD statement continues:
The Southaven Police Department would like to thank Brown Missionary Baptist Church for their assistance and patience during the course of the investigation. The Southaven Police Department would also like to thank the public for their understanding during this sensitive time. We are mothers and fathers as well, and we would like to put out as much information as we can during the active scene. However, this would not be prudent, or safe for the officers on scene. The Southaven Police Department will continue to use any and all resources to protect our children, and the citizens of Southaven.
A Facebook user named Lindy Covington Reynolds commented on the SPDs statement, saying, Put him away for life!!!! There are children in that church every day for school and daycare! They deserve to be safe!
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