Celebrating 101 Years of Prayer, Praise and Service

It was an unpretentious beginning. On January 5, 1908 Brother Moses Mangham accompanied by Brother J.T. Clowers and Sister Hattie E. Mangham called on Brother Joseph Johnson at his home to discuss affairs of Wheat Street Baptist Church. What happened after prayer and discussion was something completely different. What happened was the beginning of “The Christian Movement” and the birth of a new church, Liberty Baptist.

Organized as a Missionary Baptist Church on May 17, 1908, Liberty's original congregation was led by Doctor J.W. Jackson of Hot Springs, Arkansas. During Dr. Jackson’s tenure, significant remodeling of Liberty’s property was completed and more than $2,000 was raised to pay off the mortgage balance.

In January 1915, the Reverend T. L. Ballou was called as pastor. A great evangelist, Reverend Ballou served until December of that year.

Doctor Ernest Hall was installed as pastor in August of 1916. During his ministry, the church building was remodeled and enlarged, and the first male and female usher boards were established.

Professor Lloyd Lewis of Morehouse College and Reverend George P. McKinney served as interim ministers as Liberty searched for a new Pastor.

Reverend C.N. Perry was called as the fourth pastor and is remembered as a great preacher and singer. Under his leadership the church newspaper, The Liberty Echo, was first published. Reverend Perry introduced the use of individual communion glasses which replaced the single cup used to serve the entire congregation.

In April of 1931, Reverend James J. Clow accepted the call and began a five-year ministry. Under his leadership, Liberty hosted one of the first Christian Leadership Training Sessions to be held in a Black church of its time. He and his wife, Pearl, made significant contributions to the church and community during the Great Depression Years.

Reverend Burgay L. Davis, who had served as assistant pastor at Liberty, was called as pastor in June, 1936, and served until August, 1947. Under Reverend Davis’s, leadership, the mortgage of $4,500 was quickly paid off in 1939.

Reverend George W. Dudley came from Forrest City, Arkansas to answer the call of Pastor of Liberty on May 1, 1948. Reverend Dudley initiated the morning Meditation for Children during the eleven o’clock worship service and a publication of the church magazine, The Liberty Messenger.

Doctor Melvin H. Watson, distinguished chairman of Morehouse College’s Department of Religion, was called as pastor on April 2, 1958. During his term the 12 Calendar Clubs were organized, land surrounding the church was purchased and converted into a parking lot and recreation area, and the church voted to affiliate with the Progressive National Convention, Incorporated and the New Era Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia. After 32 years of service, Rev. Watson retired and was honored with the title of Pastor Emeritus until his death in June of 2006.

Reverend John Cross served as interim minister until another pastor was selected.

Liberty's current leader, Doctor J. Sherman Pelt, accepted a call on July 14, 1991. Dr. Pelt emphasizes spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in both conventional and innovative ways. As led by God, he brought forth the vision of building of the new church structure on its original site to accommodate the needs of a growing church and community.