The Mt. Nebo Community Baptist Church was first known as Northside Baptist Church. It was founded on April 17, 1958 by Mr. Cliff Goolsby. After Mr. Goolsby purchased the property, it was used for community-wide Bible study, but no church services were held. In November 1965, Rev. E.J. O’Neal was called to pastor and served until January 1970.
In 1971, Mr. Goolsby organized a Board of Trustees. In addition to Mr. Goolsby, other members of the Board were Mr. Wilbur Davis, Mr. Ike Stinson, Mr. Luther James Stinson, Mr. Otis Smith, Mr. Willie B. Kendall, and Mr. Walter Mann. The same year, the Northside Baptist Church was renamed as Mt. Nebo Community Bible Church as this was the year Northside Baptist Church relocated to its current site. From 1971-1979, there were several ministers who were called to serve as pastor. They included Rev. Robert Clemons, Rev. Walker, Rev. Cleveland Freeman, and Rev. Dan Driver (served from 1975-1979). After Rev. Driver resigned, the church called Rev. J.B. Curtis, and he served as pastor of the church from 1979-2013, the longest of any pastor in the Church’s history. Ironically, Rev. Curtis had been called to Pastor Northside Baptist Church a few years prior to him coming to Mt. Nebo.
At the time Rev. Curtis took up his appointment, services were being held on first and third Sundays only, and there were only five (5) adult members. They were Sis. Vera Stinson, Sis. Nora Bell Jester, Mr. Leon Crawley, Sis. Melvin Harris, and Sis. Mattie Ruth Guider. Though Rev. Curtis would later tell how he was surprised that the LORD would lead him here after having served at two larger ministries, he stayed and thanked the LORD for sending him here. He and the five were faithful and
prayerful, and God began giving increase in the attendance. Within the first few months of Rev. Curtis getting to Mt. Nebo, sixty-four (64) souls joined.
As the LORD continued to prosper the church, Rev. Curtis was led to implement Sunday school and appointed Sis. Nora Bell Jester as the teacher. The first Sunday school class was held on March 5, 1979, and the lesson was entitled, Faith That Lasts. That same year, the Church held its first revival with the week of May 8th-13th. Many people attended as a result, the Church saw another large growth.
On June 3, 1979, Rev. Curtis was officially installed as pastor with his beloved wife, the late Ruby Curtis, by his side. After his installation, Rev. Curtis appointed Sis. Vera Stinson as the Church secretary, formed the Pastor’s Aid Committee (members were Sis. Yolanda Andrews, Sis. Mildred Newton, and Bro. Leon Crawley), formed the senior choir and the usher board. On January 8, 1980, Rev. Curtis held the first Church conference to discuss purchasing the facility for $11,500 from Mr. Willie B. Kendall and Mr. Walter Mann who the last two survivors of the original trustees. During the meeting, the members voted to open an account at First Federal Bank. Rev. Curtis then appointed Sis. Meverlene McGhee as the Treasurer and Sis. Melvin Harris as the Assistant Treasurer.
The Church held its first Pastor and Wife Anniversary for Rev. and Sis. Curtis on March 14, 1980. The late Rev. Robert L. Curtis, Jr. was the guest speaker, and his message was based on 1 Kings 18:21 and was entitled Whose Side are you On?
During the same year, Rev. Curtis also set aside Bro. Charlie Miller and Bro. Leon Crawley to be deacons of the church, but they were not ordained. On June 2, 1980, Rev. Curtis called another meeting to vote on purchasing the church. The Church would need a down payment of $1,500; the note would be $143.88 per month. Committees were formed to begin raising the money, and on July 9, 1980, the Church was purchased from Mr. Kendall and Mr. Mann by Rev. Curtis, and the name of the Church was changed to The Mt. Nebo Baptist Church. At the time of the purchase, Rev. Curtis requested a Deed of Gift be put in place for the Church because it did not have any ordained deacons. This allowed for the Church to belong to the people and not to the pastor. Many of the members talked about how they appreciated Rev. Curtis doing this, and they said it was yet another sign that they had the right pastor— somebody who put the flock before himself. The information pertaining to this was recorded on July 11, 1980 in the Spalding County Superior Court records.
Mt. Nebo held its first baptismal service under Rev. Curtis on September 6, 1980; eleven candidates were baptized that day: Bro. Mack Harps, Bro. Jermaine Dugger, Sis. Lavette Wilkerson, Bro. Andre Wilkerson, Sis. Denise Wilkerson, Sis. Stacey Guider, Sis. Brenda Guider, Bro. Horace McClarin, Bro. Moses Hixson, Sis. Carolyn Harps, and Bro. Orlandrus White. From 1980-1989, Rev. Curtis formed various organizations including, but not limited to the junior choir, junior ushers, Radio Booter Club, the Radio Broadcast with WHIE, the Prayer Band, etc.
Because the Church’s attendance had grown so large, Rev. Curtis met with the members in 1989 to discuss expanding the church. The plan included turning the then sanctuary into a fellowship hall and kitchen and taking the north end parking lot and making it the front entrance of a new sanctuary. The members agreed to attach the two buildings by adding a baptismal pool between them. Though everyone agreed it needed to be done, there was very little money. As a result, Rev. and Sis. Curtis mortgaged their home and put up the money themselves. Again, Rev. Curtis made it clear that though he was paying for it, he wanted the Church to remain in the hands of the members. The work was completed that same year, and the Church was able to pay Rev. and Sis. Curtis back so they did not lose their home. The Church continued to grow, and the LORD opened many doors for Rev. Curtis to go and minister near and far and in addition to being known as a great church with a dynamic preacher, Mt. Nebo’s choir gained notoriety as being one of the best in the region. They became known as The J.B. Curtis Gospel Choir.
Mt. Nebo was continuing to grow and there was much going on for the adults, but over the years, the younger people began to feel left out and the Sunday school classes had ceased. In 1996, Rev. Curtis’ daughter, Janet Curtis (Ware) came to him and asked if she could reorganize the Sunday school, begin an evening Bible Study, form a youth ministry, and begin a praise and worship team. After prayerful consideration, Rev. Curtis said yes, and all of these began in May of 1996. First Lady Ruby had been alternating the teaching with Sis. Janet, but she then stepped into the role full time once Sis. Janet and Rev. Curtis began teaching the evening Bible study and when Sis. Janet organized the first ever youth ministry for the Church, Genesis. During its highest point, Genesis served 76 young people per week (Thursdays and Sundays). Sis. Janet was allowed to reorganize the youth choir and renamed it Anointed Voices of Praise. She was also responsible for creating the first weekly bulletin for the Church. The Church continued to grow both in number and in knowledge of the LORD.
In 1999, Sis. Janet Curtis (Ware) accepted her calling to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and preached her initial sermon, Almost Persuaded (Acts 26). She was ordained in December of the same year and was named as Co-Pastor of the Church the following year. She immediately implemented training classes for those who would be counselors and teachers (Discipleship 101, How to Teach Children, Defending Your Faith, How to Lead Someone to Christ, Experiencing Jesus, etc.) and created other ministries for the Church which include women’s ministry (Women of Destiny), men’s ministry (Men of Purpose), Audio-Visual ministry, dance teams, leadership team, Trustees’ ministry, Seasoned Saints, Finance Team, administrative assistants, men’s chorus, Ensemble, Deacons and Deaconess, Food Services, etc. In August 2007, Pastor Janet married Bro. Michael Ware.
In 2008, Pastor Janet signed for the Church to be able to get a new church van, and in 2009, she organized the renovations project for the Church which included the front and side foyers, restrooms, a new roof, and the main sanctuary. In 2009, Pastor Janet appointed Trustees for the church to give oversight to the Church’s facilities and grounds. They were Bro. James Smith, Sis. Patricia Dewberry, Bro. DeNorris Murray, and Min. Johnny M. Curtis. The Church had not had active trustees since the late seventies. In 2011, the Church purchased its first storage facility, and in 2013, the church purchased new tables and chairs for the dining room.
In 2013, Rev. J.B. Curtis retired from pastoring the Church, and Pastor Ware became the head shepherd for the flock of the Mt. Nebo Community Baptist Church. One of her favorite’s sayings is Greater is Coming for Mt. Nebo. We truly believe this, and the members are more committed than ever to continue working for the LORD and to learning more about Him through His Word. We are waiting expectantly on what God will do with and through us. Like the Queen of Sheba said to King Solomon in 1 Kings 10:8, that which the LORD is going to do with us, …indeed, the half has not been told…
In November of 2013, Pastor Janet was led to form the Deacons and Deaconess Ministries. Those who accepted the appointment to begin their training for these ministries were Bro. James Smith, Bro. Jimmy Gotell, Bro. DeNorris Murray, Bro. Tango Walker, Bro. Jimmy Jones, Bro Vernon Ray, Sis. Mary Murray, Sis. Meverlene McGhee, Sis. Ida M. Gotell, Sis. Gussie Holmes, Sis. Tonya Walker, Sis. Frances Dallas and Sis. Stephanie Curtis. The ordination service for these appointees is scheduled for August of 2014.
In January 2014, the current renovations project began which includes the dining area, kitchen, pastor’s study, pool area, and installing a new lounge and restroom area. Because of Pastor Janet’s efforts, the Church also has made technological upgrades, is a part of social media, and has purchased several pieces of equipment that make the Church run more efficiently. The Church also has its first logo.
In November 2014 there were five great men and four great women of God ordain as Deacons and Deaconess of Mt. Nebo. Those men and women who were ordained under the leadership of Pastor Janet Ware were Deacon James Smith, Deacon Jimmy Gotell, Deacon Vernon Ray, Deacon Denorris Murray, Deacon jimmy Jones, Deaconess Mary Murray, Deaconess Emma Jean Jones, Deaconess Stephanie Curtis and Deaconess Dianne Stroud. This is was the first active Deacon board formed at Mt. Nebo community Baptist Church since the early 90s. During this time of celebration Pastor Ware appointed four season women’s as dedicated mother of the church, those ladies are Mother Ida Mae Gotell, Mother Meverlene McGhee, Mother Barbra Fambro and Mother Gussie Holmes.
We are thankful for the visionary and kingdom-minded leadership of Pastor Ware. Following the Holy Spirit, the Lord continues to energize the church with new life and vitality. Mt. Nebo is a local church that proclaims the life -changing message of Jesus Christ by teaching the living Word of God in a way that causes the lost to believe in Him and live transformed lives. To exemplify Christ in the world in order to expand His kingdom by teaching the truth of the Gospel message so that all will know and understand Him fully.
With God’s help, we will fulfill our destiny. We thank God for the way He is leading us. We are determined to let God build His church, His way and for His Glory.
