Church celebrates 175th anniversary
Elm Grove Baptist Church, 3114 S. Mississippi St. in Pine Bluff, will celebrate its 175th anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday.
In honor of the milestone celebration, Gov. Asa Hutchinson sent a letter of congratulations to the church, commending the congregation on its "dedication in reaching the people of our state with the Gospel truth." A letter of congratulations from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge will also be hand delivered to the church on Sunday.
According to a news release, Elm Grove is the oldest black congregation in Arkansas, having been founded in 1843 by slaves living on the Johnson Plantation in the Noble Lake and Cottondale area who were "granted permission" to organize a Baptist church. The abundance of elms in the area inspired the church's name.
Jesse Turner, the church's pastor since 1994, said the church's first official seal will be unveiled at Sunday's service.
"As the pastor, I'm proud to serve a congregation that is the oldest in Arkansas, and it makes me proud to know that it was slaves that organized [the church]," Turner said. "One hundred and seventy-five years later, for us to still be active in worship and praising the Lord, it has just been a joy to me."
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Religion on 08/18/2018