Our Mission

The Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed.

At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the A.M.E. Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy through a continuing program of:

1. Preaching the gospel

2. Feeding the hungry

3. Clothing the naked

4. Housing the homeless

5. Cheering the fallen

6. Providing jobs for the jobless

7. Administering to the needs of those in prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, asylums and mental institutions, senior citizens’ homes; caring for the sick, the shut-in, the mentally and socially disturbed

8. Encouraging thrift and economic advancement

Ministries of Greater Mt. Olive AME Church

• Mattie Behlin Women’s Missionary Society- MISSION STATEMENT: We are called to strengthen our faith and sent to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ by service and witness in the world.

• YPD

• Usher

• Choir

• Sons of Allen

• Health Ministry

• Prayer Ministry  -  Weekdays – 6:30am est – (605) 313-4829 – Code:  642935#

Greater Mt. Olive AME Church was founded May 23, 1908 by the late Mr. Edwin Dennis Sawyer (known as Brother Dennis Sawyer). After a year or two of marriage, he and his wife Rebecca moved to Merritt Island. Their home was located several hundred feet north of the current location of the church. At that time, there was only a small group of African Americans on Merritt Island. There was a small church at Courtenay and Footman Hill, (Bethel AME Church, pastored by Rev John Reed), but no church in this com- munity.

Mr. Sawyer had a strong desire for a church in his local community and was a moving influence in founding of Mt. Olive AME Church. Mr. Sawyer called together Mr. Butler Sims, Mr. E. L. Jackson, Mr. George An- thony, Mrs. Mary Reed and Mrs. Rachel Dallas for the purpose of organizing a church. They bought a par- cel of land and built a small wooden edifice, naming it Mt. Olive AME Church. Our present church sits on this parcel of land.

Rev. May was the First Pastor and Mr. Sawyer was one of the early clerks for the church. As the church progressed, in 1919, several other strong families moved into the community. The Gillins’ of Lockloore, FL, the Patterson’s and Neal’s of Delray Beach, FL, the Bowman’s of Orangeburg, SC, and other families made contributions to the church.

In the Late 1920’s, Rev. J. D. Merritt, and with the help of faithful members built a larger church.

In1938underRev.J.D.Dukes’leadership, the parsonage was built with the assistance of the late Bro. Dennis Sawyer, Bro. Joe Neal, Bro. Joseph Solomon, Bro. Fred Walton, Bro. George Walton, Sis. Alberta Walton, Sis. H. F. Gillins, and Sis. Marie Lane. Sister Sarah Devine succeeded Bro. Sawyer as Church Clerk and served as Sunday School Superintendent from 1938-1964. Sis. Lottie Peek, Sis. Addie Sills, Bro. Fred Jones, and Bro. Manor Curry were successors to this position. Bro. Joe Neal served as Pastor’s Steward from 1935 until his death in 1965. Bro. Damon McMillan and Bro. George Moss were successors to this position. In 1938, Sis. Marie Walton served as Chairperson of the Usher Board #1.

June 9, 1943, Rev. Willie Lee Byrd as pastor of Mt. Olive AME Church, shared duties between Mt. Olive and Bethel AME Church at Courtenay. Nettie Turnbull, John Henry Walton, and Josephine Moody were the Trustees of Bethel.

Rev. Virgil Starks became pastor in 1961 and found a need for a new building. With faith and the loyalty of members, the old building was torn down, the foundation building was laid, the walls and roof were completed before Rev. Starks moved to another field of labor.

Rev. C. F. Brinkley came to serve while the new building was under construction. The congregation held services in the old Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, on alternate Sundays.

In 1984, the congregation moved into their new sanctuary for worship and Bro. Dennis Sawyer’s dream of a newly constructed Mt. Olive AME Church was Reality!

Many members of the congregation had generously provided various construction materials. Bro. and Sis. Ralph Williams, Jr. donated the plastering of the walls, Bro. and Sis. Victor Holt donated the porch and walkway, Bro. and Sis. Nathaniel Sills varnished the floors, as well as other numerous donations by Bro. and Sis. Damon McMillian, Bro. and Sis. Anderson Kurtz and many other faithful members.

Rev. H. L. Dixon was assigned in January 1970. He labored to continue the work on the church building. The wiring was completed, the central air and heating was installed, and the exterior painting was also completed.

Rev. C. B. Berry came to Mt. Olive in October 1971. He stabilize the financial position of the church. Un- der his leadership, the pulpit was remodeled, new pulpit furniture was purchased, carpet was laid, an al- tar was installed, and colored arch panels over windows were installed. It was in 1972 that the church completed its beautification process and hosted the first Sunday School Convention in the church’s his- tory.

Rev. C.. Jenkins came to Mt. Olive in 1977, followed by Rev. S. L. Fleming. Under Rev. Fleming’s leadership, pulpit furniture, altar rail and pews were purchased and installed. Sis. Shirley Williams led a pew rally, July 31, 1977. The dedication service was conducted December 11, 1977 by Bishop S.S. Morris. Rev. A.M. Scott was the Pre- siding Elder. In 1978, Rev Fleming became ill, and Rev. J.A. Miller and Rev Taylor substituted for him.

Rev. W. H. Elmore came to Mt. Olive February 21, 1978. Lucille Tripp and her husband Ben Tripp gener- ously deeded a parcel of land to Greater. Mt. Olive on Jan 3, 1980. Mr. Damon McMillan donated $695.00 on the new piano. The congregation began a second beautification process in the mid-1980’s. A new par- sonage was completed and work began on a multi-purpose building (annex). In 1989, a building permit was obtained to begin construction. The exterior of the building was constructed and included the foun- dation, walls, roof, doors, and windows. Bro. George Moss was the construction manager for parsonage and the annex. During this period, the following persons were Stewards and Trustees.

STEWARDS

George Moss, V. Chairman Joseph Butterfield Anderson Kurtz
Clifton Lewis

Nathaniel Williams Shirley Williams Charles World

Anderson Kurtz

HONARY

TRUSTEES

Henry L. Martin, V. Chairman Willie Brown
Queen E. Frazier
Addie Sills

Grace Williams Mary Williams Hattie Thornton

Willie Brown

In 1990-1994, other financial matters of great consideration took place, and construction was put on hold.

Rev. Mildred J. Moten was assigned to Mt. Olive in September 1994. The multipurpose building (annex) was completed, and on Sunday, July 7, 1996, dedication services were held. Under Rev. Moten’s leader- ship, the following persons were Stewards and Trustees:

STEWARDS

George Moss, V. Chairman, Madleyn Brace, Clifton Lewis, Cassandra Booth , Hubert James Teresa Swartz, Cardy Moten

TRUSTEES

Henry L. Martin, V. Chairman, Joe Curry, Queen E. Frazier, Addie Sills, Grace Williams, Mary Williams, Charles Hamilton

HONORARY

Willie Brown

Rev. Walter Brown, Sr. came to us in September 1997 and worked diligently to stabilize the financial position of the church. His efforts secured the appropriate documents to certify ownership of the Bethel – Gtr. Mt. Olive Ceme- tery. Rev. Brown and his wife, Sandra renovated and painted the parsonage.

Rev. D. Lavel Crawford, Sr. came to us in September 1999 with a solid vision to move forward in Christ, through Gospel preaching, prayer, Bible Study, and individual commitment and dedication to God’s purpose for all believers.

Rev. J. L. Moore briefly followed Rev. Crawford.
Rev. D. Brumfield was assigned in November 2002. During his tenure, ceiling fans with lights, emergency lights,

and lighted exit signs were installed in the church.

Rev. Jimmy D. Howard came to us in January 2005 enduring his commitment and dedication to God. He fellow- shipped with the community, taught music (drums and piano) to the children of the church, and provided free bar- bering service. Under his leadership, a van was purchased, renovation of women and men’s restroom, the office in the front of the church, as well as providing office space in the annex. He encouraged members to pay off the mort- gage of the church

Rev. Bettye J. Watson, was assigned to us in March 2009. During her tenure, the church installed new light- ing, new carpet, ceramic tile in the vestibule and restrooms of the sanctuary, shed for the church van, shed for lawn equipment, security for all three buildings, a pastor’s office was built, and a new roof on the church.

Rev. Phyllis Brown, assigned to the church in September 2015. During her tenure, she implemented financial ways and means for projects for the church.

Rev. Haywood Davidson, Jr. was assigned to the church in October 2016. Upon his assignments there were various challenges involving mandatory Brevard County requirements facing the church. Through his guidance and obedience to the Holy Spirit, these issues were Resolved. Rev. Davidson often tells us, “prayer is the most powerful weapon we have and yet it is the least used. Prayer does change things.”

African Methodist Episcopal Church History 

The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s MEC pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Although most wanted to affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church, Allen led a small group who resolved to remain Methodists. In 1794 Bethel AME was dedicated with Allen as pastor. To establish Bethel’s independence from interfering white Methodists, Allen, a former Delaware slave, successfully sued in the Pennsylvania courts in 1807 and 1815 for the right of his congregation to exist as an independent institution. Because black Methodists in other middle Atlantic communities encountered racism and desired religious autonomy, Allen called them to meet in Philadelphia to form a new Wesleyan denomination, the AME.