Friends, visitors, and members of Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church gathered at 1022 New Providence Pass to celebrate 130 years in the ministry at this same location on August 16.

With a theme ‘Celebrate the King,’ Mt. Vernon has much to celebrate. The church has advanced from the once community schoolhouse that also served as the church to a two story facility continuing to grow physically and through its membership. Mt. Vernon is located in a Madison neighborhood including residents, some of whom have been living in the area for many, many years. Those residents have seen the transformations that have taken place with each year in the ministry.

The vision of the church as it is led today by Bishop Willie H. Joy and the leadership staff is for Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church is to “teach and preach the word of God with power and simplicity so that each believer will grow to their potent ion in Christ, live abundant lives and worship God in spirit and in truth. It is our aspiration that ministers are developed to meet the needs of families in the church and the community through outreach, evangelism, Sunday School, Bible study, workshops, seminars, and other endeavors.”

It is stated that through these efforts the “members and the church leader believe that Mt. Vernon can become one of the leading ministries in Madison and the Nashville area.

“As 130 years of ministry were celebrated, Mt. Vernon has already laid a great foundation to obtain the desire to increase participation, balance in worship and a positive development of the family, youth, men and women’s ministries.”

Mt. Vernon celebrated its homecoming with two services. The morning service maintained its usual order of service.

However, the combined choirs gave the message in song and the ministry of mime and dance also added to the service. Bishop Joy delivered the message.
Following the morning service, dinner was served and Rev. Larry Couch delivered the afternoon message.

Mt. Vernon is located at 1022 New Providence Pass in Madison, Tenn. and the pastor is Bishop Willie Joy.