Our History
1957
From Children's Ministry to Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church
In a storefront building owned by Bessie Fentress, Ms. Belushi, Mother Louellen Railback and a few other mothers who lived nearby held a children’s ministry. Meanwhile at Independent Baptist Church a deacon emerged being called to the ministry under the guidance of the late Rev. Aaron Moody. John L. Railback being licensed and ordained by Rev. Moody became an Associate Minister at Independent. As Ms. Belushi’s health began to fail, she removed herself from the children’s ministry, but the other mothers, who realized this area was a hotbed for youth ministries and did not want to see it diminish, had another idea.
At the urging of these ladies and a few others, some of whom were members of Independent Baptist Church, Rev. Railback was encouraged to form a church at the location of the children’s ministry.Rev. Railback along with seven other charter members (Samuel Railback, Louellen Railback, Alice Duell, Bernice Haymond, Bishop Harris, Purdy Lowe, Beatrice Martin) sought to make this idea of a church into a real church.
Rev. Railback’s uncle, who attended True Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Compton, CA, helped to find the group a pastor to establish them as a “Baptist Mission.” Rev. Wade, pastor of True Faith, officially formulated this missionary band of eight individuals into a church with Rev. John L. Railback as pastor.At an early meeting for the church in the home of Samuel and Louellen Railback, the group accepted Mother Duell’s recommendation for the name: “Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church.”
As a church, Rose of Sharon elected their first officers:
Rev. John L. RailbackPastor Bernice Haymond, Church Clerk and Secretary
Louellen Railback, President of the Mission Society
Samuel Railback Deacon, Treasurer, Trustee Board Member
Purdy Lowe, Chairman of the Trustee Board and Sunday School Superintendent
1958
Rose of Sharon Starts to Grow
In 1958, less than a year later, other members joined the church: Dan Young and Archie Dunning (deacons), Marie Edmond (took over as Church Clerk), Lizzie Dunning (deaconess), Mother Fannie Moore, Lottie Hall, Viola Young, Smith Monie, Pinkie Monie, Mother Braxton, Theodore Tibbs, Leon Hobbs, Joyce Johnson, Joseph Johnson, June Lowe McClendon, and Taylor McClendon.
With the additional members, the church established a building fund committee, a choir, and the Young Women’s League.Later that year, the church received a blessing and the pastor took a wife. In November 1958, Pastor Railback was joined in holy matrimony to Hattie Jean Higgins Robertson.
1960s
Rose of Sharon Owns a Building
Due to ill health, the owner of the storefront decided to sell the building that housed Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Railback and small band of Christians started the tedious struggle of raising enough money for the down payment.
Finally, on October 26, 1962, Rose of Sharon purchased the building. Shortly thereafter, the building was renovated and made into a church edifice. During construction, church continued at this location even with two Sundays of removing and replacing the roof.In 1965, Rose of Sharon joined the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. to help strengthen and broaden its Christ’s kingdom building work not only in the community at-large, but the world.
1960s – 1990s
Rose of Sharon Continues to Build
Seeking to build, Rose of Sharon purchased the four-unit apartment building in the adjacent lot. When a vacant lot a block away and the house next door became available, Rose of Sharon bought them. The church later sold the vacant lot to raise funds to renovate the church buildings.
The apartment building was reconditioned to house Sunday School classes, offices, a kitchen and dining area, and the Pastor’s study. The house was repurposed to hold Sunday school classes and Children’s church.In 1988, the church joined the Southern Baptist Convention to continue its goal of building Christ’s kingdom throughout the community and the world.
2019
Over 60 years later…
For more than 60 years, Rose of Sharon has been a lighthouse, a rest haven ministering to the heart broken, friendless, unsaved, discouraged, and weary as evident in its many love ministries. Since its inception, Rose of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church has remained an evangelistic church whose mission is still to add souls to the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Over the years, more than 500 members have passed through the doors of Rose of Sharon and 20 ministers have served as assistant pastors.
Rose of Sharon has survived through many adversities, but only by the grace of GOD does it stand and continue to do the work it set out to do in 1957, carry out the commission of evangelism.”The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” -Psalm 126:3