WE HAVE HISTORY WITH GOD.
Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Avondale, LA
The history of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Avondale, La, is a story of nothing more than the grace and mercy of God. In 1947, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Rev. Joseph Johnson started the Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Avondale, LA. The late Rev. Joseph Johnson served as the senior pastor of Mount Hermon from 1947 until he died in 1962. The Rev. Nelson Waits, Jr. was elected to serve as the pastor of Mount Hermon, and he served from 1962-1966. After the pastoral tenure of Rev. Waits in 1966, he was later succeeded by the Rev. Paul Silas, who served faithfully from 1967-1968.
In 1969, The Southern General Baptist Association selected the Rev. D. J. Sullen to serve as the interim pastor of Mount Hermon, as the church sought out the next permanent leader. After
months of prayers, interim candidate, Pastor Sullen was succeeded by the Rev. Eckard Johnson who served as the senior pastor until God called him home in 1987. The late, Rev. Eckard
Johnson was succeeded by the Rev. Wilfred Johnson, who served as the senior pastor from 1987-1995. While small in number, the Mount Hermon family was united in hope, believing that God would send them a leader to move them forward. In 1995 the small but faithful members elected the Rev. Sean T. Elder to serve as the senior pastor of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church.
In 1995, Mount Hermon became an autonomous church. Soon after, the church’s congregation begin to grow. In 1996, with congregational space becoming an issue, the church was in need of a new facility to house its worship experiences. In 1999 after much fasting and praying, Mount
Hermon purchased property on Highway 90 to begin construction on their new facility.
In March of 2003, the Mount Hermon family marched into their new church which included a dining area for fellowship, a conference room and several office spaces. Shortly after the transition to the new facility, God began to increase the church’s congregation again. Rev. Elder Witnessed the growth of the congregation and quickly embraced a demand for two services to accommodate the members.
Under Rev. Elder’s leadership, Mount Hermon had acquired several buses to aid members that were in need of transportation. In addition, several ministries within the church were birthed. From live recordings, to local television broadcastings, God favored Mount Hermon exceptionally.
In July of 2016, Rev. Elder resigned as the pastor and Mount Hermon was in a place of uncertainty after losing its senior leader of 21 years. For 7 months, the church’s Pastoral Search Committee examined over 30+ candidates for the position of senior pastor. With much prayer and fasting, on January 29, 2017, with a landslide vote, the Mount Hermon Baptist Church elected its 8th senior pastor in its history, the right Rev. Darold A. Ingram, Jr. At the tender age of 27, Rev. Ingram and his wife Jocelyn Ingram (affectionately known as “Lady J”), started their journey in Avondale. Rev. Ingram preached his first sermon as the pastor-elect on February 5, 2017, and was installed as the 8th senior pastor of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church on May 28, 2017.
Under the leadership of our pastor, Rev. Ingram, God has continued to allow Mount Hermon to be the recipient of Grace and Mercy. Since the inception of Rev. Ingram’s tenure, Mount Hermon has continued to grow for the cause of Christ. In addition to eliminating debt and creating a peaceful place of worship, many have been baptized, converted, and even reinstated to the MHBC family. The reach of Mount Hermon has increased immensely in the marketplace and in the community.
“Building Families For Christ” is our mission, and we believe that God will continue to grant us all that we need to accomplish that goal. Under the divine leadership of God and our pastor, The
Rev. Darold A. Ingram, Jr., who has a heart of a shepherd, we believe that spiritual, physical, and financial success will continue to embrace the MHBC family. We are the Mount Hermon Baptist Church of Avondale, La!!!