OUR HISTORY
Our Genesis
The genesis of The Mount Carmel Baptist Church was in 1878 when several persons met in the home of Mrs. Amanda McClure for the purpose of establishing a Missionary Baptist Church in the village of Charlotte known as Biddleville. The small group met from home to home and when the weather permitted they would meet under the trees. This humble group stayed together and in 1883 The Reverend Eagle, Pastor of First Baptist Church, organized the group in 1883 on Beatties Ford Road. This location was formally a bar room. This was the first physical site of The Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
From Humble Beginnings
The first pastor of Mount Carmel was The Reverend A. Lewis, a young man who was a student at Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University). Growth was slow and after twenty years the membership grew to twenty persons. Pastors Rev. A. Jones, Rev. Person, Rev. W.A. Roberts, Rev. J.O. Russell, Rev Watson, Rev. C.F. Gingles and Rev. O.M. Millings each served faithfully for a short periods of time.
Growing Stronger
The Reverend Dr. Davidson accepted the call to serve in November 1914 and served faithfully for almost fifty years retiring in December 1964. During Dr. Davidson’s dynamic leadership the membership grew and the first brick structure was built in the Biddleville community as The Mount Carmel Baptist Church. According to community records both black and white soldiers help contribute by buying bricks during World War I. Dr. Davidson laid a strong foundation upon which Mount Carmel continued to build. The Reverend Dr. Leon C. Riddick accepted the call to serve in February 1965 and served faithfully for twenty five years retiring in July 1990. Dr. Riddick, a visionary teacher, developed mission and outreach ministries that touched every facet of the community. On April 3, 1977 the congregation relocated to 3201 Tuckaseegee Road in a most spacious facility providing educational space for a Child Development Center and Christian Education opportunities. Dr. Riddick loved Missions and Christian Education. This is the great legacy that The Rev. Dr. Leon C. Riddick left to Mount Carmel.
Pastor and People Celebrate 25 Years in 2015
The Reverend Dr. Casey R. Kimbrough accepted the call to serve in August 1990 and continues to serve faithfully as Mount Carmel’s Pastor – Pastor and People together for 24 years. Dr. Kimbrough came to Mount Carmel as a visionary servant leader, equipping the Church family for the twenty first century. He introduced a wholistic approach to ministry encompassing mind, body and spirit. A fivefold approach to ministry was implemented. It is through these five teams; Magnification, Mission, Maturity, Membership and Ministry, that Mount Carmel continues to thrive. In August 2005, Mount Carmel moved into her new Campus consisting of forty two acres of land and a multi –million dollar complex. This complex was designed to be family friendly, and provide physical location where the “power of God prevails”. We invite you to join us as we worship God. We are committed to, “Celebrating Christ; to reach, teach, and equip people for the service of God.” Mount Carmel is a place where you and your family will experience the Love of God and we invite you to join us as we “Worship, Share and Serve.”
Vision Statement
Celebrating Christ! To reach, teach and equip people for the service of God.
Mission Statement
To be a biblically-based church, fervent in prayer, passionately teaching and proclaiming the Word of God. A community committed to the Great Commission and Great Commandment.