WHEN IT ALL STARTED
The Pleasant Hill Baptist Church is situated in Franklin County , Martin , Georgia , about two miles north of Lavonia and about one mile north of the Elberton railroad. It was formerly constituted October 18, 1872, by the following Presbytery: Rev. Jesse Brown and deacons: R.C. Burgess of Clarks’ Creek Baptist Church ; L.A. Tribble and Hezekiah Hughes of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church ; B.P. Vandiver of Broad River Baptist Church ; A.J. York of Poplar Springs Baptist Church ; and W.M. Baldwin of Corinth Baptist Church .
Now the church being organized, Rev. Jesse Brown was elected pastor. The same day and hour the door of the church was opened for membership. Those joining were Rev. Jesse Brown and wife; Solomon Gillespie, Elizabeth G. Gillespie, Mary E. Gillespie, Nancy L. Gillespie, Louise Cassann Gillespie, Henry Pierce and wife, John Pierce, Nancy Pierce, Sarah Ann Thomas, W.W. Thomas, Mary F. Thomas, Alford Gunyon , wife and daughter, Ann Guinn, Sabre Guinn, Margarette Crawford and A.L. Stephenson.
CHURCH BUILDINGS
In 1920 the members began to realize more than ever the need for a new house of worship. Steps were taken immediately in this direction. The church set up a building fund and early in 1930 a canvas was made for timber to be used in the new church building.
In 1951 members donated their time to complete the inside of the auditorium and to build the educational building at the rear of the present structure. Rev. Roy W. Melton labored faithfully at this task. In 1952, the Sunday School rooms in the educational building were hulled in and plans made to get them ready for use. April 1, 1953 , the church entered into a Departmentalized Sunday School , with C.H. Moon as Superintendent.
On September 13, 1964 , ground-breaking ceremonies were observed to start the new three-story education building. Open house for the new building was held on Sunday, January 31, 1965 , with the Rev. W.I. Pritchett delivering the dedicatory message.
On April 1, 1979 the ground breaking ceremony was held for the Multi-Purpose Building following the morning worship service. Rev. Bill Walker, pastor of the church made remarks concerning the building which would have 12,800 sq. feet of floor space. Today our building contains a kitchen and dining area, classrooms, and a gymnasium for recreation and fun.
MISSIONS
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church has been blessed by the Lord to be able to help several of our former pastors and/or members accept the call of missions.
In July 1962, Pleasant Hill accepted a letter of dismission for Rev. Wayne Pennell and his family to Hong Kong Baptist Church . Brother Pennell preached his last sermon to Pleasant Hill people January 14, 1962 . He and his family worked as missionaries in Indonesia then the Philippines .
Maurice Lee Randall left in April of 1972 for
We have also been blessed to be able to send out a team to help build new churches. Several of our present members, along with past members have also taken foreign missionary trips.
OUR PASTORS
Rev. Jesse Brown 1872-1886
Rev. H.F. Stovall and
Rev. H.F. Stovall 1893-1901
Rev. S.E. Maconson 1901-1906
Rev. F.M. Estes 1906-1907
Rev. H.F. Stovall 1908-1909
Rev. W.T. Land 1909-1916
Rev. R.M. Maret 1916-1918
Rev. G.W. Garner 1918-1922
Rev. E.B. Collins 1922-1923
Rev. E.H. Collins 1923-1925
Rev. L.H. Lyda 1926-1928
Rev. E.R. Broadwell 1929-1936
Rev. L.P. Glass 1937-1941
Rev. W.M. Gilbert 1942-1944
Rev. C.C. Hardin 1944-1945
Rev. R.W. Melton 1946-1953
Rev. V.A. Merck 1953-1955
Rev. H.O. Walker 1955-1957
Rev. Wayne Pennell 1957-1962
Rev. W.I. Pritchett 1962-1964
Rev. W.M. Dunagan 1964-1967
Rev. W.I. Pritchett 1967-1973
Rev. W.O. Walker 1973-1980
Rev. Doug Goss 1980-1990
Rev.
Rev. Billy Owensby 1993-1999
Dr.
Dr.
