Our Heritage

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    In the Spring of 1839, a small group of believers had a vision that God was leading them to begin a church just north of the Axton Community.  Through their vision and faithfulness, Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church was organized in April of 1839.  This was the first Missionary Baptist Church in the entire area of the Virginia counties of Henry, Patrick, Floyd, and Carroll.
    From the very beginning, this tiny congregation was committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in the Axton and Mountain Valley areas, the State of Virginia, and to the uttermost parts of the Earth.  Within the first year, Mount Vernon started two mission churches nearby: one at Mitchell's barn and the other at the Henry County Courthouse.  Although the end of the Civil War found both of these missions closed, another mission in Martinsville flourished and grew to become the First Baptist Church in 1884.
    Not much is known about the first structure built by the congregation, other than it was a simple wooden building common to that time period.  The earliest pictures show a wooden building with two doors; men and women sat separately during the worship service and each side had its own entrance.  Later, the building was remodeled and improved with a lower exterior roof, a single entrance, and electric lights.  Further additions included an office and education annex on the West side of the church.
    Early on the morning of Sunday, January 28, 1951 the church caught fire and was destroyed.  Although the building was a total loss, most of the contents were saved through the quick work of those who came at the alarm.  Through the kindness of Axton Baptist Church, our congregation continued to meet for worship at their facility during the planning and construction that followed.  The present structure was completed and dedicated on May 4, 1952.
    Through the years, as the church continued to grow, many new things came about.  The calling of the first full-time pastor in 1953, the building of the Parsonage, installation of stained-glass windows, a new baptistry and air conditioning were some of the noted changes and improvements.  On April 18, 1993 the church dedicated a new, two-story educational building with 10,000 square feet of classrooms and storage areas.
    Over the last 158 years, the church has called 40 men to serve as Pastor: John D. Haskins, Orson Martin, Robert S. Hurt, James O. Davidson, John Robertson, W. J. Witherington, Mordecae Hagood, R. N. Lee, R. D. Haymore, C. W. Wood, S. G. Mason, M. W. Reed, E. B. Dillard, G. A. Crockett, W. D. Barr, T. C. Keaton, E. E. Burnette, W. J. Reynolds, J. K. Humphries, C. E. Kirkwood, George S. Ellyson, J. B. Williams, George L. Rocke, W. G. Hughes, A. B. Allen, Scott C. Hutton, Jesse H. Clay, W. A. Hawley, Dr. W. T. Hall, Alfred J. Duncan, Joe R. Prince, Hollis McFarlin, E. P. Warren, Earl Epperson, Perry Simpson, Tony Johnson, J. Michael Lyles, George T. Agnew, Joel C. Tilson, and Dale A. Darley.
    Today, Mount Vernon still holds to the vision and the mission begun so long ago.  We are wholly committed to the preaching and teaching of God's Word, the making of disciples, and taking the gospel to a lost world.  It is our impassioned prayer, just as those who have gone before us were faithful to the end, that we also may be found faithful to the cross of Christ until His coming.