Beginnings

In the latter part of 1904, at the suggestion of Rev. W.F. Fisher, then pastor of the Fourth Street Baptist Church, the trustees of that church and South Street Baptist Church, feeling a need for a Southern Baptist mission in Prentis Place, purchased two lots on the southeast corner of Elm Avenue and Lincoln Street for the purpose of erecting a building for such a mission.  There being some discussion over the large number of trustees, the South Street members turned over their portion of the purchase to the Fourth Street Church.

In 1905, the Fourth Street trustees purchased the one room Presbyterian Chapel on the southeast corner of Prentis Avenue and Randolph Street for the sum of $1000 and sold the property first bought for a mission.

A Baptist Sunday School was started in the fall of 1905 with Mr. Luther Brunson of the Fourth Street Baptist Church having charge of the work.  Sunday School was held every Sunday afternoon and a prayer service was held every Thursday night.  Some months later in the early part of 1906, the Prentis Place Baptist Church (later JMBC) was organized.  The first Sunday worship service as a congregation was held on January 11, 1906.  With financial aid from the State Mission Board, Rev. Kelly Hobbs was called as the church's first pastor.  There were 18 charter members.  Most of them coming from the Fourth Street Baptist Church. 

Charter Members

• Ashby, Mrs. M. J.
• Bassett, Mr. W. H.
• Bassett, Mrs. W. H.
• Berryman, Mr. H. L.
• Berryman, Mrs. Ella
• Brinkley, Fred L.
• Brinkley, Mrs. Sarah L.
• Buckwalter, Mrs. C. W.
• Bunting, Mrs. G. T.
• Carr, Mr. John H.
• Coleman, Mr. H. M.
• Coleman, Mrs. H. M.
• Dozier, Mrs. May
• Etheridge, Mr. John J.
• Etheridge, Mrs. John J.
• Hannace, Mr. Jesse
• Hannace, Mrs. Jesse
• White, Mrs. Nannie Etheridge
  (The last surviving charter member, she passed away on January 11, 1978)

Naturally the progress of this small church in a new community was slow.  But under Rev. Hobbs' leadership, the membership grew to about 60 members by the time he resigned as pastor in November 1907.

(The above information was taken from a historical document that was published in celebration of the church's 75th anniversary in 1981)