WARM FELLOWSHIP
PASSIONATE EVANGELISM
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
BIBLICAL PREACHING & TEACHING
HISTORY 101
Our beloved Mt. Sinai had its humble beginnings on July 29, 1899 in Orlando, Florida, in an area then known as Washington Shores. It is reputed to be the first Adventist Church in the area for people of color. In April of 1904 the group lost its status with
the conference. A little more than a year later, on July 14, 1905, the congregation was reestablished with 32 members. From 1899 until 1920, there were no salaried pastors for this church. The Florida Conference and retired ministers residing in the area, gave leadership assistance to the congregation. Among those who assisted were such notables as Elders John Mann, Wetsell, Critchelow, F.H. Hastings, Charles Boyd, A.L. Maynor, father of the late Louise Teamer. Elder Boyd is credited with baptizing Evelyn Mann who is our oldest living member to date. In 1922, property at 514 Parramore Street was purchased. A year later, a framed building, which still stands today, became the home of that growing congregation. In 1946, the group adopted the name, Mt. Sinai Seventh-day Adventist Church. Elder E.E. Cleveland conducted the first evangelistic tent effort held in the area, resulting in 108 souls being added. Among those still living is Leonard Keaton, Jimmie Sankey, and Johnnie Rivers. Shortly after this effort, Horace Barker came as the first salaried pastor to the congregation. Among those he baptized was Ernest Howard, Sr., who would go on to serve as Head Elder for more than 40 years. More pastors of note would come and go from Mt. Sinai. Among them were C.G. Rock, J.M. Phipps, I.L. Johnson, C.D. Henri, R. Franklin, J.O. Best and G.N. Wells:
Succeeding them was O.H. Paul who would move the congregation from Parramore to Orange Center Boulevard, where the current edifice is built. An earnest effort to relieve the mortgage began in 1986 under the ministry of S.J. Jackson. This debt was eventually paid while B.P. Browne was pastor. Pastor Browne’s motto was “everyone can do something.”
During an interim period, O.H. Paul again served the church and encouraged the reestablishment of a church school. Dr.
P.E. Vincent actualized that vision by building the current educational complex, which was completed in August 1998. In 2000, Brent Waldon began a tenure lasting for nine years. Music, Worship and Home & School represent his signature at Mt. In October 2008, a leadership change came again in the person of Herman L. Davis, Sr. who proposes to use all the building blocks of the past to restructure and re-position the Mt. Sinai Church for yet another surge of growth and service, while the church labors for the soon return of Christ. 2011-12 is the year he proposes that Mt. Sinai becomes debt free. Sinai has a legacy of growth evidenced by the churches that now populate the Greater Orlando area since Mt. Sinai was formed more than a century ago. Among those established are: Mt. Zion in Kissimmee, Bethel in Eatonville, North Orlando in Orlando, and Maranatha in Apopka. Facing the future presents significant challenges except God’s people forget how He has led in the past. “Hitherto has God brought us.” Let no man hinder us as we march forward diligently and faithfully toward the Kingdom of God.
