11/04/2024
As we move into the week of celebrating our church's 104th anniversary, we want to share some of our church's rich leadership history.
Our research revealed that a Baptist Church was organized on the border of Maitland, Florida, in 1920. At its inception, the Morris J. Williams and E.A. Oliver families were the only members, and services were held in their homes. As neighbors learned of this fellowship, Mr. Dan Nails, who owned property on Red Bug Road, generously donated a small plot of land for the church. This community of faithful believers united to give their church a name: Rockhill Missionary Baptist Church. Over time, the church’s membership grew, prompting the need for a larger space. The members purchased two large lots to relocate from Red Bug Road, and families began building homes in Jamestown, close to the new site. In 1925, the congregation held its first service in the new building. While records do not specify the pastor’s name from 1920 to 1925, in that year, Reverend Rogers Moore was called to lead the church, faithfully serving until he could no longer make the commute from Winter Park.
After Reverend Moore, Reverend James Hagin was called to pastor and oversaw the building of a larger block church next to the original wooden structure. About fifteen years later, Reverend Billy Jackson first came to Rockhill to preach for the youth department; he was later called as the church’s pastor. Reverend Jackson led Rockhill Missionary Baptist Church for over 30 years before resigning in November 2010. On May 1, 2011, following much prayer, the church family called Reverend Willie Nixon as Pastor-elect. Reverend Nixon was officially installed as senior pastor on June 26, 2011, alongside his wife, Mrs. Joanne Nixon.
On June 26, 2022, Pastor McKennon Fernander and his wife, Dawn Fernander, were installed as the new senior pastor and first lady of Rockhill Missionary Baptist Church. They continue to serve as the spiritual leaders of our church today.
If you wish to immerse yourself in more of this rich history, we invite you to join us on Sunday, November 10, at our 11am and or 3pm services.