Olivet desires for others:
Worship of God
Development of Believers
Outreach of the Gospel
Our Senior Pastor
Mark Franklin (franklinmk20@gmail.com) is currently our Senior Pastor. Mark works together with the Elder Board to meet some of the administrative and programming needs of the church. He has been with our church family for 3 years and recently voted our Senior Pastor. He has ministered more than thirty-five years, serving in three churches as Associate Pastor and has a passion to come alongside others to help them experience success in their ministry. Mark is married to Margaret and has three married sons (one in heaven with Jesus after bicycle accident) and eight grandchildren.
Our Church History
A Baptist congregation was organized and began meeting in the Thomas Driskell home on October 10, 1854, near the area now known as Central. Its members included James C. and Sophrana Job, Alexander and Louisa Wood, and Thomas and Mary Ann Driskell. By 1858, the original three couples had grown to forty members, and the elected pastor was R.D. Gray.
The congregation selected a site near Jenkins Bridge, about one half mile east of the old road to California, to build a church. Begun in 1872 and completed in 1873, it was known as the Palestine Baptist Church.
Various changes caused the remaining members of this original group to relocate to a one room schoolhouse in Elmira in 1894, where James Howard served as pastor for about fifteen years. Alexander Wood, the last living male charter member of the Palestine Baptist Church, served as moderator of the new congregation in Elmira.
By 1916, most of the church’s members lived in the newly formed town of Veneta, so it was decided to reorganize in this location. On January 21, Olivet Baptist Church was officially organized.
Incorporation papers were signed by Mr. Trout, Mr. E.E. Hunger, Mr. John McCutcheon, Mr. Isaacson, and Mr. Pratt, and then recorded in Salem on February 16. Four lots of ground, where the church is presently located, were deeded over by John and Loretta McCutcheon on February 25, with the ground clearing beginning on May 5. Charles Dunham, pastor, led the church building project which was completed and dedicated on September 17th. The official recording of the land transaction from the McCutcheons to the church was dated November 30, 1917.
In 1947, a motion was made and approved to withdraw from the Northern Baptist Association and to unite with the Conservative Baptist Association.
A new church building was started in 1975, with the first half completed and dedicated on January 16, 1977. The parsonage was sold and moved on March 19th of the same year. The second half of the building was begun in 1978 and completed and dedicated August 25, 1985. The original bell from the old church was hung in the memorial bell tower completed July 30, 1989.
Regardless of location or building changes, the purpose of the fellowship has remained the same: To be led of the Holy Spirit as we join together in learning from God’s Word and in worshipping the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We welcome you to join us.