The New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in South Dallas marked a centennial milestone on Sunday, with the church’s pews filled to capacity and an atmosphere brimming with joyous celebrations, heartfelt dancing, and family love.
Founded in 1925 and located on Marder Street just south of Fair Park, the church currently boasts around 140 members, as noted by Rev. Bruce Fortner, the church leader for the past two decades.
Throughout its 100-year history, the church has remained a resilient community anchor, supporting locals through numerous wars, gentrification, societal changes, and navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit small churches particularly hard, especially those without robust online streaming capabilities.
For the congregation, the church is more than just a building; it represents a home rooted in love for God and each other, sustaining its spirit even as membership has fluctuated over the decades. In the 1970s, the church reached a peak of approximately 300 members, and although it has changed locations several times over the years, it has stood firm in its current spot since the late 1950s.
During the anniversary celebration, longtime members adorned in suits, sequined dresses, and colorful wide-brimmed hats filled the sanctuary, often bringing extra family and friends. The warmth of camaraderie was palpable as congregants embraced one another amid laughter and joyful moments. Those attending were encouraged to “bear-hug” new visitors during the service as a welcoming gesture.
The church choir delivered powerful hymns accompanied by clapping and dancing to the rhythm of the piano and drums, creating an uplifting environment in the small sanctuary. A special performance by two dancers to the song “Total Praise” elicited cheers and a standing ovation from the congregation.
Congratulatory letters were read aloud from U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett and Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua, further enhancing the celebration.
Rev. Kentry Ellison, a guest speaker at the event, shared a sermon focused on God’s provision and the challenges faced by believers, drawing inspiration from the biblical text of Joshua 5. His message emphasized the need for the congregation to release burdens that hinder their spiritual journey with God, encouraging attendees to confront their pain rather than masking it.
“If you don’t deal with your pain, your pain will deal with you,” Ellison stressed, sharing a poignant reminder of the importance of healing and vulnerability.
In closing, Rev. Fortner honored the church’s longtime members, including Kathryn Burch, who has dedicated over 70 years to the church and recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Expressing gratitude for those who paved the way, Fortner highlighted the survival of the church as a testament to both divine goodness and the unwavering commitment of its devoted members like Burch.
In an interview prior to the anniversary, Kathryn Burch shared her love for the close-knit bonds among church members. “We’ve always just been family,” she remarked, evoking sentiment about the connections shared within the congregation.
Having been born and bred in Dallas, Burch spent over 30 years working in a textile factory and is the proud mother of two, grandmother of three, and great-grandmother of six. She emphasized that church members have become part of her extended family and that she, in turn, has adopted many into her life as well.
One of her friend’s daughters helps her study scripture by writing it down each Sunday, and Burch continues to uplift her fellow church members with prayers and thoughtful notes for birthdays and anniversaries.
Reminiscing about her joyful experiences in the church, Burch recalled how much she enjoyed singing in the choir, ushering, and greeting churchgoers as they arrived. “It was just a joy to me to see people,” she expressed warmly.
Another attendee, Mary Badger, 84, returned to the church with her son Mark Williams-Badger, 60, a professional pianist. While neither have been regular attendees recently, they chose to join the celebration to honor a place filled with cherished memories. Mark shared that the spiritual and musical foundations he built at New Mount Moriah have shaped his life.
He noted that it was heartening to witness the church maintaining the same commitment to its community that he remembered from his childhood in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Myesheia Leffall, 47, a medical professional at UT Southwestern, has been a member of the church for about a decade and echoed the sentiment of family among congregants. After the passing of her father in 2018, she reached out to Rev. Fortner, who officiated the funeral and brought the church choir to support her during a difficult time.
“They showed up,” Leffall recalled, illustrating the church’s unwavering commitment to its members.
Rev. Marcus Jackson, 56, a part-time pastor at New Mount Moriah and the COO of Medical City Las Colinas, reflected on how the church has exemplified true faith. He remarked, “I’ve seen more faithful people here than the people you see on TV — the big names, the celebrity pastors. This is a basic faith that just reminds me who Jesus was really interested in — people on the margins.”
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