A Century on Highway 17 in Bolivia
Mount Olive Baptist Church has stood on Highway 17 North near mile marker 24 in Bolivia, North Carolina since 1915, making it one of the older congregations in Brunswick County. From its single campus on Galloway Road, the church has gathered week after week to carry out its three-part purpose: to evangelize the sinner, edify the saint, and exalt the Savior. The congregation today calls Mount Olive "a beacon of light in Brunswick County," and the doors it has kept open for more than a century are framed by that long heritage of small-town Southern Baptist witness.
Pastor Anthony W. Clemmons, Serving Since 1988
Reverend Anthony W. Clemmons, a native of Brunswick County, has been the pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church since 1988. He first heard the call to ministry in 1984 and began preaching three years later at Canetuck Baptist Church in Pender County before returning to his home community to lead Mount Olive. His prayer for himself and the congregation is that they "portray Kingdom Citizenship in our everyday lives through lifestyle evangelism, reaching out to real needs of our community and the world."
Pastor Clemmons trained at Fruitland Baptist Bible College, where he earned an associate degree in church ministry, and at Luther Rice University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in religion ministry. He has added certificate training in advanced leadership, Christian counseling, and behavioral analysis. His wife, Nancy of Southport, has served alongside him throughout his ministry. Over more than thirty years in the pulpit, he has also spoken at revivals, evangelism rallies, wild game banquets, and retreats across the region.
Sundays: Sunday School, Morning Worship, and Evening Service
The Sunday rhythm at Mount Olive unfolds in three gatherings. Sunday School begins at 10:00 a.m., with age-appropriate classes running from the nursery through senior adults. Morning Worship follows at 11:00 a.m., and a second service gathers the church again at 7:00 p.m. All children's classes are taught by MOBC-certified volunteers, and nursery ministries staffed by certified church workers are available during every worship service.
Pastor Clemmons most often preaches in an expositional style, walking verse by verse through Scripture. Scriptures are also displayed during worship so that visitors can follow along even if they did not bring a Bible. The congregation is warmly described as "a friendly, loving congregation of believers that desires to grow, serve, and worship the Lord together."
A Heritage of Gospel Music
Mount Olive Baptist carries "a long heritage and deep love of gospel music." Sunday services typically include congregational hymns, choir-led worship from the church's children, youth, and adult choirs, and a rotating roster of soloists, quartets, musicians, and ensembles. The worship bulletin, like the music itself, leans traditional, with choir anthems and ensemble specials giving shape to the morning.
Wednesday Nights Around the Word
On Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m., the church shifts into a more interactive setting. Pastor Clemmons leads an adult Bible study, and the children of the church, from nursery through grade 12, gather in their own classrooms under certified volunteers. The midweek format is designed to give believers a setting for questions and discussion that goes beyond the flow of Sunday morning.
Children and Youth at Every Level
Generation to generation is built into the life of Mount Olive Baptist. Sunday School provides classes for every age group, the choirs that sing in worship include children and youth alongside adults, and Wednesday nights offer a parallel track for students up through twelfth grade. The same volunteer certification expected of children's workers runs through every classroom.
What Mount Olive Believes
Mount Olive Baptist Church is a participating congregation of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist State Convention of NC, and the Brunswick Baptist Association. The church accepts the 2000 revision of the Baptist Faith and Message as a faithful summary of its basic biblical convictions. Its mission statement calls the congregation "to be a dynamic spiritual organism empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ" in Bolivia, in the wider community, and around the world, and "to be a worshiping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God."
Joining the Church Family
Visitors who decide to make Mount Olive their church home begin by sharing that desire with Pastor Clemmons in person or through the contact form. Prospective members then complete a New Member Orientation class that walks through who the church is, what it believes, and what it expects of its members. After the class, the candidate is presented to the church family for a vote. The church strongly encourages committed membership at the local congregation where a believer regularly attends, calling it vital to the spiritual health of every Christian.
Giving, Prayer, and Gathering from a Distance
Tithes and offerings are received during Sunday morning services and can also be mailed to the church's mailing address at 1150 Crossroads Trail, Bolivia, NC 28422. Online giving is handled through Tithe.ly, and the platform's transaction fee of 2.9 percent plus thirty cents can be covered by the giver during checkout. A prayer request form is available for anyone who would like the staff to pray for them. Sunday services are livestreamed both on the church's Facebook page and on its YouTube channel, where recent services remain available for thirty days. Audio of past sermons can also be requested on CD or digital media from the tech booth.