Mount Moriah Baptist Church in SE Gainesville celebrated its 158th anniversary on Sunday

Voleer Thomas
·3 min read

Mount Moriah Baptist Church celebrated its 158th anniversary during its Sunday morning worship service.

The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Cecil Duffie, a 2011 University of Florida Graduate who was a member of the church while in college here in Gainesville.

"Mount Moriah was my home church from 2007 to 2011," said Duffie, who is currently dean of chapel at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. "It's always been a dream of mine to preach at Mount Moriah. I love to preach to the people that have poured into me. It is an honor and a privilege."

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Duffie preached about the importance of forgiveness, and he referenced Matthew 5:24 from the New International Version of the Bible to shine light on his message. The scripture reads, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Duffie said loving one's enemies allows a person to prosper because they won't spend their time trying to destroy or humiliate another person, will keep their own spirit in a peaceful state and will keep the person giving the love from becoming cowards or weak.

"You can't fix what you won't face," Duffie said. "Bitterness, unforgiveness, chronic anger and having a fight or flight mode will raise your heart rate and remove immunity from your body. You're sick because you have a bitter spirit. Forgiveness can calms stress levels."According to the church's website, it was founded in 1865 in a brush harbor.

The first framed building was built on Depot Avenue and later in the early 1960s the church moved to its current location at 718 SE 11th St. under the leadership of the late Rev. W.A. Miles.

The Rev. Dr. Freeman N. Gallmon has served as pastor of Mount Moriah since 1983.

Under Gallmon’s leadership, a church renovation project was completed in early 1989 and the second phase of the expansion was completed in early 2007.

“I’ve seen it grow from a little building to what it is now,” Gallmon said. “I am grateful to be the pastor.”

His wife, Wanda Gallmon, said she has enjoyed working alongside her husband during their tenure as leaders of the church.

“I take pride in my husband’s work,” she said. “We've spent 40 years being a part of this church.”

Ted and Vera Nichols, a married couple, led devotion and have been members of the church for 30 years.

The Rev. Dr. Freeman N. Gallmon, pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, speaks during the Sunday morning worship service on July 9 celebrating the church's 158th anniversary in southeast Gainesville. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas/For The Guardian)
The Rev. Dr. Freeman N. Gallmon, pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, speaks during the Sunday morning worship service on July 9 celebrating the church's 158th anniversary in southeast Gainesville. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas/For The Guardian)

“When I came to Mount Moriah, I thought I’d have a hard time transitioning, but because the people have accepted me, I felt special,” said Vera Nichols. “Due to the mustard seed that was planted 158 years ago by seven to eight pastors — look at how it has grown.”

Her husband followed her remarks with a prayer.

“We thank you for your many blessings,” said Ted Nichols. “We pray for strength and guidance and to change hearts everywhere to know the power of peace and forgiveness.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 158th anniversary of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in SE Gainesville