A Brief History of the Mt. Olive Free Will Baptist Church


Free Will Baptist Mission began on 17th Street in Muncie. From there it moved to the corner of 18th street and Walnut, where it was organized a church on May 25, 1963 by the Presby of the Stone Association of Free Will Baptist of Central Indiana. Presby chairman was James Phillips. Other members of the Presby were: Rev. William Simmons, Rev. James McCowan, Rev. Gilbert Mata, and Rev. Elmer Harris.

There were 13 charter members. Deacons ordained were Bro. Charles Crabtree and Bro. Charles Reagan; Sis. Alene Reagan was elected Clerk, and Rev. Leelan Green was elected as Pastor.

Free Will Baptist Mission�s name was changed to Mt. Olive Free Will Baptist Church on June 22, 1963.

Our first revival was held by Bro. Carson Whittaker.

Mt. Olive Free Will Baptist Church bought property on West 8th Street in March 1965. On March 20 of that year our first revival was held in that building by Rev. P.A. Dixon.

On June 30, 1972 a church was purchased on Wheeling Pike. The first service was held at this building on July 9, 1972 with Rev. Benton Hargis as Pastor. A year later, Rev. Hargis built our first fellowship hall on this property.

We are still enjoying worship at this building.

The mortgage was burned on November 15, 1992 in a service conducted by our current Pastor, Rev. James Oliver McCowan.

In July 1998 work began on a new fellowship hall which was completed in October 1998. This connected our church, fellowship hall, and previous fellowship hall. In September 1999 our old fellowship hall became home to 3 new classrooms and a supply storage room.

Our Pastors

Rev. Leelan Green
May 1963 to Nov 1964
Rev. Thurman Key
Put in as associate pastor Jan 1978
due to sickness of Rev. John Hargis
Pastor July 1978 to June 1981
Rev. Gilbert Mata
Nov 1964 to Sept 1969
Rev. James Sluss
June 1981 to Feb 1990
Rev. John Hargis
Sept 1969 to July 1978
Passed Away Dec 25, 1978
Rev. James Oliver McCowan
Feb 1990 to Present

Our Deacons

Bro. Charles Reagan
Bro. Robert Clark
Bro. John Maness
Bro. Larry Bailey
Bro. Charles Crabtree*
Bro. Clyde Hinds*
Bro. Scott Davis*
*indicates current deacons
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