Ebenezer Baptist Church celebrating 99 years of service

SANDUSKY — After almost a century, prayer still matters at Ebenezer Baptist Church."We were founded on prayer and we still focus on prayer," deaconess and treasurer Janice W. Warner said. "It's our foundation."On Sunday, the church will celebrate its 99th anniversary. During the worship service, pastor Calvin Cage, of Meridian Hill Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, will be the guest speaker. Cage grew up in Sandusky during his teenage years.Ebenezer Baptist pastor Clayton Howard, Ebenezer Baptist's pastor of 10 years, hopes to see 99 new faces during Sunday's worship service, Warner said. Ebenezer Baptist Church was founded on July 4, 1920. As the United States engaged in World War II, the increased need for steel mill workers drew dozens of African American families to Sandusky, where they settled on the south side of the city, according to Ebenezer Baptist's written history. The closest black church was Second Baptist Church, which was one mile away.In late 1919, six people began meeting in homes on Sunday afternoons for prayer services, which originated in Joe and Mollie Williams' home. The group grew to 12 people in the following six months to eventually begin the church.Ebenezer Baptist initially started in the home of Arthur and Emma Harrison before moving to 1224 South Depot Street owned by Henry and Texan Stovall. Members raised money for a down payment through rallies, fish fries and similar events.Years later, the church broke ground at its current location in July 1977 and was dedicated in April 1978. Warner, 63, remembers that day."We walked over for the (new building's) dedication from the old location at 908 Seavers Way," she said.A new addition to the church, an educational wing with eight classrooms, was completed in 2012.Worship services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, with Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. Free breakfast is available on the first and third Sunday of each month and Bible study happens 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Worship services are posted to its Facebook page.Each Sunday, Ebenezer Baptist averages about 75-100 people of people of all ages. The oldest member, Mildred Gant, is 96.Ministries for children and adults are readily available. Children at the church can sing in choirs and get involved in Youth Fellowship. An after-school program is available to area children from October to March, with summer programming available for further tutoring. Boys can join "Young Davids," a ministry teaching boys to act like Christian men with male mentors.Men and women can also sing in the church's choirs and serve the community by visiting area nursing homes, share God's message of love with community members, take communion to the sick and more.Alcoholics Anonymous also meets at the church each Sunday evening.Warner said the congregation is welcoming to others and close-knit."We're a family. God made family before he made the church," she said.Ultimately, the church's mission is to win souls for Christ."We're about one God, one mission and one team," Warner said.Get to know Ebenezer Baptist ChurchAddress: 1215 Pierce St., SanduskyPhone number: 419-625-4861Website: ebenezersandusky.wordpress.comFacebook: Ebenezer Baptist Church (@ebenezerbaptistchurchsandusky)Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodEbenezer Baptist Church at 1215 Pierce St. in Sandusky on Monday, July 8, 2019.Ebenezer Baptist Church pastor Clayton Howard speaks during a worship service in June. The sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Sandusky on Monday, July 8, 2019.Deaconess and treasurer Janice W. Warner stands inside the sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Sandusky on Monday, July 8, 2019.The sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Sandusky on Monday, July 8, 2019.