About
CHURCH HISTORY
1891 - PRESENT
In 1891, twenty-eight years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Lake Elam Baptist Church was organized under the leadership of Rev. C. H. Payne. The structure of the church was that of a wooden frame sitting high off the ground on the banks of the Alabama River, at a place called Jackson Lake. Later, a spot of land, located in the Sandtown community was donated by Deacon John Washington to become a new resting place for the church. Soon after, the wooden frame began its journey from the lake, up a dusty trail along the L&N railroad track, through the Widows Home and Long Quarter communities and placed on the lot where the current front parking lot is now located. Different methods were used to move the structure, but the main mode of transportation was by an oxen and wagon. Ministers who served at the Lake were Rev. Brown, Rev. Gardner, Rev. Hazey, Rev. Lilly, Rev. Moore, Rev. Pettus, Rev. Oden, Rev. Thomas, and Rev. A. W. Wilson. The building was remodeled in 1944 under the leadership of Rev. A. W. Wilson. The deacons who served during this time were Joe Bradley, Dave Crenshaw, John Isom, Oscar Iverson, Sr., Andrew Jackson, V. E. Jackson, Chairman, Joe Slaton, Joe Washington, John Washington, and Fred Williams. As the years continued, additional deacons were added to include D.F. Adams, Oliver Fenderson, Harry Iverson, Sr., Willie Jackson, V.E. Long, Johnny Prince, Will Robinson, Matthew Washington and Walter Wilson. A dining room with kitchen and bathrooms were added to the structure. Sister Sally Bradley Jackson served as one of the first church secretaries. In continuation of serving the church, additional secretaries came thereafter to include Minnie Duncan, Levicy Zeigler, Doris McCall, Cassandra McCullough, Sally Crosby, Valorie Pettway and Deborah Townsend served in roles as Administrative Assistant, Secretary and Assistant to the Pastor. Gwendlyon Long served as Finance Secretary. In 1974, Rev. William Ashley accepted the call to Pastor Lake Elam. With his overseas military duties and community service as City Councilman, he served faithfully for 23 years. Under his leadership and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, major steps of progress were made. Rev. Ashley was instrumental in acquiring the adjacent property, we currently reside. During Rev. Ashley's leadership, he added additional deacons and formed a trustee board. These deacons were Joe Brown, Clarence Former, Jr, Willie Jackson, David Perry, Elvis Pettaway, Benny Terry, and Sammy Zeigler. The trustees included Robert Brown, Victor Long, Leon Johnson, Jr, Alvin McKithen, and Frank McQueen, Sr. As the church continued to be blessed, the congregation broke ground for a new structure. This structure was completed January 1996 with the Consecration Service on February 25, 1996. It included a larger sanctuary, a fellowship hall, a pastor's study, baptism pool, a choir room, finance office and five restrooms. Thereafter, Rev. Ashley retired as Pastor and Associate Pastor Wilbert Wright led the flock from 1997 to 1998. In 1999, Rev. Richard Russell, was selected to be Pastor. Under Pastor Russell's leadership, Lake Elam grew in membership, ministries, and the worship service reached a higher level. Under Pastor Russell's leadership, we eradicated the mortgage of the 1996 structure and broke ground on a larger structure November 14, 2004. The first service, in our 300 seated structure, with new audio and video equipment, double sized choir loft, and additional offices and restrooms, was held on March 12, 2006. During Rev. Russell's tenure, he added eight deacons and five trustees. Deacons included George Edwards, Benjamin Frazier, Matthew Jackson, Theodore Jackson, Victor Long, Alvin McKithen, Walter Perry, Oliver Weatherly. The additional trustees were David Brown, Maurice Griffin, Leon Pressley with Wayne Long and DeWayne Milford being added in 2012. Rev. Russell served Lake Elam as Pastor for over 12 years. On September 2, 2012, God sent Marcus D. Collins, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, to serve and lead Lake Elam to the next level. Under Pastor Collins' leadership, the church grew on the fast track in membership growth, community involvement, outreach and evangelism all while launching eight new ministries. Under Pastor Collins' spiritual guidance, in December 2013, we burned the mortgage! In August 2014, ground was broken for additional parking. During his tenure, Gregory Cain, Maurice Tarver and BJ McCullough were added as Deacons. Tremaine Wilson currently serves as Finance Secretary and Marjorie Bowden served as Church Secretary/Pastor Assistant from January 2017 until October 2025. Rev Eddie Hill, Jr., served as Interim Pastor for 11 months. Lake Elam selected Pastor Gary L Jackson, Sr., as our new shepherd on March 11, 2018. In January 2020, we began live virtual Sunday School, Bible Study and Worship services online. Under his leadership, Ministers Frank McQueen, Jr., and Justen Brown were ordained. Associate Ministers James Harvey, Oreste Johnson and Frank McQueen, Jr. were called to Pastor local churches. Maurice Griffin, Wayne Long, David Brown, and James Hamilton were ordained Deacons and Dennis Malone and Lillian Fenderson-Lykes were appointed as Trustees. We began a food ministry distribution in the community and partnered with the W.E.L.C.O.M.E. Food Pantry in Millbrook. Lake Elam held combined services and bible study with Millbrook Presbyterian Church and public Praise in the Park worship services. The Golden Years Ministry and Treasured Women’s Ministry were activated and the church was chosen to host the 2024 2nd Annual ASMBC YYA Convention. In February 2025, Pastor Jackson released his book entitled ‘Leadership with Excellence and Expectations: Empowering You With Tools and Opportunities to Seize Your Vision.’ Minister Evelyn McKee was ordained in July 2025. In October 2025, Sis Breyona Richardson was selected as Church Secretary.