Right here, you stand before the Greater Galilee Baptist Church. It is more than just a building. It represents a story of faith, perseverance, and community.
Greater Galilee Baptist Church began humbly in 1916. It started as a Sunday school group. Reverend Herbert Edwards and his wife Annabelle Edwards held meetings in their home. They wanted to serve the African Americans in the Barberton area. The charter members included the Edwards, Deacon and Sister B. N. Chandler, Brother and Sister Nay Smith, and Brother Mayfield.
Reverend N. H. Jones from Atlanta, Georgia, became the first pastor. He served briefly. He then returned to Atlanta for further education.
Reverend Ferby became the second pastor. He combined his church with Reverend Edwards’ fellowship. The new church was named The Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church.
The members later voted to rename it The Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. Services took place in members’ homes and even in the homes of non-members. The congregation grew. Reverend Edwards got permission to use the upstairs of the Northern Theatre for Sunday services. Reverend A. C. Carlyle was the third pastor. He served from 1918 to 1919.
In 1919, Reverend Abraham Thomas arrived from Portsmouth, Ohio. He became the fourth pastor. Some members from his previous church joined Galilee. In 1921, Pastor Thomas and some of these members left to start another church.
Reverend Isaac M. Yancy became the fifth pastor. During his time, Galilee joined with Friendship Baptist Church. Reverend McWhee was Friendship’s pastor. The combined church was called Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. The church’s current site was purchased for $7,000 from a Caucasian congregation. Reverend Yancy served for seven years. God then called him to a church in Kenmore, Ohio. Reverend Samuel S. Thomas and Reverend Van Landingham followed as the sixth and seventh pastors.
In 1938, Reverend Milton E. Wilson became Galilee’s eighth pastor. Under his leadership, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church paid off its mortgage. They celebrated with a mortgage-burning service. Reverend Wilson bought a parsonage on Van Street. The church later reimbursed him. He then left to pastor Liberty Hill Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
Reverend S. E. Ware from Cleveland, Ohio, was Galilee’s ninth pastor. During his leadership, the church was remodeled for the first time. The front of the church changed from National Avenue to Huston Street.
Reverend Gus Benjamin Ballard and Reverend Warner Mamon Powe were the tenth and eleventh pastors. The twelfth pastor was Reverend Emmett Lee, Sr. He served longer than any previous pastor. In 1973, he started a remodeling fund drive. Reverend Lee left in 1976 to pastor Unity Missionary Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio.
Reverend Alfred Hawkins, the thirteenth pastor, continued the remodeling drive. In June 1978, the congregation approved the architect’s plans. In March 1979, Reverend James A. Stanton from Cleveland, Ohio, became the 14th pastor.
Remodeling began in September 1979 and finished in July 1980. During the renovation, Barberton city officials allowed the church to worship at the Weigand Building. After completion, a motorcade led the procession back to the church. A consecration service was held on July 29, 1980. Reverend G. Q. Brown gave the dedicatory sermon.
In December 1984, Reverend Stanley Vincent Wood from Columbus, Ohio, became the fifteenth pastor. He served until 1986.
In February 1987, Reverend William V. Green was called as the sixteenth pastor. He faithfully served Galilee for 20 years. God then led him to Nashville, Tennessee, to pastor Tabernacle of Glory Baptist Church. He was the longest-serving pastor.
In 2007, Galilee elected Reverend William T. Hunt as the seventeenth pastor. In February 2011, the church changed its name. It became the Greater Galilee Baptist Church. This marked a new beginning.
In March 2011, Bishop Doctor Emmett J. Lee became the eighteenth and current pastor. In August 2012, the congregation retired and burned the mortgage on the building. Greater Galilee Baptist Church has been blessed by God.
Today, Greater Galilee Baptist Church continues to thrive. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith. It stands as a beacon of hope in the community. The church welcomes all. It is a family united by the blood of Jesus Christ.