“Did they really burn it down during the Civil War?” a young voice whispered, echoing off the weathered wooden beams of Mount Gilead Church of God. The hushed question hung in the air. Mount Gilead Church of God stands as a testament to the unshakeable faith that has graced Atlanta for nearly two centuries. It began its life not as a Church of God, but as a Methodist camp ground back in 1834. Imagine a time before Atlanta’s skyline, when this area was a gathering place for fervent religious revival meetings. These gatherings, part of the “Second Great Awakening,” drew people from miles around to hear fiery sermons under the open sky. They would camp for days, even weeks, finding solace and community in their shared faith. The heart of Mount Gilead was its massive open-sided arbor, a structure so grand it could shelter hundreds of worshippers. It stood strong, surviving the storms of nature and the tumult of the Civil War – though not unscathed. Union troops, marching through in 1864, did indeed burn the original arbor to the ground. But from the ashes, like the phoenix of faith, Mount Gilead rose again. A new arbor was built, even grander than the last, and the faithful returned, their spirits unbroken. Today, though the echoes of those fervent camp meetings have faded, Mount Gilead Church of God still stands, a silent sentinel of Atlanta’s spiritual past.
Omenala Griot Afrocentric Teaching Museum
“What if museums could talk?” That’s a question I often ask myself. Today, standing before the Omenala Griot Afrocentric Teaching