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Our Church
In February 1952 in the small development of Perrine, Florida, Baptist believers left the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to organize a new church fellowship. The beginnings were humble and involved many sacrifices and hardships, but these members persevered. The church was organized with seven deacons along with several area ministers including the Reverends Grant, Curry, and L. R. Ross. Services were held initially in "Doc Coleman's" church and at R.R. Morton Elementary School.
A Church building was built with donated bricks and the labor and sweat of the members brows, and near the end of 1952 with the building of the church completed, Deacon Carey Russell submitted the name "Sweet Home" which was quickly adopted. Rev. Elzie King was called the first pastor who served 22 years.
In the Fall of 1975, Rev. James Allen was called to pastor. Membership increased to the point where building renovations were needed. A Modern dining room and kitchen, along with a large multi-purpose room was added. Several other ministries were initiated under Rev. Allen's leadership.
In October 1983, the church called its third and current pastor, Dr. Walter T. Richardson. Prior to accepting the pastorate at Sweet Home, Dr. Richardson was Minister of Music and Education at the Second Baptist Church of Richmond Heights.
The original facility was torn down in 1990 to make room for the new and larger facility which was completed in August 1991, and dedication services were held in October of the same year. Hurricane Andrew destroyed the new sanctuary in August 1992, but the church building, which was the first church building to be rebuilt in this area after the storm, was completed by December 1992.
Due to the continued increase in Sweet Home membership, both qualitatively and quantitatively, Sweet Home has purchased approximately 34 acres of land for future expansion.
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