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 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 24 acres of land for future expansion. At present, Sweet Home has completed its’ new edifice, located at 10701 S.W. 184th Street. The administrative offices began business operation at the new edifice on December 15, 2008. The official move in date for the general church body and the community was on January 11, 2009.
Another historic moment happened in the life of our church when Dr. Walter T. Richardson, decided to retire in April 2010 after twenty-six years of pastoral leadership. After much prayer and a nation-wide search, God sent us the fourth shepherd in our history in the person of Pastor Jeremy H. Upton, elected on April 1, 2010. Pastor Upton is a visionary leader with a heart for young people and making a difference in our community. Under his vision of “Building the House, Advancing the Kingdom”, we look forward to what God has in store for us!
