With a vision for a new Missionary Baptist Church, a group met for fellowship on March 10, 1957, at the Norwood Community Building on Merchants Road in Knoxville. On April 17, 1957, Olivet Baptist Church was established, with Roy D. Arwood called as the first pastor.
The present campus, at 4701 Pleasant Ridge Road, was purchased and plans began on May 29, 1957, for construction of a new church building. The church held its first worship service in the basement on the first Sunday in September, 1957.
Great growth followed and the church sanctuary was completed in 1960. With a vision for the lost, the church used multiple ministries to publish the gospel of Jesus Christ, including a tract ministry, street preaching, a radio broadcast and a large missions program. Olivet has known many trials and the ups and downs that come with them, but through it all the ministry has continued to focus on getting the gospel out to the lost in every outreach possible.
In 2000, John Price was called as pastor. With the church at a low point, Brother Price began the work of building up the fellowship of believers, enlisting the help of close friends with a heart for worship and service. The church began to grow again and the enthusiasm was contagious! In 2008, a state-of-the-art fellowship hall was built and in short order was debt-free.
In November, 2017, Matthew Caldwell accepted the call to be the new pastor. Brother Matt is married to his childhood sweetheart, Dana, and they have four wonderful children, Tanner, Jonah, Addison and Ashlynn. Pastor Caldwell has extensive pulpit experience as a pastor and evangelist. He is an old-fashioned enthusiastic preacher and his church family loves him and his family.
Olivet Baptist Church enjoys a wonderful family life atmosphere. Special Singing, Revival Meetings, Fellowship meetings and a wide variety of activities give the church family wholesome and spiritual experiences every week. Preachers and singers from Olivet are regularly out sharing the gospel message.
Church Leaders Who Make It All Possible:
Pastor: Matthew Caldwell Organist: Linda Waggoner
Pianist: Jim Duncan Choir: Sam Ensor/Cecil Mannis
Bass: Walt Hobby Multimedia: Joe Pate/Robert Millington
Deacons: Trustees:
Earl Robertson Joe Pate Cecil Mannis Dick Gamble
Bill Walden Carl Hutchison Robert Millington Walt Hobby
Jay Jackson Leonard Voiles
Olivet Information Line:
Connie Holland Linda Gamble
Donna Walden Cricket Cooper
The Olivet church family is grateful to all the Sunday School teachers, preachers, singers, fellowship leaders, ushers, security, property upkeep personal and all who give so unselfishly of their time and talents to make the church experience so wonderful! God bless you all!
