On September 9, 1961, The Belmont Baptist “Mission” held its first service in The Belmont Civic Building on Panola Road in Lithonia, GA. The Church was started as a Mission Work from the Glenwood Baptist Church in Atlanta. J.C. Smith was the founding Pastor of the new “mission” work.
Our History
Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us
Belmont Baptist Church — Founded 1961
The Early Years (1961–1969)
On February 4, 1963, the Mission purchased 4½ acres of land on Miller Road for the construction of a new building. Pastor Smith held the groundbreaking ceremony on March 3, 1963. A concrete block building with an auditorium and 8 classrooms were built.
On October 6, 1963, The Belmont Baptist “Mission” became The Belmont Baptist “Church.” Due to the rural area and low attendance, the Church was closed. On October 21, 1964, Rev. Jack Harvey reopened the church and was elected as the Church’s second pastor.
At that time, he invited the 14-year-old Nolan Jackson to serve as the Church Pianist. There were few to fill leadership positions, so the young Nolan Jackson was elected Sunday School Superintendent. The Church once again experienced growth and built 4 additional classrooms. In February 1969, a new sanctuary was completed.
Our Pastors
Rev. James Smith
9/9/61 – 8/31/64
Rev. Jack E. Harvey
10/21/64 – 10/2/67
Rev. Donald Brownlee
10/22/67 – 9/30/73
Rev. Henry Foster
10/3/73 – 9/29/75
Rev. Raymond Seay
12/21/75 – 8/29/76
Rev. Dale Dixon
5/4/77 – 7/25/77
Rev. Nolan L. Jackson
8/1/77 – Present
Ebenezer — Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us
In July of 1977, with only eight faithful members remaining, they asked Pastor Jackson to supply the pulpit. On his first Sunday as the seventh Pastor of Belmont, he preached from 1 Samuel 7:12 on Ebenezer — “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” That Sunday began what has become our annual Ebenezer Celebration, a reminder of God’s faithfulness through every trial.
Growth, Trials and God's Provision
In November of 1978, the church had grown to the place that they asked Pastor Jackson to go full time. The indebtedness was paid off and the pastor made a commitment never to lead the Church to borrow money, but to trust God to provide wherever He led. For nearly fifty years, Belmont has lived by that commitment: “Where God guides, He provides.”
In August of 1988, God again led this fellowship in a major step of faith — relocating to Conyers/Covington. They vacated the Miller Road facility on December 31, 1989, beginning a journey through Conyers Middle School, The Renaissance Center, and a storefront in Salem Gate Shopping Center before breaking ground at 3275 Iris Dr. S.E., Conyers.
On the first Saturday in June 1991, a lightning storm struck their unfinished building and burned it to the ground — at 75% completion. Yet through what some called tragedy, God provided an additional $100,000 from insurance. When funds ran out again, a dear lady named Mrs. Earlene Smith stepped forward and offered her grandmother’s antique glass rolling pin — all she had of value. So moved by her generosity, the congregation gave sacrificially. On the first Sunday of June 1992 — exactly one year after the fire — Belmont occupied its new building.
Throughout the journey, God taught them: “The things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the vision will be fulfilled.”
Looking Forward in Faith
Several years after completing the building, God miraculously provided funds to purchase an additional 3½ acres where the Bethany House now sits. Our Ebenezer Stone — carried throughout our journey — now resides in the retention pond as you exit the property. It stands as a daily reminder: Belmont can truly say, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
Our current faith challenge is to trust God to provide the remaining funds to complete our new Family Life Center — containing a gym, additional Sunday School rooms, a kitchen/cafeteria, and a new home for our food bank. Please join with us as we believe God to once again show Himself strong.