Springhill Baptist Church, of Lizella, GA traces its origins to 1863, during the period when Abraham Lincoln served as the sixteenth president of the United States. During this time the emancipation proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the confederacy was signed by the president in 1863. During this same time, a place was birth for those in the middle Georgia area to worship, in the city of Lizella, GA.
Our great ancestors blazed a trail for those of us who would follow in their footsteps. Because of who we are today, we take a pause to credit those who have gone on before us. Words cannot express our gratitude to them for blazing this trail. We can only share with our children and others the blessing and experiences as they did with us in the days of old.
Let our minds revert to the beginning of this history and think of some of the outstanding contributions that were made possible for us by our fore-parents. Knowing that this small community needed a place to assemble, the few neighbors’ desires became so intense that they began worship service under a brush arbor and from that to a log cabin.
The first pastor, Rev. Joe bowers, was a wonderful pastor and a great leader. Among some of those who served with him were Deacons Emanuel Hill, Paul Adams, and Julius Moore; Bill Green as sexton; along with sisters Martha Robinson and Amelia Cloud. Their means were meager and very limited since all this happening was under the bondage of slavery. They never failed to pray as we were told because they knew a praying church was and still is, a powerful church.
Later, more believers joined them in their struggle. Among them were Bob Cloud, Peter Jones, Jerome Jordan, Caleb Sandifer, Willie Scofield, Martha Jones, Mary Collie, and Addie Sandifer. Many others came along that are too numerous to mention. Praying never fails, for this faithful group was given two acres of land, and the church continued to grow in numbers. Among other Pastors were Rev. H.F. Taylor, Rev. Howard Anderson, Rev. Davis, Rev. W.J. Reynolds, Rev. Stallworth, Rev. M.C. Fields who served for 34 years as a pastor, Rev. C.J. Glover, and Rev. Bruce Mckenzie who serve 25 years as pastor. Upon Rev. Bruce Mckenzie's retirement, a search committee was formed and the process to look for a new pastor started moving forward.
Then on March 11, 2018, Rev. Marlon D. Ector was elected by the congregation as their new pastor. March 25, 2018, was the official first Sunday of Pastor Ector. He was later installed as the tenth pastor of SpringHill Baptist Church on October 28, 2018. Rev. Ector’s leadership, innovation, practical preaching, and teaching have made quite an impact on the life of SpringHill B.C. In his vision, we are now on live broadcast every Sunday, and going to be moving towards a four Sunday in-person service, from our current two Sundays. There has been a growth, and a foundation laid, and we look forward to what the future holds for us in this next season of life and ministry.