Church History

Our church had its beginning July 12, 1953 when Luther Rogers and Norm Wilcox, along with their wives and children, met in the home of Ben and Gertrude Allnutt and decided to form a Baptist Mission in Utica. Another meeting was called on July 18, 1953 where a motion was made to name the mission the "Emmanuel Baptist Mission". Luther Rogers was elected pastor. The mission was authorized by the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Centerline. Services were held in different homes until the first Sunday in October when the American Legion Hall was rented. There were 34 people present the first Sunday in the hall. There were 35 present the second Sunday, 49 the third, and 37 the fourth.

Emmanuel Baptist Mission was organized into an Independent New Testament Baptist Church on March 21, 1954. The constitution, church covenant, and articles of faith were adopted. The church declared themselves as the "Mammoth Missionary Baptist Church" of Utica. The Reverend Luther Rogers was called as pastor. Services were first held in the basement at 2690 Auburn on October 7, 1963. The upstairs was completed in 1965. Three lots were purchased on the east side of the church on which the parsonage was built and moved into on September 11, 1971.

The Reverend Luther Rogers was the pastor of the church from the beginning until he resigned January 24, 1960. The Reverend Don Titus was called as pastor on February 14, 1960 and resigned eight months later on October 9, 1960. The Reverend Luther Rogers was once again called as pastor and served again in that capacity until May 16, 1965. The Reverend Gary Martin was called as pastor on June 16,1965 and resigned April 24, 1968. The reverend Paul Caudill was called as pastor on June 23, 1968. Shortly after Rev.Caudill became Pastor, the word Missionary was dropped from the letterhead and Church signage. Pastor Scott Swander, became our first full-time youth director on July 1, 1987. He resigned on April 1, 1989.

When Pastor Caudill resigned in 1997, a Pulpit Committe was formed to search for a new pastor. The Paulpit Committee brought Pastor Allan Blount before the church, and he was called as the new pastor. Pastor Blount resigned in 2001. Pastor Robert Tilburt was called as Pastor in November of 2001, and is the current Pastor at Mammoth Baptist Church.