The next decade, Mt. Olive General Baptist Church continued to serve the little town of Newburgh. It was changing years, as our nation was beginning to recover from the World War I, to a more peaceful time, yet a time of depression in our nation resulting in difficult financial times for all. It was a peaceful time, but few jobs, and little money. The WPA offered some relief as jobs became available. The construction of the lock and Dam #47 began. As this construction began, new people started moving to Newburgh. In 1923, the church reported a membership of 70 to the association, but by 1932 a membership of 50 was reported. This church, as many small struggling churches, had its ups and downs.
Young enthusiastic ministers pastored the church during this decade, and many great revivals were held. Many services would see the small building filled to capacity during a worship service. The church remained lighted with kerosene lights on the walls, heated with a coal stove and no inside plumbing. The worship services were spirit filled and often had visitors from Evansville and Rockport. During the depression years there were little funds left to contribute to the church, with many having large families to feed, yet the congregation sacrificially gave so that the church might survive. Many of the young ministers served for very meager salaries, which they supplemented with other vocations.
Mt. Olive's Ladies Aid - 1930
From Left to Right: Cinderella Rogers Joseph, Charlie E. Rogers, Rachel Smith, An Insurance man, Meg Madden, Grandma Rivers, Josie Taylor, Bertha Wilder, Nellie Bates, Laura Blankenship, Nellie Jeffries, Martin J. Brack, Grandma Sloan, Ada Taylor Madden holding Mildred Taylor.
1932 - 1942
This decade saw improvement to the Mt. Olive General Baptist Church facility. The upkeep on the facility and keeping a pastor on the field remained a financial struggle for this small congregation.
During this decade electricity, running water, and a furnace were installed. A basement had been dug under the present building for a furnace. It was rather crude at first, but improvements were added as finances became available. The report to the Freedom Association reported 30 - 40 members each year. However, new faces began to be seen in the worship services. Families would come from other areas of town to worship at Mt. Olive.
1937 Newburgh experienced a great flooding of the Ohio River and the church was able to minister to various needs in the community. Many from Kentucky were forced from their homes, and came to Indiana to seek shelter from the raging river. Families of the Mt. Olive Church, with all of the other churches in the community, graciously offered shelter, food and clothing to these poor, unfortunate victims. God, through nature created a wonderful opportunity for the churches to learn the meaning of service and sharing. Often livestock was ferried across the river seeking places of shelter, which was provided by the people of Newburgh.
Volunteer youth leaders such as Rose Shekell, whose husband was away in the Navy, devoted numerous hours to the church. Charles "Keck" Jeffries was an outstanding lay leader in the church, giving generously of his time and money. Often he was the only Sunday School teacher, teaching an auditorium class of all ages. Rev. C.C. Chase remained an active member, assisting the present pastor and Bro. Keck with whatever he could do. Christian endeavor classes were held on Sunday evening for the youth, and Sunday School became more organized during the last of this decade. More families had automobiles and could drive from distances as far away as Evansville to worship at Mt. Olive. The church remained the center of social life for most of the congregation.
As World War II began, an entirely different way of life was experienced by all in our nation. This War had a great impact on the church, which was more noticeable in the upcoming decade.
1942 - 1952
At the beginning of this decade our Nation was in World War II, with many of our sons away in battle on foreign soil. Churches were filled with parents, grandparents, and families praying for their safety. Mt. Olive saw an increase in membership from 40 to 70 during this decade, in a report to Freedom Association. Many changes were taking place in our Nation and the churches. The church was able to allocate more funds for the physical building, as it was painted inside and out, electric lights installed, inside plumbing, a gas furnace was installed. The basement of the church was updated, and divided into separate rooms for teaching Sunday School for all ages in a more organized manner. A more effective organized teaching ministry became available.
There were youth meetings at the church. As the entire nation was caught up in the war effort, many things were rationed and the youth of the church began performing projects to assist in the war effort. Each Saturday would find them collecting something that could be used in the war effort.
During this time the church had it's first and only woman pastor, Rev. Nellie Williams.
The worship services continued to be spirit filled and began to see growth as new faces became members. The practice of foot washings was discontinued. People would drive farther distances to attend church than they had done before the war years. Younger families with children began to attend as during this decade the war ended, service men came home, were married and began to raise their families. This was a more prosperous time for the churches, and Mt Olive was no exception.
There were more diversified jobs available; women began to work outside the home during the war at the factories established to help with the war effort. Many of the women continued to do so after the war was over.
In 1950, a young enthusiastic pastor, Rev. Jack Cravens came from Kentucky to pastor Mt. Olive. The church experienced a revival, attendance increased, a more organized teaching and mission program was developed under his leadership. The church building was small and unable to accommodate, as each worship service found the sanctuary full. Two large Sunday School rooms were built on the back of the church to accommodate the increase in attendance. The services were uplifting and the church experienced a more prosperous time as people could contribute more money to the church, missions and other endeavors, as well as meet the local needs in the community.
1952 - 1962
n 1952 the church changed pastors. Rev. Clive Cooper, a General Baptist from Arkansas came to pastor the church. He only stayed one year. Rev. Ed Pickerill became the pastor and pastored from 1953-1954.
In 1955, a young minister from Yankeetown, Indiana was called to pastor. He was Rev. William H. Bullock, who was married to Lorraine Huff, who was the granddaughter of Willis & Josie Taylor, charter members. Rev. William and Lorraine were both natives of Newburgh, and Lorraine had attended Mt. Olive Church all of her life before her marriage to William H. Bullock.
The Bullock's had two children, at this time, but another son was born to them during their pastorate at Mt. Olive. Rev. Bullock supplemented his income by working as a lay-out engineer with various construction firms. The Warrick Operation of Alcoa Aluminum was just being laid out near Newburgh, which brought prosperity to the area with construction jobs available.
These years proved to be ground laying years for a more prosperous minded congregation at Mt. Olive. Many young families began to come and join the church. Membership went over 100 with many attending who were not members. The worship services were always exciting, and meaningful. The church's finances were improved tremendously, as they began to support more missions, and perform needed renovation to the facility. The interior was completely renovated with new church furniture (padded pews), and new carpet. Young men were answering the call into the ministry. Among those were Rev. Garland Westerfield, Rev. Kenneth Smith, Rev. Walter Smith, Rev.Gerald Garnett, and other young men serving as deacons were Walker "Snuffy" Smith, D.A. Oakley, Zelbert Pickerill Jr. along with Ernest Chapman and C.B. Marshall.
The church minutes recorded Rev. Bullock's salary being raised annually. In 1955 - $30.00 a week, 1956 - $45.00 a week, 1957 - $50.00 a week.
"Snuffy" Smith was Sunday School Superintendent, and was always challenging the youth with exciting contests to increase the attendance. At nearly every worship service the church would be filled to capacity, and on special occasions, chairs would have to be put in the aisles
1960 was a sad year for the people of Mt. Olive. The founding father, Rev. C.C. Chase was called to be with the Lord at the age of 90. He remained a devoted, faithful member to the church until his death. Needless to say, he was sadly missed by all in the community. He had baptized and married nearly all of the members of the church. The funerals he officiated in were numberless in his 70 years in the ministry.
In 1959, Rev. Bullock went into full time pastorate and accepted the pastorate of the Garvinwood General Baptist Church in Evansville, Indiana. Rev. Norman Hicks, a young minister from Evansville, Indiana was called to pastor the church.
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