Growth Central

**This information was gathered from written notes
by H.R. Griffin, O.R. Griffin, and Pearline Smith.

Around 1865, a plot of land approximately 2.4 acres on a hill was designated as a meeting place for the ex-slaves of John Griffin, who was a former slave owner.

Around 1870, this land was deeded to the former slaves to build a church. Being loyal and obedient, they broke the news to their neighbors about what old Master Griffin had done. The announcement went out to all of the neighbors – the Farris’, Tuckers, Buckley’s, Bates, Williams, Hornes, and Cherry’s. These families were the original founders of the church.

As work begun on the building, it began to get in the minds and hearts of the people. As they cut down bushes/posts and made a bush harbor.they began thinking about a name. Several names surfaced during this process. Two of those names were Farris Grove or Griffin Chapel. However, after looking at their surroundings, the beautiful trees and grass, the founders’ settledon the name “Bush Grove”.

The first Pastor of Bush Grove was Rev. Bunton. Other preachers of the 1800’s were Rev. Abraham Coaben, Rev. Gilbert Fields, Rev. Isom Cross, Rev. Ike Leathers, Rev. Alex Hulon, Rev. Joseph Harris, and Rev. Charlie Guy.

In the 1800’s, Rev. Charlie Guy wanted to move the church from the hill to an area near Buck Head (Brunswick). He was able to persuade a great number of the members. However, some members disagreed with him and a split occurred amongst the members. A new building was built on a hill west of Brunswick near Buck Head in 1870. The church was originally named Oak Hill. In 1892, the name was changed to Bush Grove #1 and was organized under the leadership of Rev. Charlie Guy and Rev. Joseph Harris. The church was actually built on the old Griffin place at Old Brownsville Road and Baylor Road. After completion of the church, school was held in the building during the week. The church continued to grow. Rev. Dan Davis became Pastor serving for many years.

Around 1915, Rev. Sidney Woodward became Pastor and the church still continued to grow. The church burned down in 1920. In 1921, the church bought land from the I.P.B. Society #6 and built on our present site. Until the summer of 1923, the church continued to serve as a school. At this time, a new building was built next door. It served as a school for the black children in the neighborhood serving 1st-10th grades.

Around 1928, Rev. Vass became Pastor and served for many years. Other Pastors that served Bush Grove were Rev. W.P. Tate, Rev. Neal, and Rev. Brown. Around 1940, Rev. J.B. Hooker served for 16 years and resigned. Rev. George Jones, Rev. Brady Johnson, Rev. W.T. Wilkerson, and Rev. J. H. Tate served as Pastor during the 1950’s and 1960’s. In 1961, Rev. William Burrow was elected Pastor and served for twelve years. In 1973, on the third Sunday in July, Elder Samuel L. Becton Sr. became Pastor and has served for 35 years.

Some of our first deacons after the split were: Bro. Cherry, Bro. B. Coleman, Bro. Carvell “Dump” Coleman, Bro. Early Brown, Bro. John Guy, Bro. Obadiah Gray and Bro. George Buckley.

In 1952, the old frame building was torn down and a new brick church was built. The church was steadily growing. In 1970 the Brunswick Jr. High School, which is currently our education building, was purchased from the I.P.B. Society. In 1981, the baptism pool and three rooms on the back of the building were added.

Under the leadership of Elder Becton, the following members accepted their calling into the ministry: Rev. James Fields, Rev. Emmitt Brooks, Rev. Clarence Williams, Dr. Sammie Holloway, Apostle Geoffrey Becton, Pastor Terence Taylor, Pastor Keith Barrett Sr., Rev. Carl Manns, Pastor Howard Moss, Pastor Christopher Barnes, Pastor Gerald Jordan, Rev. Henry Williams, Rev. Curtis Hall, Rev. Robert E. Brown, Minister Betty Barnes, Minister Tijuana Barrett, Minister Betty Thomas, Minister Connie Settles, Minister Victoria Barnes, Minister Karen Barrett, Minister Keith Barrett Jr., Minister Larese Johnson, Rev. Carlton Williams, Rev. Vance Phelps, Rev. Joseph Conley, Rev. Timothy Brewer, Minister Willie Stein Hubbard, Rev. Eugene Tolbert (prison ministry), Rev. Louis Becton Sr., Minister Joliner Macklin, Pastor Rodney Jordan, and Rev. Quarren Williams.

The following deacons served under the leadership of Elder Becton: Bro. Walter Guy, Bro. John Guy, Bro. Ivory Guy, Bro. Spencer Hayes, Bro. Banks Beasley, Bro.Lawrence Taylor, Bro. Joseph Taylor, Bro. Argilea Taylor, Bro. Thomas Coleman, Bro. Louis Edwards, Dr. Sammie Holloway, Bro. Arthur Phillips, Rev. Howard Moss, Bro. Willie Fields, Bro. Samuel Jackson, Bro. Clayton Ray, Bro. Douglas Phillips, Bro. Clarence Becton, Bro. Fred Reed, Bro. Jessie Holloway, and Bro. Harvey Brown, and Bro. Eric Pigues.

After a year as Pastor, Elder Becton started teaching the word of God which caused the church to grow. The following ministries also began under Elder Becton’s leadership, weekly prayer service, an active Missionary Society, an outreach group whichspent much time in the community witnessing, a Christian Board of Education (Dr. Sammie Holloway was the first Director), prison ministry, and visits to the Shelby County Health Care Center. In 1999, Rev. Christopher Barnes was appointed Assistant Pastor and served in this capacity for one year. Elder Becton taught tithing according to the scriptures and it eventually paid off. In 2001, plans to erect a new edifice began. Construction began in November of 2001 and work continued on the building until August of 2002. Bible Study and Worship Service were held in our education building during the construction phase. After nine months, the first service in the new building was held on August 25, 2002. Bush Grove prospered and after six years of faithful service, Elder Samuel Becton decided to retire on July 20, 2008.

One of his sons, Christopher-Michael Barnes was elected Pastor on August 17, 2008. Pastor Barnes’ anointed preaching and teaching and Bush Grove’s rich history proved to be a perfect match. Prior to coming back home, he served as Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in Carbondale, Illinois and attended Covenant Seminary College in St. Louis, Missouri obtaining his Master’s in Divinity simultaneously. Holiness and love was his message, while “kingdom principles” was his mission for the people of God. Pastor Barnes was looking forward to the great ministry that would take place at Hopewell. Under his leadership, Hopewell grew from 50 members to over 800 members in a very short time. However closer to the time for graduation from Covenant College, he received a call from God to move back home. It was probably the most difficult decision he ever had to make in his life. The decision to leave Hopewell and to return home without a church and no means of income was very difficult. Although Covenant College had offered him several Pastoral positions, one of which was in Las Vegas, NV, he knew that wasn’t what God wanted. After only a few weeks at home, he received a call from Elder Becton who informed him that he was retiring and wanted to name him his successor. Bush Grove is Pastor Barnes’ home church. This is where he was baptized, accepted his call into the ministry at age twelve, preached his first sermon, and was ordained as a minister at age thirteen. Under Pastor’s Becton’s leadership over thirty ministers, men and women, accepted their callings into the Ministry of Jesus Christ. Many ministers have moved on to pastor other churches in the Memphis and Shelby County areas. Therefore to be named the successor to Elder Becton was truly an honor. The members of Bush Grove welcomed and accepted Pastor and Lady Barnes with open arms. Since Pastor Barnes’ return home many improvements, physically and spiritually, have transpired. The Youth Ministry is thriving with an emphasis on Children’s Church. Next year will mark the opening of our youth center and childcare facility. As professed by our Pastor, it will be a “state of the art” facility to be enjoyed by the entire community.