A Brief History
The Shiloh Baptist Church of Orlando that we know today had very humble beginnings. Our church was founded in late 1899, when six devoted Christians joined Reverend Alan Arnett at the home of Mrs. Rachel Gay.
Following God's orders to "seek and save the lost" and to be "fishers of men", Reverend Arnett immediately launched a revival that netted the first candidates for baptism. As the membership continued to grow, the first deacons and deaconesses were appointed, and the church became a member of the South Florida Missionary Association. Rev. Arnett and the church officials purchased a lot on the northwest corner of Gush Row and Depuline Streets (now known as Jackson and Bryan Streets) which became the site of the first Shiloh Baptist Church building. The church membership grew to three hundred and auxiliaries expanded to include an Usher's Board, Choir Number One and the Missionary Society. The rapidly growing congregation's need for a larger church led them in 1922 to lay the foundation for a new church building at 604 West Jackson Street.
Rev. Arnett recommended Rev. Thomas C. Collier of Fort Myers as his successor. Rev. Collier accepted the call in July 1922, and immediately went to work completing the building project. The faith and hard work were rewarded when the congregation marched from the old church building to the new one on Easter Sunday morning, 1923. With Rev. Collier's dynamic leadership, the Shiloh congregation built and furnished a parsonage and an annex. The congregation's continued growth and Christian development brought additional ministries - Ushers' Boards, Choirs, Brotherhood and Youth activities. Through reliance on God and because of His goodness, the church became totally debt-free in 1955.
Shiloh's third pastor, Rev. Curtis J. Jackson, was a son of Shiloh who had been licensed to preach by Rev. Collier in 1946. Rev. Jackson was installed as pastor of Shiloh in August 1961. Rev. Jackson's three-year tenure was a very energetic and enthusiastic one. His initial focus was to honor and embrace the mission of the church - that of teaching the word of God. In October 1961 he conducted a weeklong Evangelistic Clinic, followed by a week of Revival. Realizing that a pastor must meet the spiritual and human needs of this growing congregation, Rev. Jackson instituted numerous initiatives that solidified the infrastructure of this congregation. After ensuring that the church membership roll was accurate, he led us to equip a church office & pastor's study, hire a fulltime church secretary and produce Sunday church bulletins. This was also the start of an envelope system to manage weekly member tithes & offerings, monthly birthday rallies and individual auxiliary budgets. He went on to conduct training programs for deacons, trustees and Sunday School teachers. We began holding general Bible classes, organized the Youth Department and installed additional trustees and deaconesses. Numerous improvements were made to our buildings.
Our fourth pastor was a visionary who served Shiloh and the community for nearly twenty-five years. Rev. Jethro W. Toomer became pastor of Shiloh in April 1966. Rev. Toomer is best remembered for his kindness, compassion, diplomacy, and for his commitment to the youth of the . church and surrounding community. Led and guided by Rev. Toomer, Shiloh grew in knowledge of God's word, and it grew in numbers. Our explosive growth necessitated the acquisition of additional buildings and properties. The church was organized into districts with assigned leaders who focussed on family-style prayer meetings. We saw the organization of new ministries and the reorganization of many existing ones. Shiloh's youth department was reorganized and expanded to include such innovative ideas as summer camp, annual youth day celebration, quarterly youth talent shows, special recognition of graduates, and numerous activities designed to motivate young people. Rev. Toomer dreamed of erecting a monument to the glory of God. He and the church leaders worked faithfully and tirelessly to bring that dream to fruition. A plan was set in motion that resulted in the construction of our current sanctuary, which was dedicated in November 1980. During the next decade, Shiloh continued to enrich and encourage its congregation and community through sharing God's word and His goodness. At the end of that decade, after years of dedicated and inspired service, Rev. Toomer's health failed. He retired, but served as pastor emeritus until his demise. God allowed Rev. Toomer to see his dreams come full circle as we celebrated the burning of the mortgage in November 1990 - "How sweet it is!"
In August 1991, Shiloh's fifth pastor, Rev. Randolph Bracy, began his year of service at Shiloh. His legacy is the establishment of several progressive ministries, including the J. W. Toomer Scholarship Ministry, the Single's Ministry, the Married Couples' Ministry and the Wednesday midday service.
Shiloh's sixth pastor, Rev., Larry W. Ware was installed in July 1994. Under his leadership, the Deacon's Ministry and the administrative staff were expanded to meet the needs of our growing congregation. The sanctuary was remodeled. The T. C. Collier Education Center was dedicated, and the church entered into a partnership with Americorp to enhance the independence and self-sufficiency of unemployed and underemployed adults in the surrounding community. Shiloh hosted the Florida State Baptist Convention in 1999. With an emphasis on fellowship and community service, Shiloh's Young Women's Association and Youth Department engaged in a series of activities and events with the Great Oaks Village Shelter for abused and abandoned children. The Brotherhood sponsored "Shiloh's Men Who Cook" and the first full-time Minister of Music was hired to enhance Shiloh's music ministry.
Once again, Shiloh, "The Perpetual Bridge of Faith", was in need of a shepherd. Shiloh's congregation and supporters prayed individually and collectively, seeking God's guidance and direction. A man of God, Alvin White, Jr., accepted the call and began his tenure in July 2001. Pastor White was installed as Shiloh's pastor on October 21, 2001 following an elegant luncheon and fellowship with Pastor C. W. Wallace and the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. Our prayers were answered, our faith rewarded because God has blessed us with a pastor who has embraced, encouraged, enlightened and enhanced this congregation and community by simply sharing God's love and goodness.
Pastor White's contagious love of God and commitment has led this congregation to do marvelous things "to the glory of God". In this short time, we have solidified our presence in the community and have become a symbol of hope, a source of assurance that "God has a marvelous plan for each of our lives". That message was delivered as we took the streets during our very first parade to kick off Vacation Bible School. To further emphasize that message, a banner plane flying overhead carried that same message. To say that we've taken the neighborhood, and indeed the city, by storm is an understatement. From the monthly sojourn into the community by the Shiloh Witness Force for Christ (SWFC) to First Start (the weekly breakfast for the homeless and hungry), our congregation has offered spiritual food for the soul and physical food for the body. Through the efforts of SWFC, many individuals have opened their hearts to Christ and more than 11,000 hot breakfasts have been served through First Start. We are indeed working to achieve Pastor White's goal of "winning Parramore - one soul at a time". We welcomed many new members to our congregation, embraced visitors (our "special guests") from all over the world and joined sister congregations in sharing anniversaries and installations of new pastors. We've celebrated our first Annual Homecoming Worship & Fellowship, our second annual Smith E. Counts Day, our First Pastor's Jubilee Celebration, mid-year Revivals (complete with deaf interpreters), Men & Women's Day, Family Fellowship & Reflection Weeks, weekly baptisms, and initiated a new way to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
There is a renewed sense of family here in "Shiloh Country" that permeates all that we do. We have initiated or revamped the Young Adult, Married Couples, College, Silver & Gold Legends, Communication, Usher and Greeter Ministries. The Worship Celebration Team, Gospel and Tot Choirs began praising God in song. We invested twelve weeks in studying God's Dietary Laws. We have an active Youth Ministry, Drama Ministry and a strong Scholarship Ministry. The first Family Album was published.
Shiloh enhanced its internal communication systems through the use of monitors, projectors, computer systems and networks. Our presence has become more apparent, through our members' family cards, the lighted sign that now graces the corner of Terry & South Streets and the church directories in the Orlando Times and the Orlando Sentinel. The sanctuary, fellowship hall and grounds were cosmetically upgraded and beautifully landscaped to improve the comfort, look and feel of "Shiloh Country".
God has richly blessed us with a ministerial staff who "stood in the gap" during those times when we had no pastor. Our history would be inaccurate and incomplete if we did not pause to thank God for them all - most notably for Ministers J. E. McKinnon, N. H. Henry, Alfred Horne, Smith E. Counts, Edwin Sampson, Joel Dixon and Kevin Seeraj. These ministers served the Shiloh congregation as a testimony of their dedication to God.
Shiloh Baptist Church of Orlando - a congregation of Jesus Christ - has been blessed to serve the Central Florida community for more than one hundred years. In the midst of numerous societal and technological changes and advancements, our congregation's unwavering commitment to God and to this community remained constant. Shiloh is located in a community that is filled with opportunities to serve. We are a beacon - offering guidance and encouragement to those who are lost, comfort and hope to those who are downtrodden and help to those in need. God allowed us to accomplish great things in His name, for "He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we may ask or think according to His power that worketh within us."
"To serve this present age, my calling to fulfill;
Oh, may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will"