The History of Providence Missionary Baptist Church (1957-Present)

In February 1957, the first meeting of Providence Missionary Baptist Church was held at the Masonic Temple with founding members, the late Mr. and Mrs. James (Sally) McKinney, along with the first pastor, Rev. Roosevelt Coopwood. Wednesday nights were designated for Prayer Meeting, Bible Study, and Mission Night. Various locations were used for services, from downtown Sandusky to Farwell Street, and then back downtown. Once the church moved to the Searsville area, others stepped in to assist in the organization. Special thanks are extended to Pastor Tucker and the New Jerusalem Church family for their support. In Searsville, services were initially held in a garage owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Whitfield on Doerzbach Street, then moved to a front porch on Carbon Avenue owned by Aunt Tooney. Eventually, a partially built house became available; this house originally stood across the street from what is now the church. Following this transition, the church entered a period of stagnation.

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After the passing of Pastor Coopwood, Pastor Young served briefly, though no official records document his tenure—only the recollections of members. After Pastor Young moved away, Pastor Jordan became the next leader of Providence. Under his leadership, the church began to grow again, and the building that now houses our offices and children’s church became available. Through the tireless efforts of many, this building was purchased. During this period of growth, Deacon Dave Aaron became the church’s first official deacon. Pastor Jordan also appointed Pastor Sparks as Assistant Pastor, later joined by Rev. Eddie Brown. In 1962, Pastor Jordan became ill and relocated to Waynesboro, Mississippi.

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Two years later, Pastor Brown was appointed as the fourth pastor of Providence and served for 25 years until his passing. Under his leadership, the original building was expanded, a baptismal pool was installed, and a lot was purchased by the Pastor’s Aide Committee—this lot is now our current parking area. In the 1960s, a severe flood devastated the Searsville area, destroying most of the church’s original records, but the building survived. In November 1971, Deacon Aaron established a building fund with just $1. By November 1977, the members of Providence celebrated by marching into a new church building, which remains our sanctuary today. More milestones followed, including the purchase of a second lot and the acquisition of a bus and van for transportation. In 1981, Rev. Samuel Mickles joined the church and became Assistant Pastor to Rev. Brown. The two worked together to lead the congregation until Rev. Brown’s passing in February 1989.

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Following Rev. Brown’s passing, Pastor Mickles served as interim pastor, keeping the congregation united. In 1990, he officially became the fifth pastor of Providence. Under his leadership, the church experienced both physical and spiritual growth. Numerous updates were made, additional lots were purchased, and a billboard was erected by the late Bro. Ervin McCoy. In August 1993, blueprints were drawn for a new church addition. In 1997, Winkler Builders was contracted to construct a new fellowship hall. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on June 7, 1998, and on February 21, 1999, the first morning worship service was held in the new hall. The dedication service was attended by city and county officials, as well as local congregations.

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In 2000, renovations began on the old fellowship hall, including updates to the Pastor’s Study, bathrooms, and the creation of a new secretary’s office. Under the supervision of Bro. Josiah Brown, along with Deacon Earl Brown and the late Deacon Charles Shoemo, significant improvements were made. Additional enhancements included new carpeting, pew upholstery, computer systems, and a storage building. In June 2003, Bro. Scottie Aaron, a descendant of our first deacon, was ordained as a deacon. God continued to bless him, and in July 2004, he preached his first sermon and later served as Pastor of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Sandusky for six years.

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On June 22, 2006, Providence was once again struck by a devastating flood, requiring the entire church to be gutted and renovated. Despite the destruction, services continued outdoors under the trees until Columbus Avenue Methodist Church graciously allowed us to worship in their fellowship hall. In August of that year, our 49th Church Anniversary services were held at Ebenezer Baptist Church. After several months of reconstruction, services resumed in the fellowship hall, and on October 7, 2007, after 16 months of renovation, the congregation marched back into the remodeled sanctuary. On September 6, 2009, Brother Richard Ward was ordained as Deacon Richard Ward. In October 2011, after 21 years of faithful service, Pastor Samuel Mickles preached his retirement sermon.

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In November 2012, a Pastoral Search Committee was formed. By February 2013, the congregation voted to appoint Pastor Scottie L. Aaron as the sixth pastor of Providence. Under his leadership, many improvements were made, including the construction of a conference room, the establishment of a Wall of Honor in the administrative wing, the purchase of a 30-passenger bus, and the enhancement of the Media Ministry. Pastor Aaron also led efforts to eliminate church debt, raising significant funds to pay off various properties. On December 13, 2015, the church celebrated a mortgage burning ceremony. In September 2016, Pastor Aaron and his family announced their departure to lead Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. His final sermon as Senior Pastor was delivered on October 30, 2016.

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On April 29, 2018, Reverend Joseph M.A. Strong accepted the call to serve as the next pastor of Providence, with his installation taking place on September 30, 2018. Under Pastor Strong’s leadership, the church acquired a wheelchair-accessible van, renovated the administrative wing, installed a new security system, and embraced digital giving through the Givelify platform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, major upgrades were made to the Media Ministry, including new television installations in the sanctuary and fellowship hall. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the church continued to thrive through parking lot services and virtual worship. On April 4, 2021, Providence officially reopened its sanctuary.

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In 2022, the church celebrated its 65th anniversary with year-long events, culminating in a anniversary worship service on August 21, 2022, preached by Rev. Dr. Scottie Aaron. However, on August 24, 2023, the Northern Ohio region experienced severe storms, resulting in the catastrophic flooding of all three church buildings. Despite this major setback, the congregation remained united, receiving support from churches, community organizations, and individuals near and far. Thanks to the generosity of Eagles Nest Church and Ebenezer Baptist Church, services continued throughout the rebuilding process. On December 24, 2023, the congregation returned to the fellowship hall for worship, remaining there until May 5, 2024, when they reentered the renovated sanctuary. Updates included a new media booth, repurposed office space, enhanced pulpit staging, and other improvements. Today, Providence continues to stand strong, moving forward in faith and gratitude for all that God has done.

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To God be the glory for the great things He has done!