Historic Ocean Springs church celebrates 132 years
It was a special day of history and community celebration at one Gulf Coast church this weekend.
“132 years people have been coming to this light on the hill seeking the word of God and getting their lives changed and finding Jesus Christ.”
The Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church celebrated 132 years of community and faith this weekend by hosting a Veterans Day luncheon at Martin Luther King Jr. Park followed by a special church service on Sunday.
The church sits at the heart of the railroad district where it has played a guiding role in Ocean Springs historic black community. Chairman of Finance Committee Greg Gibson said, “Macedonia has a strong history in the Black community, because back then, that’s where everybody came to church and worshipped, here, is at Macedonia.”
The Macedonia Church sits on the intersection of Jesse Lee Trotter Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, named for the church’s revered pastor, who used the church’s meeting space to organize for Civil Rights. Trotter later became Ocean Springs’ first and only black alderman. Pastor John Robinson said, “I believe that, because of Pastor Trotter and Macedonia, Ocean Springs is the city that it is today.”
“Pastor Trotter was a visionary. He cared about the youth. He cared about all people.”
In April 2023, the Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen voted to approve an urban renewal map which included much of the city’s black community, drawing backlash from citizens who allege their homes were designated ‘blighted’ by the city and prompting community concerns that the city may attempt to redevelop their properties.
The Macedonia Church has had a pivotal role in organizing the ‘We Shall not be Moved Coalition.’
“You might know that there’s an Urban Renewal project going on here in Ocean Springs, and because of Pastor Trotter’s leadership here at Macedonia, all of us — and I include myself — we are somewhat standing on God. We are trying to make sure that everybody gets represented.”
“When we heard about it, then we had to organize quickly to get the whole community involved. Because this was something that we couldn’t sit back and let it go by — Because we saw the injustice that was done in this community that we live in.”
On November 7th, the board of aldermen presented a new area four map which removes all residential homes from area four of the map.
But many citizens, like Chairman Gibson, remain in staunch opposition, saying the city has not done enough to involve the community in its decision-making. “We got a copy of it, and we’ve been distributing to our neighbors who come to our coalition meeting, who is in the affected area, to show them, ‘This is who is affected now.’ But essentially, everybody is affected in Ward 4, because that designation has not gone away.”
Joe Louis said, “I’m the fourth generation here. I remember when this was a dirt road. I remember when I couldn’t even walk on that sidewalk. I couldn’t walk on that sidewalk, I had to step to the side if some white folks come by. Now, some white people move into the area, and they want to develop all over again. That ain’t right. All my history I know about this here area, and they want to take it away from me. That ain’t right.”
Mayor Holloway says that the city never intended to displace any residents and hopes the revised map will allow urban renewal to go forward while respecting the concerns of the community.
The revised area four urban renewal map heads to a vote at the next Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen meeting on November 21st.
