About MBA 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MARION BAPTIST ASSOCIATION  

taken from the Annual Celebration report 2015                         

On January 3, 1885, messengers from thirteen Baptist churches met to form a new association. These churches included Wachahoota, Fellowship, New Mt. Amon, Orange Creek, Pleasant Hill, Cedar Keys, Lochbie, Micanopy, Citra, Ft. McCoy, Hickory Springs, Ocala, and Stafford's Pond. Brother Z.A. Crumpton, messenger from Cedar Keys, was elected chairman and Brother J.S. Thomas, messenger from Lochbie, was chosen as secretary. The Constitution and Bylaws of the Alachua Baptist Association was used as a format by simply substituting the name Marion for Alachua.

The first annual meeting was held at the Fellowship Baptist Church on October 7, 1885. Letters were received from all of the original churches except Cedar Keys and Lochbie. John eordero, from Ocala, was elected Moderator and N.A. Bailey, from Micanopy, was elected Clerk. The minutes indicated that AP. Ashurst, editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, was in attendance. Strong interest was shown in support of the newspaper as well as Sunday School.

In 1886, churches added to the list in the association included Monthalon, Flemington, Pine Island and Anthony.

In 1887, Simmons, Parkersburg, Blue River, Crystal River and Four Mile Pond were added.

Olivet was accepted in 1888.

In 1889, Williston, Heidtville, Liberty, and Hickory Head are listed as members. Ochwilla and Orange Creek transferred to the Santa Fe River Association that year.

The minutes of 1890 show no changes in churches.

Following these first five years, a number of new churches were added to the association, several joined the neighboring associations (Santa Fe River, Alachua, and Harmony), while others disbanded or combined with existing churches.

Several new churches have been started as missions by sponsoring churches while others were established by a few Baptist people on their own in new communities. Divisions within churches have also led to the organization of new congregations...

Rev. Clyde Harless served as the District Field Secretary later called Associational Missionary from 1954 to 1976. In 1976, there were 37 churches and one mission. He and Kathleen served for twenty-two years with three associations, namely Marion, Alachua and Lake Associations.

In 1977, the Marion Baptist Association decided to call their own Director of Missions thus calling Rev. John H. Sible as the first full time director. Mrs., Grace Sible was asked to serve as the Secretary for the Association. They served until Mr. Sible's death on April 6, 1992, serving. together for 15 years. At that time there were 49 churches and one mission, namely the Korean Mission, sponsored by Wyomina Park.

In 1985 under Mr. Sible's leadership, the association began the Christian Counseling Center with Rev. Elden Luffman as Executive Director and Mrs. Joyce Luffman, Elden's wife, as secretary. The counselors were Rev. George Pizzi and Rev. Alfred Meeks. After that time Rev. Ralph Spiller served as Executive Director with Rev. John Hess, Mrs. Marguerita Fedora and Rev. Bill Benson are counselors. Mrs. Ala Leist served as Secretary followed by Mrs. Ursula McRae as secretary.

According to Grace Sible, the First MBA office was located in the "Starry" House behind the original FBC Ocala. It then moved into an office space of the FBC Ocala. The office was later relocated to 8th Avenue and finally 14th street. Mrs. Grace Sible was asked to serve as Interim Director of Missions in April of 1992 and was commissioned as the Director of Missions in December, 1992. She served until April 15, 1994.                                                                  

 Three missions and four full time churches were started during this time period:

• Ocala Springs Missions, sponsored by Oakcrest;

• Emmanuel Mission, sponsored  by Marion Baptist Association, First Silver Springs Shores, Fort King and Trinity;

• Nazaret Bautista Mission, sponsored by Highlands Baptist.

The full time churches are:

• Downtown Baptist in Ocala,

• Community Fellowship Baptist in Dunnellon,

• First Baptist, Candler, and

• Primera Bautista Iglesia in Marion Oaks.

Mrs. Sible served for two years as Director giving her 17 full years in the association. There were 50 churches and four missions. Mrs. Bruce(LuAnn) Listebarger became the full time secretary, January, 1993.

April 15, 1994, Rev. Joe Williams became the Director of Missions to lead the association.

Mr. Williams is the third full time Director of Missions for this association. He and his wife, Sue, come with many skills that will give our association a new dimension. We look forward to many years of service through starting new missions and equipping the saints in carrying out the GREAT COMMISSION. He served until December 1995 when he resigned to become pastor of Wyomina Park Baptist Church.

Gary Townsend was called as DOM May 1, 1996. Among his accomplishments was the relocation of the MBA Offices from 8th Ave, to 14th Street. He also led a mission partnership with West Charleston B.C. West Charleston Virginia. Bro. Gary resigned as DOM Sept. 30, 2004 to become the associate Director of the Stewardship Department of the Florida Baptist Convention.

Bro. Joe Williams was called as Interim DOM Feb. 24, 2005 and served until the call of Pete Menendez.

Pete Menendez was called as DOM Sept. 30, 2005. Pete led in the establishment of a number of language churches. He also led the association into a mission partnership in the Dominican Republic. On Sept. 11, 2014 Bro. Pete resigned at the MBA Executive Committee Meeting. He had accepted the call to be pastor of Oak Griner Baptist Church.

Dr. Ronnie Walker was called by the MBA Executive Committee on October 11, 2014 to be the Transitional DOM of the MBA with a start date ofNov. 3, 2014. He will serve until the hiring of a permanent DOM. Thus far Bro. Ronnie has led the Executive Committee to elect a transition Team to give guidance through the process of restructuring the association and updating the constitution and By Laws. He has also led the association to have a strong prayer emphasis with a goal of revival and spiritual awakening. R.O. Roberts, Director of International Awakening Ministries, Wheaton, II has been enlisted to help in this effort in our association Oct. 25th thru 28th, 2015.

As of October 25, 2015, MBA has 66 churches and 16 missions.