- Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pascagoula is now debt-free
- The church was founded in 1895 as Aimwell Baptist Church
- It marked the milestone with a mortgage-burning service
- Its 91-year-old pastor referred to a fire in the church’s past
A historic Baptist congregation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has paid off its mortgage, WLOX reported in January 2026.
Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church at 1028 Denny Avenue in Pascagoula, founded in 1895 as Aimwell Baptist Church, held a mortgage-burning celebration. The report did not give the amount of the mortgage or how long it took to repay.
“It’s just a joyous, joyous occasion,” said administrative secretary Myrtis Pittman. Pastor Dr John W. Davis, aged 91, said: “The lord has truly blessed the Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and we shout about it.” Referring to a setback in the church’s history, he said: “The Fire put us down, but we were courageous people.”
Deacon Kevin Randolph described the moment: “It was iconic for the simple fact, you could just see the relief from Pastor Davis.”
A mortgage burning is a church tradition with a practical meaning: the congregation now owns its building outright, and the money that went on repayments is free for ministry, maintenance or savings.
For Jamaican congregations with building loans, the celebration is a reminder to set a clear target for paying off debt and to share progress with members. Once the loan is cleared, putting part of the old repayment into a maintenance and insurance fund helps protect the building the church has worked so long to secure.
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