Myrtle Grove Holiness Church began organizing in 1950 with a handful of saints holding prayer meetings from house to house. As members of the group increased, services were held in different buildings. The Salem Hall, Blackledge & Jiggs Dry Cleaners, a log cabin, a warehouse, even in a pool hall to name a few.
These first members had been touched by the preaching of Holy Ghost-filled Evangelists such as Mother Katie Lucas, Mother McMillian and Mother Treadwell, who were convinced that to please God, they must be born again and must be filled with the Holy Ghost.
In 1954, being led by the Holy Ghost under the leadership of Pastor Arthur E. Freeman of Bolton, North Carolina, the first church was established. This small group of dedicated saints, without a permanent place of worship, continued to serve God in the beauty of Holiness.
On Saturday night, February 23, 1957, a business meeting was held at the home of Sister Lula B. Jordan. This was the organization of a church that had been born three years earlier in the Myrtle Grove Sound community. This event was the result of the dedication of a handful of people who had become seriously concerned about their relationship with God.
As the result of this meeting, God blessed them in a miraculous way; to construct a building that they could call their own. God increased the membership to over one hundred members in just a few years!
The first officers were: Pastor-Minister Arthur E. Freeman; Secretary-Sister Lula B. Jordan; Sunday School Superintendent-Sister Mazie Jacobs; Treasurer-Sister Mary McKinsey; and the church Mother-Sister Missouri Lowe. Some of the first Deacons were John Hansley, Porter McNeil, Herbert Blackledge, Ivan McQuillan and Alfred Mitchell.
In the early 1960s, the church had to be torn down to make room for the State highway widening project in this area. Compensation from the Highway Department was not enough to rebuild. Disappointments came, but the Saints, knowing that God would provide, remained faithful and prayerful. God answered their prayers when Mrs. Christina James gave an acre of land to the church.
In 1963, the present building was erected on that site as an edifice that continues to testify that God does answer prayer.
Through the years, a dining room was added, Pastor's Study, an office and some classrooms. The entrance and choir area has been remodeled, but the same spirit of dedication and faithfulness that the founding members had can be seen and felt in the members today as we continually celebrate the birth of Myrtle Grove First Born Holiness Church. For this, we give thanks to God.