Longview grew out of a bible study that began in the home of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Smith on Davant Ave. in South Memphis in October of 1927. Bro. Tom Rice was the first pastor leading this congregation that quickly outgrew their original home location. The group moved their meetings to a larger home and as scripture was taught, God added to their numbers.
By 1937 the bible study group had outgrown any available home location and land was acquired at the corner of Mallory and Orleans. The men of the church solicited donations of supplies and funds and the first church building was built. Several additions and renovations took place over the years. The name Longview Heights was given because that was the name of the neighborhood where the first church building resided.
By the late 1960’s the church sought more land for future growth and in spring of 1970 several acres in Desoto County were purchased and a new building was erected.
Additional buildings were added in 1990. By 1995 the original group of 20 meeting in Mr. Smith's home had grown to over 700.
In 1996 a new 1000 seat worship building was constructed. A creative and unusual architectural method was applied whereby we built the new building over the existing building. We continued to meet in the original worship sanctuary. Toward the end of the new building's completion the original structure was disassembled and pulled out from under the new structure.
God continued to provide additional members who united with us in efforts to reach our community and who committed themselves to go on mission with God across the street and around the world.
By 1998 our congregation had grown so that we were having 3 worship services on Sunday morning. Soon after we sent many volunteer families to Hernando to participate in our first church plant and Longview Point was birthed.
In 1999 our Family Ministry Complex (FMC) was constructed--adding a gymnasium for recreation ministry and additional education classrooms.
Next Longview planted an African American church, Olivet led by Rev. James Cook.
Our Four Friends Special Needs Ministry was started in 2002.
Continued growth required us to become involved in our last building program. A new 2000 seat worship center, a 400 seat fellowship hall, Senior Adult education, and an entire floor dedicated to Student Ministry were all completed in 2007.
Our Trekkers after school care ministry was started in 2006 and currently has an enrollment of 150.
In the years since Longview Heights started emphasizing church planting within our congregation, our Lord has birthed several churches out of and sharing the same heartbeat. Some of these include Lifepoint, Riverbend, Crosslife Church and several others. Since 2010, the One8 Church Planting Network has been a significant resource for church planting in North Mississippi.
Pastoral History
1927-1928 Tom C. Rice
1928-1930 L.E. Brown
1930-1932 W.V. Walker
1932-1934 A.P. Moore
1934-1937 L.A. Myers
1937-1941 Bobby Palmer
1941-1946 R.B. Patterson
1946 A.B. Harrison
1947-1957 E.T. Smith
1957-1961 Bailey Stone
1961-1964 Dale Palmer
1964-1965 E.F. McIlwain
1965-1972 Interim Pastors
Albert H Cullen
Earl C. Whitsett
Ervin Brown
1972-1981 Armond Taylor
1982-1985 Sam Gash
1986-1994 Steve Delony
1994- Wayne Marshall
By 1937 the bible study group had outgrown any available home location and land was acquired at the corner of Mallory and Orleans. The men of the church solicited donations of supplies and funds and the first church building was built. Several additions and renovations took place over the years. The name Longview Heights was given because that was the name of the neighborhood where the first church building resided.
By the late 1960’s the church sought more land for future growth and in spring of 1970 several acres in Desoto County were purchased and a new building was erected.
Additional buildings were added in 1990. By 1995 the original group of 20 meeting in Mr. Smith's home had grown to over 700.
In 1996 a new 1000 seat worship building was constructed. A creative and unusual architectural method was applied whereby we built the new building over the existing building. We continued to meet in the original worship sanctuary. Toward the end of the new building's completion the original structure was disassembled and pulled out from under the new structure.
God continued to provide additional members who united with us in efforts to reach our community and who committed themselves to go on mission with God across the street and around the world.
By 1998 our congregation had grown so that we were having 3 worship services on Sunday morning. Soon after we sent many volunteer families to Hernando to participate in our first church plant and Longview Point was birthed.
In 1999 our Family Ministry Complex (FMC) was constructed--adding a gymnasium for recreation ministry and additional education classrooms.
Next Longview planted an African American church, Olivet led by Rev. James Cook.
Our Four Friends Special Needs Ministry was started in 2002.
Continued growth required us to become involved in our last building program. A new 2000 seat worship center, a 400 seat fellowship hall, Senior Adult education, and an entire floor dedicated to Student Ministry were all completed in 2007.
Our Trekkers after school care ministry was started in 2006 and currently has an enrollment of 150.
In the years since Longview Heights started emphasizing church planting within our congregation, our Lord has birthed several churches out of and sharing the same heartbeat. Some of these include Lifepoint, Riverbend, Crosslife Church and several others. Since 2010, the One8 Church Planting Network has been a significant resource for church planting in North Mississippi.
Pastoral History
1927-1928 Tom C. Rice
1928-1930 L.E. Brown
1930-1932 W.V. Walker
1932-1934 A.P. Moore
1934-1937 L.A. Myers
1937-1941 Bobby Palmer
1941-1946 R.B. Patterson
1946 A.B. Harrison
1947-1957 E.T. Smith
1957-1961 Bailey Stone
1961-1964 Dale Palmer
1964-1965 E.F. McIlwain
1965-1972 Interim Pastors
Albert H Cullen
Earl C. Whitsett
Ervin Brown
1972-1981 Armond Taylor
1982-1985 Sam Gash
1986-1994 Steve Delony
1994- Wayne Marshall