The Historic Greater Mount Nebo AME Church Celebrates 100 Years of Service and Global Impact

Compiled By Prince George’s Suite Magazine

This fall, the Historic Mount Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church—nestled along Queen Anne Road in Upper Marlboro, Maryland—marks a profound milestone: its 100th Anniversary of the church building. For a full century, the facility has stood as a beacon of faith, service, and community uplift, shaping lives not only across Prince George’s County but far beyond its borders.

A Legacy Rooted in Faith and Freedom

Founded in 1887, Greater Mount Nebo AME Church was born out of the vision of believers who sought to establish a spiritual home that could serve as both a sanctuary and community pillar. From its earliest days, the church became a refuge for African Americans navigating the challenges of segregation and systemic inequities. Here, generations gathered not just to worship but to organize, educate, and empower.

The original church building was lost to a fire in the 1920s. The new building opened in 1925 and is now at its centennial.

Over the decades, Greater Mount Nebo’s small congregation blossomed into a thriving faith community grounded in the traditions of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination—an institution built on faith in action and justice in motion. Its historic sanctuary has witnessed baptisms and weddings, revivals and rallies, and the steady rhythm of a people’s perseverance through social change.

“The centennial celebration is both a tribute to our ancestors’ unwavering faith and a reaffirmation of our commitment to serve future generations,” says Rev. Dr. Gerald Folsom, Senior Pastor of Mount Nebo. “Mount Nebo’s legacy continues to inspire hope, unity, and purpose.”

Building Community at Home

Throughout the twentieth century, the church’s mission extended beyond its walls. Mount Nebo has long partnered with schools, civic associations, and nonprofits across Prince George’s County to address education, food insecurity, and youth empowerment. Community drives and scholarship programs became core ministries—evidence of the church’s enduring belief that faith must be lived, not merely preached.

During the civil rights movement, Mount Nebo provided both meeting space and moral guidance to organizers working for equality. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, it became known for outreach initiatives that supported families affected by economic downturns, emphasizing both prayer and practical aid.

Today, that tradition remains strong. The church’s community food pantry, health screenings, and youth mentorship programs are led by a new generation of ministry leaders and volunteers. “Our strength has always been in the way we show up for one another,” says Renee Clarke, Mount Nebo’s Communications Director. “Service is our worship in motion.”

Expanding Horizons: From Prince George’s to the World

While its heart beats in Maryland soil, Mount Nebo’s reach has grown across oceans. Over the past two decades, the church has supported missions in Africa, working with partner congregations to build schools, supply clean water systems, and expand access to healthcare. In countries such as Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Mount Nebo’s name is associated with empowerment, education, and compassion.

These international partnerships reflect the global vision of the AME Church—“God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, Man our Brother”—and Mount Nebo has embodied that creed by turning faith into tangible progress. For Pastor Folsom, these efforts represent the church’s spiritual and moral call to action: “We are one body, one faith community,” he notes. “The call to serve doesn’t stop at our county line. It reaches wherever there is need.”

Through this global lens, Mount Nebo has helped bridge African-American heritage with the continent that gave it birth, reaffirming the deep connections between history, diaspora, and divine purpose.

Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

As the centennial approaches, Mount Nebo’s members and leadership are not only reflecting on the past but envisioning a bold future. The 100th-anniversary celebration on October 25, 2025, will feature a guided tour of the church’s historic grounds, highlighting the milestones and ministries that have defined its legacy. Visitors will explore the sanctuary’s architectural history and the monuments that honor founders and long-serving pastors whose work laid the foundation for today’s thriving congregation.

This moment of remembrance is also one of rededication. Under Pastor Folsom’s guidance, the church has embraced digital ministry, community partnerships, and leadership training aimed at preparing the next century of disciples. Young adults play visible roles in worship and service projects, ensuring continuity between generations.

Looking ahead, Mount Nebo plans to expand its educational outreach and strengthen its interfaith collaborations. The leadership envisions new facilities for youth and family programming, enhanced accessibility for seniors, and expanded online engagement to connect with distant members and mission partners.

Faith That Stands the Test of Time

For those who call Mount Nebo home, the centennial represents far more than a milestone—it is a living testimony. Through wars, social upheavals, pandemics, and rapid urban growth, the church has remained a constant presence of stability and compassion. It has anchored countless lives in prayer and propelled others into leadership across the region’s civic, business, and faith communities.

Members recall revivals that filled the sanctuary to capacity, the choir’s soaring hymns, and the sense of belonging that transcended time. “Mount Nebo has always been more than a church,” says longtime member Deacon Samuel Harris. “It’s a family that has carried us through every storm.”

That spirit of resilience continues to define Mount Nebo’s ministry today. As the congregation prepares to mark 100 years of service, its message remains clear: to love God, uplift people, and transform communities—both near and far.

A Living Heritage

In celebrating its 100th anniversary, Mount Nebo AME Church honors the prayers and sacrifices of those who came before while opening its arms to new generations of believers. The anniversary is a bridge—connecting past and future, faith and action, local and global.

“Every brick, every hymn, every act of kindness tells our story,” Pastor Folsom reflects. “And our story is not finished. The next 100 years will build on this foundation of faith and continue our journey of service to God’s people everywhere.”