Louisiana Region Historian & Ministry to Men Chair
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| Pinehill CME Church7879 Hwy 79 Haynesville, LA 71038 From I-20 take the Athens (Go 12 miles)Turn Right on Hwy 2 (Go 2 miles)Turn Left on US 79 (Go 12 miles toward Haynesville See Church on the Left) Traveling from Minden to Homer Hwy US 79 Go through Homer back to Hwy 79 North to Haynesville (Go 12 miles see church on the left) | Rev. David L. Browder, Pastor |
HISTORY OF PINEHILL CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In 1901 some of the citizens of the Pinehill community felt the community needed a church. They elected officers to fulfill this task, the trustees found land to purchase. On July 13, 1901, one acre of land was purchased from Mrs. Ida Oakes for the enormous sum of $5. This land was located on the eastern side where Minden – Atlanta road intersected near the railroad. About 4 1/2 miles from this present location. The church was built and call Pinehill Colored Methodist Church. Services were held at that location for several years, until it burned down. The members built another church on the Reed Plantation. It served as a church as well as a one-room school. Church service and school was held there until that church burned down. Just a few yards from that site, a temporary structure was built to hold church services. This structure was called a brush hobber. In case some of you don’t know what a brush hobber is, it consisted of planks, brush, and bushes used for a top. It looked like a shed with all the sides open. The large part of the trees was used for seats with planks across the tree stumps. Service and revival were held under this hobber when the weather permitted, otherwise members stayed home. A few years later, one acre of land was donated by Elijah Reed for a new church, which is the present location. Elijah Reed’s sons and grandsons built this church. Worship service were held one Sunday a month with Sunday school every Sunday. Pinehill Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and community begin to grow. During the summer months, with no air conditioning, the church stayed cool by raising the windows and using hand held fans. You have an idea what that must have been like with bugs at night, but they didn’t let a few bugs stop them from serving God. Pews were made from rough lumber that was full of splinters. Women picked splinters from their dresses and if they wore hose or stockings, they probably went home without them. For heat wood burning heaters were used. Just one heater would warm the front of the church while the other parts of the church were freezing. When the church acquired butane, two butane heaters were purchased. Although the gas heaters weren’t much better than the wood heaters, the church would be full on Sunday mornings. They didn’t let the cold stop them from serving God! Over the years our members have had fundraiser programs to improve the appearance of our sanctuary. The funds were used to purchase pews & pulpit furniture. Several ministers have been assigned to Pinehill C.M.E. Church. Some names of the preachers that served as pastor of Pinehill were: Rev. Wallace Wafer, Rev. Joseph Johnson, Rev. Roy Stringer, Rev. Capers, Rev. Bankhead, Rev. Malone, Rev. A.L. Winzer, Rev. Jefferson, Rev. Sears, Rev. Henry Birch (who served as pastor of Pinehill for 18 years), & Rev. Rambo. In 1994, the conference appointed Rev. George Shaw to pastor Pinehill. Under the leadership of Rev. Sha, the church’s congregation grew tremendously. Under the leadership of Rev. Shaw, the church had a dynamic choir. A kitchen and bathroom were added. Technology made its way into Pinehill CME under Rev. Shaw’s reign as pastor. The church acquired central heating and cooling systems, a telephone in the church and a copier. During this time the church also acquired carpet, padding for the pews, and decorations for the sanctuary. In July 2002, the Louisiana Annual Conference appointed Rev. Janelle Kidd, Pinehill’s first female pastor. In July 2004, Rev. Tyrone Harris was appointed to Pinehill. Under Rev. Harris’ leadership the church acquired the beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary. At the Annual Conference in July 2005, Bishop Hoyt appointed Rev. Jessie Manuel as pastor of Pinehill CME Church. Rev. Manuel was second female appointed to pastor Pinehill. Under Rev. Manuel’s leadership, the church was made handicap accessible, with a handicap ramp and handicap a accessible bathroom. A narthex and a new pastor’s study was also added. In July of 2012, Bishop Brown appointed Rev. Linda Flournoy as pastor for one year as she prepared for retirement. Bishop Brown appointed Rev. Loretta Holland as pastor of Pinehill in the 2013 Annual Conference. Rev. Holland pastored here at Pinehill for two years. In the Annual Conference in 2015; Bishop Brown appointed our present pastor, Rev. Herbert & First Lady Minnie Scott to Pinehill Church. Under Pastor Scott’s reign, the church has done some major repairs to the physical building. Rev. Scott has plans for two other projects to be completed in the very near future. We thank Rev. Scott for all you have done and what you are planning for the future of Pinehill CME Church!
Rev. Samuel McKinsey submitted Pastor’s Highlights during the 2023 Annual Conference: Our greatest achievement is the continued support of the community through the Pine Hill Food Pantry. Being a church with 38 members on the roll, we distributed approximately 35,000 lbs of free food this conference year to low-income families in our area. That equates to 431 assistance to 68 households, as counted by the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. Sis Doris Curry revived the Missionary Society at Pinehill. Pinehill sponsored its first Festival as a community outreach. Two members were baptized at Pinehill. Rev. McKinsey learned that when young people are allowed to lead, you will be surprised in a good way, especially when proper guidance is provided and the room to practice their gift(s) is provided.
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