MT. NEBO BAPTIST CHURCH
Mr. Nebo was organized June 3, 1820 when about 63 people met in a log school house a mile north of Bunceton to draw up articles of faith and organize formally as a congregation.
The name "Mt. Nebo" was chosen as it was the name of the mountain where Moses stood to view the Promised Land, realizing his descendants would inherit it though God had denied it to him.
Rev. Luke Williams was the first ordained Baptist minister in the Boonslick region. He preached without fee, receiving gifts of goods and services as there was little money in the western territory. The congregation built a log church and joined the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Association in fall of 1820. A frame structure was built later in 1835 west of the Petite Saline Creek where baptisms took place. Members attended from all parts of Saline, Pettis, and Moniteau Counties. From this beginning, missions were established, three of which still exist: Providence and Flat Creek Churches in Pettis County, and Heath Creek in Saline County.
In 1854, Robert H. Harris became pastor and the church voted to build a new meeting house. The new building, which was completed three years later, was intended to be made of brick. A kiln was built, the bricks fired, and the walls started when the bricks were found to be unfit. The walls were torn down and the present frame building was erected. A partition through the center separated the men’s side from the women’s, and a balcony was built in the back so the slaves could worship with their masters. The balcony remained until 1885 when it was removed.
Blacks were accepted as full members whether or not their owners belonged. Diversity of the economic groups within the church is reflected in the old assessment and donation lists, a wealthy planter pledged $93.11 and a poor family 25 cents. Several members were exempted, mainly widows.
On October 12, 1864, Mt. Nebo was the site of an overnight encampment of Union troops under Gen. Sanborn. They were chasing Gen. Sterling Price. The Confederate General and his troops had been skirmishing in Cooper County for three days and as they retreated, took horses and supplies. What little remained was confiscated by the Union forces as they followed the retreating Confederates. The county was left destitute.
At the end of the war on March 1866, although Southern in outlook, the church voted to "remove prejudice and show brotherly love to everyone."
In 1868 Bro. Edmund, the sexton, was asked to cite the delinquent black brethren to church. Three appeared at the next meeting to offer their excuses and were restored to full membership.
The cemetery contains graves of two of the first white settlers in the Boon’s Lick Region (Samuel Cole and his cousin James Cole), a veteran of the War of 1812 and several from the Civil War..
The education building was added in 1971. Sunday School records date from the spring of 1870. It was held only in the summer months until 1884. Regular Sunday services have been held since 1962. Mt. Nebo was the site of many convocations and "protracted meetings" attended in great numbers by families over the state. Visitors were welcomed into the local homes or camped nearby. One such meeting lasted 21 days.
Mt. Nebo was listed on the National Register in 1986 and extensive restoration has been completed in the last three years.
