On May 3, 1994, the Rev. Dr. B J. Parker and the other members of the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church added another chapter to the history. The Rev. Howard Lee Nelson Sr., was ordained (earlier years) and installed as the pastor of the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. B. J. Parker, on May 22, 1994. During Rev. Nelson’s second year as pastor, Rev. James Parrish, Sr. reunited with the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, September 1, 1996. Two other ministers united with the Mount Ararat family, Rev. Roderick Patrick, August 3, 1997 and Rev. Joe Hayes, December 1998, (Pastor, Carry Mount Baptist Church).

Members called to the ministry and licensed under the leadership of Pastor Nelson were: Rev. Alfred Goodwin, Mary 25, 1997 (Pastor, Warmwood Baptist Church); Rev. John Phalo, September 21, 1997; Rev. Leonard Whitfield, March 22, 1998, moved from Theodore and united with another church September 2001; Rev. DeMario Sheffield, April 12, 1998 (Easter Sunday) left Mt. Ararat end of year 2000; and Rev. Alfred Walker, February 21, 1999. Rev. Bristol Hines united with the Mount Ararat Baptist Church on October 7, 2001.

Pastor Nelson named the following Junior Trustees on December 15, 1997; Brothers Greg Conner, Jerry Gibson, Clarence Hosea, Frank Hudson, Jr., Bobby Parrish, Randy Peyton, Elquin Quinnie, Eddie Simmons, Lorenzo Smith, and Alfred Walker (later became a minister).

Deacons ordained (February 15, 1998) were Cedric Jackson, Willie Washington, and Samuel Pettway. Bro. Lloyd Alston (deceased, January 7, 2001) and Bro. Albert Bendolph were appointed to the Trustee Board on which Bro. Samuel Paul and Bro. J. D. White (deceased September 9, 1999) also served. Pastor Nelson also established a Board of Christian Education (January 1998), Bro. Robert Parker, Sr. serves as director. Pastor Nelson appointed Sis Deborah Walker chairperson of the Outreach Ministry which was organized March 26, 2001.

The annual joint fellowship of the Cypress Shores Baptist Church and the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary Sunday, February 14, 1999. This fellowship had its beginning in a prayer meeting in 1974. There were racial problems at Theodore High School, and this prompted the Reverends B. J. Parker, Cecil Turner and William Whitfield to meet and pray that peace and harmony would prevail. They met at Calvary Assembly of God Church.

The next meeting was at Mount Ararat and several deacons from Mount Ararat and Cypress Shores met with the pastors. It was agreed upon to alternate the worship service between the two churches (Calvary dropped out). It is our belief that the meetings between these two congregations, through the years, have helped in some way to bring about and continue to influence racial harmony in our schools and community. In 1993, Dr. Randy S. Johnson took over as pastor of Cypress Shores Baptist Church. Later, in 1994, Rev. B. J. Parker announced he would become co-pastor and Rev. Howard Nelson, Sr. took over as pastor of Mount Ararat Baptist Church. The fellowship has grown consistently.

Mount Ararat has been blessed to have an abundance of youth members. Pastor Nelson saw the need for more involvement in structuring the growth of youth, thus Rev. Roderick Patrick was appointed as the youth minister January 2000.
Mount Ararat Baptist Church suffered a great loss on January 5, 2000 with the passing of Rev. Dr. B. J. Parker, Sr. who served as co-pastor after the installation of Rev. Howard L. Nelson. God bestowed a great blessing on Mount Ararat by appointing Dr. Parker to serve 42 years and we will always be grateful for his life and service to his church – Mount Ararat.

We thank God for the blessing He has bestowed upon us during these years, and our prayers shall continue to be to Him from whom all blessings flow.