On Mobile Street in Citronelle, Alabama, Memorial Baptist Church has gathered for worship since the late 1950s. The congregation grew out of a 1957 census of the town that showed more than three hundred unchurched Baptists living in or near Citronelle, and it has remained a steady presence at the corner of Mobile and Williams Streets ever since. Today the church runs a full slate of Sunday and Wednesday programming for every stage of life, supported by choirs, handbells, and an active online presence.
From a 1957 Census to a Family Life Center
The story began when members of First Baptist Church of Citronelle started meeting weekly to plan and pray about launching a second Baptist church. On August 11, 1957, thirty-five people met at the Baptist Assembly chapel and voted to form the new church. The charter members included deacons, Sunday school teachers, and nursery workers from First Baptist, and within weeks things began to move.
On September 14, 1957, the congregation called Rev. William Dossett as its first pastor. The new body adopted the Articles of Faith of the Southern Baptist Convention and continued meeting at the Assembly Chapel while committees searched for land. They eventually acquired a lot in the Laird Subdivision at the corner of Mobile Street and Williams Street. Members sawed, nailed, and painted the building themselves, and once the frame and roof were up they held their first service with two buckets hung from poles for lighting and planks laid on concrete blocks for seating. Pews were not purchased until 1960; until then, cane-bottom ladder-back chairs and benches filled the sanctuary.
Growth continued through the decades. A Family Life Building was begun with a groundbreaking on June 13, 1982, and was dedicated on February 25, 1995, in honor of pastor James C. Weninegar, who had served nineteen years. More than four hundred people attended the morning dedication service, followed by a covered-dish dinner and the formal ceremony, with a bronze plaque bearing his name hung in the foyer.
Memorial has been shepherded by a long line of pastors over the years: William Dossett, Louie Reynolds, Gus Merritt, James C. Weninegar, Freeman Williamson, Scott Hildreth, Eddie Bates, Dino R. Danzey, Justin Carter, and once again Dino R. Danzey.
A Full Sunday on Mobile Street
The week at Memorial centers on a packed Sunday schedule. Sunday Bible Study Groups begin at 9:45 a.m., followed by Morning Worship at 11:00 a.m. In the afternoon, the Handbell Choir rehearses at 4:00 p.m. and the Sanctuary Choir at 5:00 p.m. Children and Youth Bible Study meets at 6:00 p.m., and an evening Worship service is held at the same hour.
The morning worship service is the heart of the week, with tithes and offerings collected during the gathering. Worship is livestreamed on Facebook and on YouTube, and past sermons remain available there for anyone who wants to catch up.
Wednesday Nights of Teaching and Gathering
On Wednesdays the focus shifts to Bible study and student ministry. Kids Activities and Youth Worship begin at 6:30 p.m., running alongside an Adult Bible Study at the same hour. The adult gathering keeps the midweek simple and rooted in Scripture.
Music in the Sanctuary and the Bell Tower
Music is woven through nearly every Sunday at Memorial. Bro. Jerome Williams volunteers as Minister of Music and leads the Sanctuary Choir, the Handbell Choir, and various ensembles and small choir groups. Pianist Connie Richardson, who has been on staff since 2005, and Jackie Davidson provide accompaniment for worship services, and together they have added to the musical life of the church for many years.
The handbells rehearse each Sunday afternoon and the choir follows, preparing the special music, anthems, and choral offerings that are part of the traditional worship tradition the church is known for.
Ministries for Every Season of Life
Memorial organizes its ministry around the seasons of life, and its ministries are open to all at any time, not closed groups. Each one is meant to help people love God, love people, and serve together.
The Children's Ministry welcomes kids with its own programming and activities, including permission forms for any off-campus events. Mackenzie Danzey serves as Nursery Coordinator, providing a safe and happy environment for babies while their families attend small group meetings and worship services.
The Youth Ministry is led by Windol Hare, Minister of Students. The ministry maintains a Facebook presence under "Elevate Memorial Baptist Students" and posts a weekly schedule of meetings and upcoming events. Questions about the student ministry are routed through the church office.
The Adult Ministry serves those ages 30 to 60, encouraging and equipping adults to live out their faith in their families and through their occupations. Activities for this age group are run through small group meetings, fellowships, and outreach projects, with monthly updates.
The Senior Adult Ministry, known as Senior Saints, is very active and always planning its next gathering. Members look for any opportunity to get together, build fellowship, and join other seniors in living their lives for the Lord.
A Pastor Called Twice
Rev. Dino R. Danzey rejoined the Memorial staff in June 2019 for an unprecedented second tenure as pastor, having previously served from February 2010 to July 2016. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama and two master's degrees from Liberty University, and he has been in ministry since 1998. His family ties to the community are part of the story as well; his daughter Mackenzie serves as Nursery Coordinator.
Livestream, Bulletins, and Online Giving
Worship is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, and past sermons are available on the church's Facebook page for anyone who wants to revisit a message. The current bulletin, prayer guide, weekly Bible study slides, and monthly calendar are all published as downloadable PDFs, so members and friends can follow along at home.
Giving is available online through Tithe.ly, in person during Sunday morning worship, by mail to PO Box 466, Citronelle, AL 36522, or by drop-off at the church office during the week. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The church's beliefs are summarized in the Baptist Faith and Message, the doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention that Memorial adopted at its founding. After more than six decades on Mobile Street, Memorial continues to serve as an integral part of the Citronelle community.