Church History 2
The new church building was erected with an approximate cost of $875. Funds were collected by a committee composed of Henry Bolten, C. L. Squires, and Reuben Lynn. Mary J. Lynn collected money amounting to $45 to purchase the beautifully toned bell, of which the community was proud.
A later addition was made to the church building in 1910, and more in 1922 when two Sunday School rooms and a basement were added.
On June 1, 1913, the church passed from quarter time to half time services under the pastorate of Rev. I. J. Slater. It became a full time church June 1, 1930 under the leadership of Rev. W. I. Barkley. 
The current church building was built in 1966 with a seating capacity of approximately four hundred. The building was completely paid for by 1975.
The children's church began meeting in 1971. We were having a great influx of children after we began the church bus routes. We have Nursery, Beginners, Primary, and Junior classes. These classes are up through the sixth grade. In each group they learn Bible verses, songs, and have Bible stories.
In more recent years there have been many improvements around Olive Branch, some small and some quite large. In October 1988 the ceiling space behind the baptistery was enclosed into an attic. Most of the work was done by Bob Steele. This served to make room for choir music and other storage. In 1989 it was decided to put new tile flooring on the main basement floor. Until this time the floor had only been sealed and painted.
Through the efforts of Chuck Coyle, Ferris Pope, and Bob Steele, an all-purpose 40' x 100' building with additional classroom space and a gymnasium was erected behind the church for our teen and AWANA activities. On September 12, 1990 a motion was made for the “all-purpose building” to be named “The Tim Ryser Memorial Building” and the building was dedicated on October 7, 1990. Tim Ryser passed away during his freshman year of high school and was very dedicated in working with young people and children's church. Tim was the son of former pastor Eric Ryser.
During 1991 an International 66 passenger bus was purchased from Sam Lucas and sanded down and painted in our usual white with green trim. Also that year the men along with Morrison Brothers repaired and rebuilt the deck on the south side of the parsonage. An entrance with a ramp was also made on the south side of the parsonage. The Branch, which is a monthly newsletter put out by Pastor Young and Millicent was started in 1991 as an outreach for shut-ins in our community.
The organ needed to be replaced in 1992, so shopping started in March. By April a new $15,000
In July 1995 the terrible holes were fixed at the highway entrances and concrete paving was begun on the driveway and parking areas. In September of 1995, the old 1968 auditorium carpeting was replaced with new gray carpet. This included the main auditorium, choir loft, platform, over-flow classrooms, and cloak room.
Over the years, Dave Love has up-graded the P.A. system, basement Sunday School rooms have been carpeted, and outside air- conditioners have been fenced in. A new roof was put on the main building with additional insulation added to the attic. The eaves were boxed in for better looks and economy. The most recent projects just finished in 1996 were the replacements of the basement door, concrete drives, and parking areas around the entire building.
The Olive Branch Hour aired on WBTO/WQTY at 8:30 every Sunday morning. This program was an outreach of our church from October of 1954 until 2006. It originally aired at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. The only one or two Sundays we missed were when the station tower was hit by lightening. 
Our church has now reached its 161st birthday. We have faced common perils and problems; together we have rejoiced in the manifold mercies of God; together we have rejoiced as newborn souls entered into God's kingdom; together we now join hands and hearts to gaze beyond this earthly kingdom into the heavenly here-after where we shall be dwelling together with those who have gone on before in unbroken fellowship as the ages of eternity roll.
As we travel onward, let us array ourselves in the whole armor of God. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that hinders out progress. Let us ever be looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God. Let us consider Him lest we be wearied and faint in our minds.
The Olive Branch church has progressed through the years, by the efforts of its faithful members and pastors. The sound principles of doctrine and a heritage handed down from the past should be a great inspiration in keeping the Olive Branch Baptist church one of the out-standing rural churches of this section of the state.
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