A combination of factors goes into the organization of the Lovejoy Baptist Church and in an effort to include every facet of our church beginning, we must first look at from whence we came. Namely, The Mount Olive Baptist Church. In 1914, when Reverend C. H. Richardson was pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, there was a great upheaval in the church which led to a split. Reverend Richardson and some of the members left the church and established a new church. The Lovejoy Baptist Church. The church was organized in the home of Dea. Duncan Johnson.

Their first pastor, the Reverend Johnson Harris, was called and ordained by this little group. They had been holding weekly fireside prayer meetings under his direction until they felt a need for a house of worship. They then got busy and raised four hundred dollars and purchased the site at Branham Avenue and Grover Street and Mr. Ed. Holder built the first little frame church. A year and a half later, the Reverend Cochran came and served as pastor until 1916. In 1917, the Reverend U. W. Long from Anniston, Alabama, was called and labored hard for two years working and organizing the church further.

In 1920, the Reverend John Lawson Vaughn from Alabama City, Alabama was recommended and later called to pastor Lovejoy. Reverend Vaughn began at once praying, singing, striving and organizing for a greater Lovejoy Baptist Church. In order to accommodate the crowd, he had to decide to make the church larger or build a new one. Well, he built.

The State Convention was invited to Rome, Georgia as guest of the Lovejoy Baptist Church; therefore, under the leadership Reverend Vaughn, an annex with Sunday School rooms and dining facilities were built and these seem adequate for a few years longer.

There was still more progress made under this great leader. Although this time, progress was made because the church burned down in March 1955. Reverend Vaughn decided to build for the future. A brick building presently stands today in all of its beauty as a monument to this man's great leadership of fifty years. Also, recognition goes to the many followers who served here until their deaths, and to those who are still here, laboring and praying for the church --our own Lovejoy Baptist Church.

Following the pastorate of Reverend Vaughn the congregation then called the Reverend R. R. Burley from Decatur, Georgia in October 1971. Under his leadership many improvements were made to the church structure; namely, the front of the church was renovated, remodeling of the annex was begun, a new communion table, piano, and organ were purchased and a new P. O. system was installed.

In April 1977, the Reverend Curtis J. Cofield, a native of Montgomery, Alabama became the next pastor of the Lovejoy Baptist Church.

In January 1983, the Reverend O. J. Kinard became the pastor of Lovejoy Baptist Church. Under his leadership, a handicap ramp was built, a sidewalk was poured on the Grover Street side of the church, the parsonage in Chulio Hills was purchased and wheels were set in motion to purchase the lot at 334 Branham Avenue.

The Reverend Carey N. Ingram, a native Roman, was called to pastor Lovejoy in October 1987. Church growth under his administration is as follows:

• began a radio ministry "The Upper Room Experience
• church instituted the Reverend J. L. Vaughn Day
• pictures were hung in the church annex and the church in memory of Reverend Vaughn
• re-instituted Mission Day on the fifth Sundays with funds being sent to the Foreign Mission Board
• started the J. L. Vaughn Tape Ministry Scholarship Program
• instituted the first Sunday baby dedication service
• started a Food and Clothing Pantry and Tutorial Program
• started an Evangelism Ministry
• adopted Anna K. Davie School
• founded Lovejoy Community Services, which was incorporated in 1993

On August 1, 1997, the church voted in favor of Reverend Ingram becoming a full-time pastor at Lovejoy Baptist Church. During Reverend Ingram's tenure at Lovejoy, he has licensed 6 men for ministry. The church has grown to the extent of having an 8:00 am service in addition to the 11:00 am worship service in order to meet the demands of the members in attendance. Reverend Ingram had a vision for building a Life Center and in the spring of 2004, the "Joy" Life Center officially opened. The "Joy" Life Center continues to be an inspiration to the church and community.