Paradise Exhibit at the Auburn Avenue Research Library

Preserving voices. Honoring legacy. Shaping history.

Paradise Missionary Baptist Church in Grove Park will celebrate its 160th anniversary with the opening of a historic exhibit on October 11, 2025, at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. This collaboration emphasizes community, shared storytelling, and collective impact, highlighting the church’s enduring legacy of faith, family, and cooperative economics that has strengthened the Bankhead neighborhoods for generations.

The Story Behind the Exhibit

Paradise is celebrating 160 years. What does this milestone mean?

“It means survival, perseverance, and calling. Paradise was founded in 1865, just after the Civil War, when freedom was still fragile and access to education, safety, and dignity were denied to African Americans. For 160 years, God’s providence has sustained us—not just to exist as a church, but to serve our people. Through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and the challenges of today, Paradise has been a lighthouse. This milestone isn’t just about longevity; it’s about the consistent faithfulness of a community that refused to let its voice or its mission be silenced.” - Lead Paster, Dr. Charles A. Harper III.

What role has Paradise played in Atlanta’s history?

“From the very beginning, Paradise has been about more than worship—it has been about leadership. Dinah Watts Pace, often called the ‘Mother of Orphans,’ founded schools, cared for children, and provided stability when few others could. During the Civil Rights era, members of Paradise stood shoulder to shoulder with leaders who reshaped America. And in every season since, Paradise has been both a sanctuary and a launchpad. We’ve raised teachers, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and pastors who have carried the values of faith and service into the wider world.” - Executive Pastor, Rev. S. Tarnace Watkins, Sr.

The Auburn Avenue Research Library is featuring Paradise. Why is that significant?

"The Auburn Avenue Research Library is one of the most important keepers of African American history and culture. To be included in its archives affirms that Paradise’s story is not only the story of one congregation—it is part of the larger story of Atlanta, of Black resilience, of faith communities shaping history. This exhibit allows future generations to see how ordinary people, through extraordinary faith, built institutions that outlasted oppression and created a foundation for the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today.” - Anniversary co-chair, Dr. Arletta Brinson

Why is Paradise partnering with the Auburn Avenue for this exhibit?

"Bringing our history to the Auburn Avenue Research Library is a full-circle moment for our community. As someone who grew up in Atlanta and now educates its children, I understand the importance of making this history accessible. This exhibit ensures that our foundational story, woven into the city'sfabric, is permanently preserved and shared with a broader audience. It is a powerful lesson for all generations about resilience, self-determination, and the enduring power of community" - 160th Anniversary co-chair, Dr. Shaneeka Favors-Welch

Why does preserving church history matter now?
“Because history is the compass for the future. When we preserve the stories of Paradise, we’re not just cataloging events—we’re passing on a roadmap of resilience. Young people today face their own challenges: violence, inequality, housing insecurity, educational barriers. Our history shows them that their grandparents and great-grandparents faced seemingly impossible odds too, but they endured through faith and community. By remembering our history, we remind ourselves and the next generation that God’s hand has been steady and that our responsibility to lead continues.” - Lead Paster, Dr. Charles A. Harper III.