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Auburn Research Library Exhibit Opening


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

 

Paradise Missionary Baptist Church Email: administration@paradiseatlmbc.org  Website: www.paradiseatlmbc.org Phone: (404) 794-3457 

 

Paradise Missionary Baptist Church Celebrates 160 Years with An Exhibit at Auburn Avenue Research Library 

“Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present, Envisioning the Future” 

 

ATLANTA, GA — Paradise Missionary Baptist Church will mark its 160 Anniversary with a historic exhibit opening on October 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. This exhibit brings Paradise and Auburn together in celebration of faith while emphasizing community, shared storytelling, and collective impact. 

The exhibit features a collection of rare photographs, artifacts, programs and other historical records chronicling Paradise's 160-year journey.  The early years are represented, showing the ministry founding by 12-year-old Dinah Watts in 1865. She started the first Sunday School in the Summerhill community and laid the foundation for the Pleasant Grove Church, that became Reed Street Baptist Church and then renamed as Paradise Baptist Church when the congregation moved to the Grove Park community. 

Tracing the story of Paradise across generations, the exhibit includes artifacts of profound change in Atlanta—from the post-Civil War period through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights movement—and spotlights key leaders such as Rev. Dr. E.P. Johnson—a graduate of the first class at Atlanta University who had a public school named in his honor—and Dr. C.N.  Ellis, who established one of the first African-American gospel radio broadcasts in the nation and helped to integrate the City of Atlanta Municipal Auditorium during his 46-year tenure.  

"We chose to partner with the Auburn Avenue Research Library because this story belongs to everyone," said Dr. Charles A. Harper III. "By making our history accessible to the public, especially to the young people of Atlanta, we hope to inspire them with the powerful example of what Black ingenuity and faith can build. This is a story of hope, resilience, and a community that has always found a way to thrive."  

Dr. Arletta Brinson’s family has been part of the Paradise ministry for over five generations. She commented on the significance of 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's fabric, is permanently preserved and shared with a broader audience.”  

For more details and to view the full calendar of events, visit: www.paradiseatlmbc.org/paradise-160th-anniversary 

 

Media Contacts 

Paradise Baptist Church 

Rev. Esther Wilson, MDiv, MA 

Ministerial Staff 

Contact number: 678-464-7802 

 

 

About Paradise Missionary Baptist Church: 

Founded in 1865, Paradise Missionary Baptist Church has been one of Atlanta's oldest and most respected Black congregations. Located in the Grove Park neighborhood at 1711 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW in Atlanta, Georgia. Under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Charles A. Harper III and Executive Pastor Rev. S. Tarnace Watkins, Sr., Paradise offers various ministries, including small groups, women's ministry, and congregational care, fostering a strong sense of community and spiritual development among its members.  

 

About the Auburn Avenue Research Library: The Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History is a premier research facility of the Fulton County Library System. Located t 101 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 in Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn district, it is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans and the African diaspora. 

 

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