PASTOR BARBARA GUNN
Pastor Barbara Gunn excited for the future of Mount Carmel, too
by Colette Funches
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Mount Carmel Baptist Church, in Crestas Terrace, North Versailles, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in November. The name of the church was given by its founders, and it means, “on a mountain.”
The church is located at 90 Port Perry Road. The Rev. Barbara Gunn is the Pastor, who has been with the church for 25 years. She has 350 members, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Gunn said it has impacted the average number of people who attend per week.
“People who come here are invited or led by the Holy Spirit,” Rev. Gunn told the New Pittsburgh Courier.
In 2020, the church opened a COVID clinic in the basement. They partnered with a family health center in Braddock, which sent their registered nurses. “People came from all over. The church clinic gave out vaccinations in the fellowship hall. It was the whole barrage,” Rev. Gunn said.
Others who were very instrumental in the COVID clinic were Dr. Christopher Conti and his wife, Dr. Tracy Conti. Dr. Christopher Conti is pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rankin.
Reverend Gunn attended R.L. Vann School in the Hill District. She then attended Herron Hill and graduated from Schenley High School. She received a M.A. of Theology from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and in 2020, she received a Doctorate of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. Reverend Gunn was called to preach in 1984, ordained in 1988 and called to First Baptist Church in Vandergrift in 1989.
On any given day, Rev. Gunn can be found praying at 5 a.m., then studying or working on her computer preparing sermons. She also visits nursing homes and hospitals, and conducts Bible study classes on Zoom on Wednesday evenings.
At a moment’s notice, Rev. Gunn could be called to minister to those who may be going through marital issues, child counseling, or other issues.
“Members call every day. I try to help them as best I can, either by phone or by going to meet them,” Rev. Gunn said. “Teaching is my strongest gift.”
For those who may be considering becoming a minister, Rev. Gunn said: “Learn the church and let the church learn you. Go into it as if you are never going to leave.”
As Mount Carmel approaches its 100th anniversary, Rev. Gunn touted that the church has a full Sunday School and choir, in addition to its standard worship service. Sunday School occurs each Sunday except the second Sunday of each month, when the church presents “Theological Enrichment Hour” taught by David Odum, a Trustee. Reverend Gunn said the church is currently rebuilding its teenage youth ministry.
The church also has a Vacation Bible School and a summer camp, “Jasmine’s Camp,” named after a young adult named Jasmine, who was the daughter of Deacon and Deaconess Dwight and Karen Claggett. She was a “Make A Wish” baby and had a rare cancer.
“Yet God raised her up,” Rev. Gunn said, and Jasmine graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan University. Jasmine then worked as an athletic trainer at Pittsburgh Obama Academy, but died in 2018. “So we opened a camp in her name,” Rev. Gunn told the Courier. “It is a beautiful, thriving camp.”
Part of the 100th anniversary event schedule will be Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in East Liberty/Larimer as the guest speaker for the anniversary banquet, Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Triveni Center, 275 Center Road, Monroeville. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased by calling 412-609-6760. The banquet begins at 3 p.m.
Then on Sunday, Nov. 3, Rev. Nathaniel Pennybaker of Triedstone Baptist Church will be the guest speaker for the 11 a.m. worship service.
“The church will also honor and give gifts to those at the worship service who have been members for 50 years or since its inception,” Rev. Gunn, who has a daughter, Kelly, and two granddaughters, said.
Reverend Gunn is particularly proud of the fact that many of the officers and members of the church are the offspring of the original people that started Mount Carmel Baptist Church. From the seniors at the church, to those in middle-age, they continue the awesome tradition of the church’s history, Rev. Gunn told the Courier.
The church, for a long time, also owned an old schoolhouse building across the street. Many members who have since passed used to attend school there, the first Black school in the North Versailles community. But Rev. Gunn said that the building has since been donated to the Crestas Terrace Revitalization Project, which is working to turn it back into a community center.
“We are the only African American church in this community,” Rev. Gunn said. “I absolutely love mentoring and nurturing the people of God. So we are going to honor and glorify God to the highest.”