About Us

The Gulf Coast Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress has been in existence for nearly a century! The Congress was established in 1918 at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Long Beach, Mississippi. Congress participants comprised of churches located in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. Brother B.F. Matthews of Bethel Baptist Church in Biloxi, MS was elected as the first Congress President. He served faitfully as Congress President from 1918 to 1925. Brother John Barnes of First Baptist Church of Handsboro, Mississippi served as the second president. Brother Willie Conley served as the third president. In 1934 Reverend Famous McElhaney, a member of Little Rock Baptist Church, became the fourth president. Reverend McElhaney implemented the 45 minute departmental classes for the subjects - School of Missions, Church Music, and Superintendents and Teachers. In 1940 the Congress enrolled in the National Sunday School and B.T.U. Congress for the first time!