In 1880 the Rev. W.R. Buehler, a German Lutheran minister who had worked for five years as a missionary in Africa, moved with his family to Green Bay, VA. Soon after his arrival, the local African American community asked him to preach to them and teach their children because he had served in Africa. Though reluctant at first, he agreed after seeing their living conditions. The Lutheran Mission Board approved his appointment in Green Bay, and Mrs. Buehler donated land and logs for a chapel-school that was built for $200 and dedicated in 1881. Because the Buehlers helped the local African American community, their neighbors ostracized them, but Rev. Buehler continued teaching and working in the Black community and became widely known. In 1883 he accepted an invitation to preach in Doswell Town near Meherrin and moved his school and church there. This became the first Black church to own its own parsonage and cemetery. Soon afterward, Rev. Buehler retired because of poor health. A series of preachers followed him, and the church kept growing. By 1892, the Sunday school had 106 members and the Christian Day School had 54 pupils. The day school later took in many children from Prince Edward County when the schools were closed, requiring extra classes. In 1963, when the school's main teacher, Mrs. Rahab Jackson, retired, economic pressure forced the school to close, but the church continued to flourish and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1983.