The Sharon Missionary Baptist Association will celebrate 100 years of service this week.

“It is an arm of the Virginia Baptist State Convention, which started in 1914,” said Dr. Kevin White, pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church in Chesapeake and the current moderator of the association.

The organization was formed to bring the local churches together when the Virginia Baptist State Convention was not in session, White said. It provided the funding for the Nansemond Collegiate Institute and supported other entities that were supported by the state convention.

In later years, the association developed a youth department and women’s auxiliary. It continues to support both foreign and local missions and holds workshops, seminars and training, White said.

This week’s festivities will kick off with a youth concert at 7 p.m. Monday at New Mount Olivet Baptist Church, 1000 County St.

The remainder of the celebration will take place in Suffolk, beginning with a luncheon Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, 100 E. Constance Road, at 11:45 a.m. Past moderators of the association will be recognized, with those still living receiving a plaque and the churches and families of those who are deceased receiving special recognition.

The official opening ceremony will be held at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 125 County St., at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Metropolitan will host sessions, lectures and workshops beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day. Evening services will be held at 7 p.m. each night, with White closing out the celebration on Thursday.