USA > North Carolina > Cabarrus County > The First fifty years : a history of the Cabarrus Baptist Association of North Carolina > Part 6
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June 21, 1983. A Special Called Session
of the
Cabarrus Baptist Association, at Royal Oaks
Baptist Church.
Ralph Hartsell, Chairman, Facilities
Study
Committee, presented the recommendation from the
Executive Board of March 23, 1983. The Executive Board of the Cabarrus Baptist
Association recommends to the Association the following :
(1) That the property consisting of lots 21-22 in the LePhillip Office Park be purchased at the combined price of $78,000. (2) That the Trustees of the Cabarrus Baptist Association be instructed to pursue the closing of this transaction as early as feasible following a satisfactory soil engineering report. (3)
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That a Building Committee, composed of nine (9) persons be appointed by the Moderator in consultation with the Facilities Study Committee.
Size of lots: 240 feet frontage, 271 feet left
side,. 293 feet right side, and 240 feet, rear.
Utilities: City water, sewer and electricity. Mr. Hartsell made a motion that this
recommendation be adopted. It was seconded. The
Director of Missions showed some slides of the
property in question. Discussion followed. A vote was taken. The motion was defeated. August 29, 1983. Executive Board
Meeting at
Bethlehem Baptist Church.
J.
Ed
Hall,
pastor
of
Pitts Baptist
Church,
brought the following recommendation the from the Facilities Study Committee: We recommend that Facilities Study Committee be expanded to no less than eighteen and no more than twenty-one members. This expanded committee to make recommendations at a later date. The motion was seconded and carried.
Purchase of additional property. Russell L. Willis, Director of Missions spoke to the Executive Board: "First, let me give a background for what I want to say to you tonight. The Cabarrus Baptist Association is the eighth largest in the State. We started our Associational program with a residence and office combined, the office in the front room of the building . The property next door was purchased for a parking lot. We have seven window air conditioners in the building. One central air unit would be much cheaper to operate than seven. City guidelines prohibit certain changes in both the present building and parking lot. Our programs have advanced. Before they can advance any further there will have to be some changes.
In the Facilities Study Committee guidelines there is a misunderstanding -- lots for consideration for relocating the Mission office had to be within those guidelines.
Here is some information for your consideration tonight. The old house adjoining our present parking lot is available at $31,900. It is listed for tax
purposes in excess of $30,000. However, the Building and Loan has contacted us and offered to sell us this property for $34,500 which is the balance owed by the defaulting party.
The Missions Committee and the Facilities Study Committee unanimously recommend that we purchase this property while it is available. This does not remove the responsibility of the Facilities Study Committee to do an adequate study of the needs".
A motion was made that the recommendation be adopted and the property in question be purchased.
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The motion was seconded. motion carried.
Discussion followed.
The
Annual Meeting with October 24-25, 1983 -
Southside, West Point, and
Fletcher. Hartsell, Jr.
Glorieta Churches.
brought a recommendation
from the Facilities Study Committee asking the Association for authority to secure an option on any property that may become available until it can be brought before the Association for consideration. The amount not to exceed $3,000.
J. Ed Hall then made a
motion to that effect. The motion was seconded. Mr. Hartsell explained in more detail the idea behind the motion. The vote was taken. The motion carried.
Special Information. Bright Light Baptist Church contributed money to help construct a Children's Home in Puerto Rico. First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, observed their Seventy-fifth Anniversary.
November 22, 1983. Executive Board Meeting with Royal Oaks Baptist Church.
A Progress report on Facilities Study Committee: The sub-committee has exercised an option on a piece of property on Highway 29, presently the Food Mart property. It is listed at a value of $165,000. The sub-committee met with the owner and offered $135,000. The owner wants $150, 000. Our offer is for that amount with $89,000 cash, $65,000 to be financed at ten percent. We paid an option of $1,000 and will have a period of 120 days to decide.
February 20, 1984. Executive Board Meeting at Shadybrook Baptist Church.
J. Ed Hall, gave a report on the Facilities Study Committee for information only. Our committee has made an offer of $135,000 for the property on Highway 29. This
offer was refused. The asking price is $165,000. We think the property is worth it. We met last Sunday and voted to pursue this piece of property at $165,000.
May 21, 1984. Executive Board Meeting with Poplar Grove Baptist Church. ACTS in the Association. Reverend Ray Pennell, pastor of North Kannapolis, acting for Clyde Hawkins, chairman of the committee to study the feasibility of the ACTS ( American Christian Television System) for our Association, brought the following recommendation: I move: (1) That the Cabarrus Baptist Association contract with the Radio and Television Commission to provide American Christian Television System (ACTS) to the Cabarrus Association geographical area. (2) That satellite receiving equipment be purchased from the Radio and Television Commission, and that an amount not to exceed $12,000 be taken from present reserve funds. This amount to be repaid from enrollment fees. (3) That enrollment be open to member churches who maintain an unrestricted amount contribution of not
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less than $200 to the Cabarrus Baptist Association and $400 to the Cooperative Program. (4) That a one-time enrollment fee of $4500 be paid by each church participating in the ACTS program. Each participating church to have one member on the Board and that the Director of Missions of the Cabarrus Baptist
Association also be a member. The motion was seconded. £ Discussion followed. The motion carried. Brotherhood Report: Our churches under the leadership of the Baptist Men played an important role in the Tornado Disaster Relief during the Spring of 1984, caused by a Tornado that swept through some of South Carolina and North Carolina.
Report on Bid for Property. J. Ed Hall, chairman of the Facilities Study Committee, reported that his committee made a bid on the property on Highway 29 for $165,000 but we did not get the property, so we will keep looking for other property.
October 29-30, 1984. - Annual Meeting with Enochville First, Poplar Grove, and Kannapolis First Baptist Churches.
General Board Report: One of the highlights of the Associational year for Cabarrus Baptists has been making provision for the American Christian Television System (ACTS) to be available to churches in our geographical area. To enroll, a one-time fee of $500 for each participating church is required.
The Sunday School reported that fifteen churches
participated £ in an Associational Sunday School Enlargement Campaign, April 7-15, 1984.
Special Information: Bright Light Baptist Church contributed $1,000 to the Central Cabarrus Bible Club and $2,000 to the support of a Children's Home in Puerto Rico.
Concord First Baptist Church, ordained two women for the deaconship.
Mark Bumgardner, son of Jackson Park's pastor, was commissioned by the Foreign Mission Board as a Journeyman to Antigua.
First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, observed their Seventy-fifth Anniversary.
McGill Avenue Baptist Church ordained two women as deacons, the first women ever elected.
Executive Board Changes Name .
November 26, 1984. General Board Meeting with
Parkwood Baptist Church. The Executive Board name has been changed to General Board in order to bring it in line with the purpose in the Association.
The Facilities Study Committee of 21 are still looking for appropriate property on which to build a new Associational Office Building. More space is needed. Pray with us that we will find it.
February 25, 1985. General Board Meeting with Eastwood Baptist Church. The Director of Missions,
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Russell Willis, informed us that the Cable Network was ready to show ACTS, but the unwillingness lies in the corporate level. A request was made from Mr. Melton for the number of churches and enrollment of members in the Association.
May 20, 1985. A Special Called Meeting of the Association, meeting at McGill Avenue. Reverend Victor Trivette, pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church, and co-chairman of the Facilities Study Committee made the following motion: I make a motion that the trustees of the Cabarrus Baptist Association be authorized to purchase real property located in the City of Concord, County of Cabarrus, State of North Carolina, being known as and more particularly described as number 1549 Ridge Avenue. House and land
approximately 4.92 acres for the sum of $50,000 contingent upon completion of appropriate re-zoning for purpose of construction of
an office of the Cabarrus Baptist Association and further contingent upon the property's sanitary sewage septic purposes. The motion was seconded by Jim Cox. Russell Willis, Director of Missions, was asked to explain the
information sent out prior to the meeting and to Discussion followed and the
answer any questions.
question was called . The vote was taken and the motion carried.
August 26,1985.
General Board Meeting with
Centerview Baptist Church.
The Director of Missions, Russell Willis, announced that the proposed property purchase was vetoed because of septic tank problems. The Health Department would not okay additional septic tanks and the present one on the property was not working adequately. The Facilities Study Committee is still studying possible sites and will bring a report in the future.
October 28-29, 1985. - Annual Meeting with Calvary, Brookdale, and Oak Ridge Baptist Churches.
The Freddie Gage Crusade £
was held in the Association, June 16-21, 1985, with 988 decisions, 546 for salvation, 311 re-dedications, and 131 others such as letter, etc.
Brotherhood Report : During December , 1984, fourteen Baptist Men's groups participated in "Help the Needy" project by winterizing homes, cutting firewood, delivering grocery bags, and providing some clothing .
Partnership Evangelism Campaign: The Director of Missions, Russell Willis, reported that during March 8-18, 1985, fifty-nine people participated in a Partnership Evangelism Campaign in Guatemala. Thirty-nine went from our Association. Over 600 decisions that resulted in baptisms were made during those days of revival (We voted to participate in the
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Partnership Evangelism Project, which turned out to be Guatemala, with the Foreign Mission Board) .
Special
Information :
First
Baptist
Church,
Concord, re-located from the downtown area to 200 Branchview Drive, SE., in July, 1985.
West Point Baptist Church in Kannapolis, observed their Fiftieth Anniversary, July 28, 1985.
Jackson Park member, Judy Honbarrier, Missionary to Ghana and William E. McCall, Missionary to Togo, were united in marriage at Jackson Park Baptist Church, on August 17, 1985. They will return to serve together in Lome, Togo, on September 26, 1985.
November 25, 1985. General Board Meeting with Kerr
Street Baptist Church. The Director of Missions reported : He would be meeting with the Health
Department to check about further testing on the property the Association is interested in.
A Second trip to Guatemala: is being planned for
November, 1986. We need 18 persons with skills of for trade level , brick and block layers, etc.
construction of a new Baptist Church building in
Guatemala . A motion was made that we set this as our goal. It was seconded and carried.
February 24, 1986. General Board Meeting with Calvary Baptist Church. Charity Baptist Church seeks Re-admittance. Reverend A.G. Ferris, chairman of the Mutual Care Committee, reported that Charity Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, has made a written request for permission to participate in the ministry of the Cabarrus Baptist Association pending the action taken by a vote during the next Annual Meeting, October 27-28, 1986. The motion was seconded and the vote carried.
Liquor-by-the-Drink. The Finance Chairman, J. Ed Hall, brought a recommendation from his committee that we give $500 to the Citizen's for Better Choice group to help fight liquor-by-the-drink referendum in the City of Concord, March 18, 1986. The motion was seconded and carried.
The Director of Missions was asked about the status f the property that the Facilities Study
Committee was interested in. He stated that after thorough testings of the ground on the property we sought to purchase (the one next to the 4.92 acres on Ridge Avenue ) that it will not perk. Therefore the property will be of no value to the Association.
March 23-30, 1986. Report from the Director of Missions: Thirty-two churches participated in the GOOD NEWS AMERICA SIMULTANEOUS REVIVALS.
We had eighty-six professions of faith reported, nine moved their letters. A total of 7,440 copies of the New Testament were distributed by the churches.
May 6, 1986. - Annual Meeting of the WMU with
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Franklin Heights Baptist Church.
Woman's Missionary Union celebrated their 50th
Anniversary in the Cabarrus Baptist Association. Women who had been in WMU for 50 years or more were recognized. Pastors introduced their respective members and each lady was given an opportunity to say a few words.
Missionary speakers were: Dr. Larry Phillips, Lima, Peru, and Mrs. Otis (Martha) Brady, Belize.
Executive Committee Meeing, August 7, 1986. A letter of resignation from Harry Moore, Associational Clerk was received and will be presented to the next General Board Meeting. A motion was made to ask each church in the Association for a contribution in honor of Mr. Moore's faithful service. A goal of $2300 was set. One hundred dollars for each year of service.
Mr. Moore has recently spent many hours working on a history of the Association. A motion was made to present him with an honorarium of $500 for compiling the history of Cabarrus Baptist Association.
August 25, 1986. General Board Meeting at North Kannapolis Baptist Church.
Resignation of Associational Clerk: Reverend Harry Moore, who has served as Associational clerk for 23 years has resigned due to poor health. Appreciation was expressed for his dedicated service to Cabarrus Baptist Association for these many years. Mr. and Mrs. Moore recently compiled a history of the Association for the past 50 years. It is presently being typed and we hope to have copies for the Annual Meeting in October.
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SECTION THREE
ANNUAL DEDICATIONS
IN MEMORY OF
1963-
Dr. Erbert Snyder Summers Reverend Thompson Cornelius Stallings
1964-
Reverend Rex Wilson West
1969-
Reverend Robert "Bob" F. Gardner
1974-
Reverend Horace V. Kinney
1977-
1980-
Charles C. Coffey, M.Div., LL.D Reverend Floyd R. Willis
IN HONOR OF
1952- 1972- 1986-
E. S. Summers, DD (Our first Moderator) Reverend and Mrs. Thurman W. Allred Reverend Harry J. Moore
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A SHORT HISTORY OF FIVE OF THE OLDEST BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE CABARRUS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
(They are recorded according to their age)
COLDWATER
OLDEST BAPTIST CHURCH IN CABARRUS AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES
Among the early settlers in Cabarrus County were some Welsh-English Baptists who settled on Coldwater Creek, a tributary of Rocky River.
From this group eventually came the Coldwater Baptist Church. Coldwater history goes back a long way. According to the "Annual Register of the Baptist Denomination in North America" which was written by him, in 1790 John Asplund, came to Mecklenburg County (as it was then) and found one church of forty members, the Coldwater Baptist Church, a member of the Sandy Creek Baptist Association, headed by James McCabe.
In December 1791 messengers from Coldwater; Levi Corzine, Nicholas Corzine, and George Ross, attended a Union Meeting at Eaton's Baptist Church in Davie County.
William McGraw in May 1819, made a deed to the Baptist Congregation or Society on the Charleston Road and the West side of Coldwater Creek. The cost of the property was $4.00.
A DIVISION AMONG THE MEMBERS
During 1819 a division arose in the church. The majority held to what is known as "Hard Shells" and claimed the property.
During this time the church was affiliated with the Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Association, reporting a membership of thirty-five at the Annual Meeting of 1839.
In 1863 a revival was held in the community by Reverend Joe McClure and Reverend Silas Fincher, Missionary Baptists from Union County assisted by Davis and Whitehead. The church was organized at this time. Most of them were Missionary Baptists, and the church belonged to the Brown Creek Association reporting a membership of twenty-three in 1868. By 1870 Coldwater had joined the Rocky River Association, remaining in it for fifteen years.
The Hard Shell Church objected to the Missionary Church using the house of worship and in 1880 locked
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the doors. This led the Missionary group to worship at the house of J. C. Corzine until 1884, when W. J. Brafford, J. W. Fisher, and J. C. Corzine bought a one acre lot on Camden Road from the Trustees of the Bear Creek Association for thirty-five dollars. From 1886
to the present day the church first known as Coldwater, then Old Field, again became Coldwater, has been Missionary Baptist.
When the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus Missionary Baptist Association organized in 1886 they met with Coldwater. In order to enlarge the cemetery the church added another acre to the property in 1903.
From 1904-1914 no church records in any detail
were kept. From 1914-1927 the doors of the church were closed. The building was reopened in 1927 and they called Reverend Mangum Luther Ross as pastor.
The depression years were a time of growth for the church which had fifty-one members.
When the Cabarrus Missionary Baptist Association was organized on October 8, 1935, Coldwater joined.
On November 30, 1947, a Baptist Training Union
and Vacation Bible School were organized. They already had a Brotherhood and WMU.
The present church building, surrounded by a well-kept cemetery, was built in 1955, during Reverend Farrell L. Shimpock's tenure.
Mount Carmel Baptist Church is a mission out of Coldwater.
It was a sad day in Coldwater's history when on August 13, 1967, because of disappointment over differences of beliefs, a large number of the members were given their letters of dismission. This group later formed another church.
The church's fellowship building was completed in April, 1986 under Ray Harrington's pastorate.
The present pastor is Reverend Billy Freeman .
-- Excerpts of "A Short History of Coldwater Baptist Church of Cabarrus County North Carolina" by Amnaris Faggart Miller.
Used by permission.
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HOWELL'S BAPTIST CHURCH, MIDLAND, NORTH CAROLINA
SECOND OLDEST - 1857 (Oldest Church with Continuous Operation)
Special credit is given to Miss Letha Snyder of Concord, for much of the historical material found in this writing.
In the year 1850, August ll, fifty-two signatures were affixed to the following record. "Wea the under signers promise to pay the sums annext our names for the purpose of building a Missionary Baptist Church at or near the Howell's schoolhouse."
On June 11, 1853 the following record. "Wea the undersigned do pay the sums annext our names for the support of the Gospel at a school house near Mr. Joseph Howell's to bea paid by the first of September next for the labors of last year and this year by J. M. Garrison." This record has eighteen signatures.
The first church building was built of logs and served as the beginning church for Missionary Baptist in Cabarrus County.
Another distinguishing first in Cabarrus County took place when Mr. Jacob Monroe Mccurdy was the first person to be baptised in the county as a Missionary Baptist, after having joined Howell's Church in 1853. Note that the church was known at this time as Garrison Baptist, but was changed to Howell's four years after this event. In 1880, this man was ordained to the ministry, after having preached as a "Licentiate" for many years.
A deed of trust dated the seventeenth of August, 1854, between Joseph Howell and Jacob Mccurdy, agent for Garrison Baptist Church was recorded. £
"Witnessed that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of twelve dollars to him paid in hand, paid by said party of the second part." The original property consisted of about three and a quarter acres.
"Following the transfer of this property, plans
were made for a more adequate house of worship. Lumber was hauled from Stanly County on an old "tar" wagon drawn by four horses. It is believed that this church building was not completed and occupied until the year 1857, at which time the name of the church was changed to Howell's Missionary Baptist Church to honor the name of the one from whom the land was acquired."
The early ministers serving the church had to come quite a distance. Some of these early pastors were: Thomas Mason, Camden, South Carolina; E. David, James M. Garrison, Fort Mill, South Carolina; John S. Croxton, Lancaster, South Carolina; and A. L. Stough, Troy, North Carolina.
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The War Between the States, and the
reconstruction period, presented many difficulities in every endeavor, but the Missionary Baptists remained faithful, even through the many hardships. This may be seen in excerpts from a letter to the Moriah Baptist Association of which the date is uncertain, but sometime during these years. "The Howell's Baptist Church of Jesus Christ to the Moriah Baptist Association sendeth Christian salutations. Dear Brethren; it is with pleasure we hail the approach of another anniversary of our association when we hope to meet you by letter and by delegates in association capacity."
At the writing of this letter to Moriah Association, Reverend E. C. Williams had been serving as pastor for seven years, "serving without price to the church. " Also, "We have absented the second Sabbath as a day of prayer for our soldiers and our cause, and brethren, we hope that all will continue to plead with God for His blessings on us and our cause. " The names of the two delegates to the Associational meeting were named: "We have delegated our beloved brethren to sit with you. J. M. McCordy and J. M. Howell. "
In 1874, Reverend W. W. Johnson was pastor and the church membership was thirty-four. From 1874 to 1891, according to records available, efforts on the part of the members of Howell's Baptist Church 41 resulted in the organization of the First Baptist Church of Concord, North Carolina, and according to the minutes of the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus Association which met in 1888, the Reverend Jacob M. Mccurdy of Howell's Church, gave the first dollar to the cause.
Beginning in 1891 a church conference was held on Saturday before the second Sunday of each month. The church was very strict in its discipline, and often, members were excluded from fellowship with the church for failing to live according to Christian principles. However, they were gladly restored when they came asking forgiveness for their mistakes.
Reverend J. W. Griffin was pastor in 1891, but little is know of his work.
In 1896, Reverend C. J. Black was called as pastor and served the church until 1906. Two additional acres of land were purchased, and the present church building was erected. When this building was completed, the church indebtedness was only 75¢. On completion of the building, the Sunday School, which was organized in 1869, was re-organized with D. W. Garmon as superintendent.
From 1896 until 1933, very little is known about the church. From 1933 to 1939, Reverend C. E. Baucom was pastor. The B. Y.U. received much emphasis during his pastorate. On December 20, 1936, a Constitution
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and By-Laws were approved. This business was moderated by Reverend Baucom, and was presented by the drafting committee consisting of J. F. Vanderburg, Chairman; J. F. Little, and D. J. Dorton, with Mr. Dorton serving as clerk. In 1940, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stallings gave a parcel of land to the church. Reverend J. A. Seymore served the church from 1940 until 1942.
In June 1951 the first Vacation Bible School was started and in 1954, the property adjoining the church was purchased for the purpose of building a pastorium, but work was not started on the building until after Reverend A. B. Cranford was called as pastor in 1954.
Around 1960, under the leadership of Reverend Hermon Green, two rooms used by the Juniors and Primaries were added, and the building bricked.
In 1966, during the pastorate of Reverend Raiford Cook, land was purchased on Highway 601 for a new pastorium.
This project was completed in 1968. Reverend V. D. Phillips was the first minister to occupy it.
In 1971, Reverend James F. Hartis became pastor and new carpet was installed in the church sanctuary, and the pews were re-finished.
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