news-record.com

The founding of First Baptist Church in Kernersville was fueled by revival, like the beginning of many churches, but the 10 charter members couldn’t envision the hard work that the church would face during the next 125 years.

Founder’s day was Aug. 30, 1884, when three men and seven women were led to begin a Baptist church in this small, crossroads community.

Even a tornado that destroyed the first building constructed by the congregation simply made those pioneers work harder to enlist people in the church.

The present congregation will reflect on the fruits of 125 years of laboring for their spiritual mission with a special service at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 20 . It will be led by the church’s 26th pastor, Stephen Martin.
Normally, services are 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., but these will be combined for the celebration service, Martin said.

A covered-dish luncheon in the fellowship hall will follow the pastor’s sermon. “We’re keeping things simple: worship, celebration and fellowship,” Martin said. That perhaps could be the church’s spiritual motto.

Church members point to history to illustrate both blessings and tribulations of the many people who have toiled and worshipped at First Baptist, Kernersville, through the years. “The church showed steady growth through the ’80s,” said Dewitt Rhoades, a member for 50 years.

The church has about 700 members, with about 350 of those active, said Anna Ruppert, chairwoman for the anniversary planning committee.

At the time collections were begun for construction of the church’s first building in 1886 — a single level, brick building at Cherry and Mountain Streets — there were only 11 members. By 1890 the church was in a “self-sustaining position,” according to the church’s recorded history. The Rev. Henry Sheets had become the fourth pastor, and membership hit 57 by 1893.

The church changed pastors 18 times from its beginning with the Rev. D.C. Culbreth serving until 1930, and the Rev. E.F. Baker became First Baptist’s first full-time pastor. Baker’s salary was meager, one member said. “So he brought his cow to church with him and tied it in the front yard of the church to eat grass there.”

Membership was 128 by 1914; 453 by 1943; 690 by 1959; 743 in 1964; and 1,031 in 1978. On the 100th anniversary in 1984, membership was 1,111.

Beginning with construction of the brick structure, which was razed by a tornado on Aug. 30, 1893, First Baptist has built four churches and made expansions.

The second building was a wooden structure built on the foundation of the building destroyed by the tornado. It was built in only four months after the destruction of the brick building.

With membership growing, the third building was constructed on North Main Street and the first service was held on April 27, 1916. That facility is now owned by Main Street Baptist Church.

On Sept. 11, 1960, the first service was held at the church’s current 401 Oakhurst St. location, where the church has a large campus and impressive education and worship facilities.

Lydia Fitzgerald remembers her teen years spent worshipping in the Oakhurst facility. That’s where her father, the Rev. Homer Good, was the pastor and where she met her husband, Bud Fitzgerald. The Fitzgeralds remain active in First Baptist.

“It was a real challenge (building the church) but we were determined to do it,” Lydia Fitzgerald said. “I think we did it well.”

Some members didn’t want to change locations, and a few members were lost in the transition, she said.

“This is a very loving and caring church; it is like one big family,” she said. “We also have a real good homebound ministry.”

First Baptist has helped establish three churches in areas outside of Kernersville — Union Grove Baptist in 1911; Colfax Baptist in 1955-56; and The Summit Community Church in 1999.

The Rev. E.F. Baldwin probably wasn’t surprised with the efforts.
He’s known as the revival preacher who lit the spiritual fire for organizing a Baptist church in the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. John Hepler, Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Moore, Charles Lipscomb, Rebecca Carter, Mrs. B.A. Brown, Virginia Stockton, Lucy Kirk and Lacy Ann Lemar.

Baldwin was known to follow his heart and along the way inspire others. He later became a missionary in Africa.

Contact Bob Burchette at bburchette@triad.rr.com