NEWS-HERALD, Wed,,/ Aug. l, 1973 3 Southeastern Baptist Anniversary Committee. Theological Seminary. Assisting her is Mrs. Russel A native of Conway, Rev. Fiske and Joe Jenkins. Pledger is a graduate of Conway High School, has an A.B.degree from Wake Forest University, is a graduate of Duke University Divinity School (BD-M Div.) and has done graduate work at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to serving the Colerain pastorate, he has pastored churches in Raleigh and Ayden, has been a Chowan College trustee, served on the Christian Life and Public Affairs Council of the state convention, is now on the general board, was one of nine directors named from the state convention to the Chrisitan Action League and Dr. W. Perry Crouch was recently named consultant for Region I Cooperative Program Colerain Baptists To Honor Emphasis. Mrs. L. Pastor On 10th Anniversary chairman COLERAiN - The Rev. Climixaing the activities will Bennie E. Pledger will be a 12 :45 p.m. picnic lunch on celebrate his 10th anniversary the church grounds. as pastor of Colerain Baptist Dr. Crouch was formerly Church Sunday, August 1, pastor of the First Baptist beginning with the 11 a.m. Church in Asheville for 20 worship service. years and since 1964 has been In honor of the occasion, Dr. general secretary-treasurer of Perry Crouch of the Baptist the state association. State Convention of North Among other positions held Carolina will give the in the association in the past anniversary sermon, assisted years were on the Radio and by the Rev. Bill Downs, Television Commission, moderator of the West Executive Committee, and owan Baptist Association. chairman of Trustees of the Colerain Baptists To Honor Pastor On l 0th Anniversa

COLE AiN - The Rev. Theological Seminary. Bennie E. Pledger will A native M Cbnway, Rev. celebrate his 10th anniversary Pledger is a graduate of as pastor of Colerain Baptist Conway High School, has an Church Suncray;-Atrgust -c A.B. degree from Wake Forest begliuifog with the 11 a.m. University, is a graduate of worship service. Duke University Divinity School

ERWIN - Bennie' " E. Baptist Church in Raleigh, Pledger, 79, died Friday, June Ayden First Baptist Church, 18, 2004. ,,.c. Colerain Baptist Church, Mr. Pledger was born in Colony Baptist Church in New Northampton County, NC, on Bern, New Hope Baptist October 21, 1924. He was the Church in Whiteville and son of Mamie Lee·. Parks Lennons Cross Roads Baptist Pledger and Richard Norman Church. Since retirement, he Pledger. ..:! has been a member of First Bennie Pledger was preced• Baptist Church in Erwin. ed in death by his father and The family received friends mother and one sister," Lela at Skinner and Smith Funeral Fretwell. Home in Dunn from 6-8 on He is survived by his wife of Monday evening, June 21. 56 years, Willie Eakes Funeral services will be held at Pledger, daughter, Constance 11:30 on Tuesday, June 22 at Pledger Ramey and her hus• the First Baptist Church of band, F. Lyndon Ramey, Jr. of Erwin with the Reverend Steve Linden, and his sister, Virginia Reed and the Reverenq, Brittle of Woodland. Robbie Parker officiating. Mr. Pledger served in the A graveside service will be 101st Airborne Division during held at Pineview Memorial Word War II, and took part in Cemetery in Rocky Mount at Operation Market Garden and 3:30. the Battle of the Bulge. . , Memorials may be made to After the War, Mr. Pledger either the Wake Forest graduated from Wake Forest University Divinity School, PO Univexfil!t_ and Duke Box 1050, Winston-Salem, NC University Divinity School. or to Campbell University Bennie· E. Pledger serv.ed as Divinity School, PO Box 4050, minister of Carolina ' Pines Buies Creek, NC. ([rnth ltnniurttsattl,1

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The Reverend Bennie E. Pledger COLERAIN BAPTIST CHURCH (PASTOR - 1963-1973)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 1973 Colerain Baptist Church Colerain, N. C. Tenth Anniversary Of Pastor August 5, 1973 10:55 A.M. OUR CHURCH PROGRAM Organ Meditation ______Robert G. Mulder, Jr. Welcome and Announcements ---·---- T. E. Brown WORSHIP THROUGH MEDITATIONAND PRAISE Prelude - "Bless This House" Adams *Call to Worship - "Be Glad, All People of This Land" *Scriptural Sentence - Doxology Invocation *Hymn No. 1 ------"Holy, Holy, Holy" Responsive Reading No. 21 ------" ... Church Leaders" Morning Prayer and Choral Response Expression for Association __ The Rev. Bill Downs Moderator, West Chowan Association Anthem - "Fight The Good Fight" Church Choir WORSHIP THROUGH GIVING *Hymn No. 500 "Anniversary Hymn" Offertory Sentence and Prayer Offertory - "Savior, I Long to Be" Hughes Expression for the Church T. E. Brown, Chairman Pastoral Response and Introduction of Speaker WORSHIP THROUGHPROCLAMATION Solo - "The Lord's Prayer" Tommy Davison (U.S.A.F.) Accompanist- Mrs. Tommy Davison ANNIVERSARYSERMON: Dr. W. Perry Crouch General Secretary-Treasurer Baptist State Convention of N. C., Raleigh Invitation to Christ and Church Membership *Hymn No. 41 "To God Be the Glory" Benediction and Choral Response Postlude *Congregation standing Picnic Lunch - 12: 45 ------WELCOME Special Welcome WELCOME to Dr. W. Perry Crouch who is the Leader of Baptist work in North Carolina. Dr. Crouch was Pastor of First Baptist Church, Ashe• ville for 20 years before going to Raleigh as General Secretary. He is a genuine friend of the churches. We are glad to give him a COLERAIN WELCOME. Also a word of WELCOME to the Rev. Bill Downs, Moderator West Chowan and Pastor of Harrellsville - Christian Harbor Churches. EVERYONE - Have a good time in the Lord this day. Bennie E. Pledger BIOGRAPffiCAL INFORMATION

Birth - Conway, Northampton County, N. C. - 1924 Education High School - Conway BA degree - Wake Forest University BD - M.Div. degrees - Duke University Divinity School Graduate Studies - Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Ministers Workshop - Wake Forest University (2 Summers) Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - Continuing Theo. Education Main Fields of Study Wake Forest - Religion and Psychology - College Duke Divinity - Applied Christianity with emphasis on Preaching Southeastern - Crisis Ministry and Pastoral Preaching Family Married - Willie Palmer Eakes of Wake Forest, N. C. Daughter - Constance Lee Pledger, who will he a freshman at Camp• bell College. Pastorates Assistant - Wendell Baptist Church Pastor - Carolina Pines Baptist Church, Raleigh, N. C. Pastor - First Baptist Church, Ayden, N. C. Since 1963 - Colerain Baptist Church, Colerain, N. C. Military Service Served as Combat Paratrooper with 502 Regiment of 101 A/B in Europe during World War II Denominational Service Baptist State Convention Trustee Chowan College (1967-1971) Program Committee Member of 1970 Convention Member of Council on Christian Life and Public Affairs General Board Member (thru 1974) Consultant Region I Cooperative Program Director - Christian Action League (named by B.S.C.) Varied Service Preacher - Baptist Training Union Week - Fruitland While Rotarian was Editor of Rotary Bulletin Chaplain - Alcoholic Sanatorium for two years Active in the Raleigh, South Roanoke and West Chowan Associations, also active in Ministerial Associations in Raleigh and Ayden Interest in seeing churches working together to strengthen witness Highlights Of 1963-1973 1963 - Bennie E. Pledger called as pastor coming from First Baptist Church, Ayden, N. C. - Pastor's study and office facilities prepared and furnished. - A church secretary added to the staff. The church Finance and Stewardship Program was studied in depth and new approaches were made with emphasis on Cooperative Program and an under• standing of designated causes to institutions and agencies of the convention. - A Special Planning and Survey Committee named to study pres• ent program and project plans. 1964 - Began the Easter Sunrise Services which have become annual affair. - Norman L. Coggins called as Minister of Music. - West Chowan Association Annual Meeting held at Colerain. - Dr. Franklin T. Fowler, Medical Consultant Foreign Mission Board, Richmond, Va. launched Foreign Mission Week in December. 1965 - The Pastor and others attended Baptist World Alliance in Miami. 1966 - Robert G. Mulder called as Minister of Music. - Pastor elected Trustee of Chowan College (1967-1970) 1967 - Renovations, painting and remodeling in the altar area. - Pulpit Furnishings - Memorial to William E. "Bill" White by family and friends. - Lighting for the Auditorum - Clarence Wood Beasley Memorial given by Mrs. Beasley and Wood. 1968 - The church purchased the Lawrence property - (This area is now being used for parking and recreation.) 1969 - The church published a book, The Shepherd Who Stayed Behind, a book of poetry by Robert G. Mulder, Jr., Minister of Music of the church. The book was illustrated by Mrs. Eva J. White with an introduction by Bennie E. Pledger, Minister. 1970 - Beautiful New Robes purchased for the Church Choir and a Dedi• cation and Choir Recognition Service held. - The Church and Mid-East Development leadership held a me• morial service for Dewey L. Swain (who died in line of duty while serving as Deputy Sheriff). The speaker was Congressman Walter Jones. 1971 - Pastor elected to General Board of Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. 1972 - Holy Land and Athens Trip by 10 from Colerain area. - The church accepted and dedicated an altar urn in memory of "Alethia" Hughes. - New central heating and air conditioning system installed in Main Building. - The Baptist Youth began a project to build "two tennis courts" which they completed in Summer of '73. - Colerain Baptist had Homecoming Service as part of the 250th Anniversary of Bertie County.