DOCSLIB.ORG

We Remember Our Heritage We Anticipate Our Future Chapter I

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
We Remember Our Heritage We Anticipate Our Future Chapter I WE REM EM BER OUR H ERI TAGE FI RST BAPTI ST CHURCH 1 8 80 1 9 76 Florence Winstead Lee PREFACE ock This is the history of the First Baptist Church , R y NC 1 8 8 0 1 9 76 Mount , , from to , in which we reverently recall how God has worked out his purposes through the mem bers of his Body in this church . We stand in awe and amazement as we view his accomplish ments , using our fragi le strength , undeterred by our weakness , sin , and little faith . May the remembering inspire us and our successors to deeper faith , greater spiritual strength and purer lives , so that the years to come wi ll prove more worthy of our Lord of Lords and King of Kings . Florence W . Lee Church Historian DEDI CATI ON This history is lovingly dedicated to all who worship in this place , past , present , and future generations . t , May the reader find in i s pages a warn ing a guide , and a beckon ing hope . r ohn D Cave D . J . MESSAGE from OUR M I NI STER I never weary of great churches . Mankind was never so ” happi ly inspired as when he made a cathedral , wrote Robert Louis Stevenson . During the past century , the saints of Rocky Mount have been engaged in making a great church . The steel , the stones , the stained glass windows have been united at the corner of Church Street and Western Avenue , giving visible evidence that men and women , boys and girls have taken “ - seriously the injunction of being co laborers with God . However , First Baptist is older than the bui ldings we see or the people we have known who worshipped therein . The church is old in the sense that it is a continuation of the life of ' l . t srael , the people of God I is new in the sense that it is founded on the revelation , made through Jesus Christ , of ’ God s final message for mankind . The thousands that have identified with its message and mission haven ’ t given their i n allegiance to a lost cause , but one of the most permanent stituti ons . of history They have entered in league , not with something local or temporal , but with the divine personality that governs the un iverse itself. The church of the living God was here before these facilities were erected by our forefathers . The land was made and held in reserve by the Creator for this edifice of worship . The gospel we would proclaim was conceived from a crucified - resur rected Christ event . Down the labyrinthian ways of history many strong ambassadors have brought its message to us . We are indeed debtors to the many who have made First Baptist Church a real ity here in Rocky Mount . 1 1 8 8 0 96 On June , , years ago , something sign ificant hap pened here . There was a mystical movement in the minds and m n hearts of i e believing individuals . The stirring within their souls could not be silent . There arose a mind to bui ld , a wi ll to work , and a desire to share a redemptive and edifying message . These living stones ” brought together men and matter to form an edifice of divine worship , a place for scriptural study and Christian fellowship . Every generation which has passed through these ten decades have poured life and love into the ’ d al realization of Go s kingdom here in Rocky Mount , as it is i n a rec i a ready realized heaven . We express our love and pp tion for the labors of many lives making possible this church . The past is prologue . We look back in humble faith on ly to calibrate the compass before advancing forward with hope into the uncertainties of tomorrow . Standing on the pinnacle of great past achievements , we look beyond as Moses on Mount Pisgah viewed Canaan . What do we see beyond Jor dan? What is out there in our Canaan for future conquests? I think the names of the streets which border First Baptist I n . , C give us the clue front it is hurch Street , a main ’ thoroughfare through the heart of Rocky Mount . Christ s church must be kept in the very center of community life . The citizens must be conscious that God ’ s message and people are here to stay . We wi ll not be intimidated . We will remain true to our calling , knocking at the gates of hell , releasing people from bondage , sin and death . Being a church in the inner city wi ll be difficult , demanding and dangerous , for its servants must be involved in social , political , economic and moral areas of the community life . ’ However , at these points the individual s existence is also under assault . If we default by not heralding a redemptive message , both community and individual will be lost . For God ’ s sake and other ’ s let us always be His church in the center of Rocky Mount . There is Western Avenue which runs the length of our “ faci lities . The West recalls the frontier , the place of action , “ conquest and colonization . We canno t stay inner city . God cannot be kept within four walls . We must advance the action to every frontier , out past the city limits into the suburbia , and address ourselves to min ister to those who seek serenity and the security and seclusion of their community . Redemption must work on their sou l as well as upon the concrete streets of downtown . Furthermore , First Baptist must advance beyond Nash and Edgecombe Counties to relate to a world in dire need of life ’ s ’ ’ necessities , man s disciplines and God s grace . No church can a live long that has no great anguish on its heart , nor gre t redemptive music upon its lips . We must not be content in serving on ly the needs within , but the needs of those without . s We go West , pursuing the frontier , colonizing the heart of men and commun ity wherever we go . Our address challenges us to en large the circumference of our concern , to keep our church reaching out that the world may know Him . 20 76 In the year , one hundred years hence , should Christ tarry and another lift the pen and record the history of First ? Baptist of the past century , what will the author write Let thes e be the words . We came . We placed and committed our total self to the work in this location . d n We saw . We pursue the visio of what God n wa ted us to do . We conquered . We claimed the city for Christ . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Special Historical Committee gratefully acknowledges its indebtedness to the persons named herein . To write a histo ry covering so many years would be utterly impossible without the faithful labors of those members who have preceded us and of those who are our contemporaries . Our older adults have . S . T . glad ly shared their memories with the committee Mrs . r A , nderson with her keen mind and sharp memo y , has been especial ly helpful in this area . Some have made outstanding contributions in other ways . Mr . Sam Arrington , church clerk and chairman of the Stand e ing Historical Committ e , has carefully looked after and W B . preserved the church records for many years . Mr . Mid dleton , long a church history enthusiast , has worked for years gathering materials relative to our Sunday School and other churches growing out of the mother church . Many of our members have written brief histories which i n were prepared for special occasions . Al l have been of T . M . s . estimable value The e writers have been Mr Arrington , W D M . , . , r T A Avera , Dr George L Parker Mrs Farmer S . T . Mrs . George Batchelor , Mrs . George Gorham , Sr . , Mrs . Extraordi M . (R Anderson , r Turner Coley oyal Ambassador . R nary) , and Mrs uth Bell who wrote a historical dramatiza “ tion cal led The Prophecy of the Pipes . Special gratitude goes to Mr . John R . Woodard , Director of the Baptist Historical Collection at Wake Forest University , - C. , N . Winston Salem , who graciously researched old Biblical Recorders and other materials for biographical data on our early pastors . To the members of the Special Historical Committee , my vi i i peers and co - laborers who accepted the task of researching “ - and publishing this history , I can on ly say a heart felt thank you . It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to pay homage to my committee listed below . Ex officio members : W B . A , , . Mr Sam rrington Resource Mr Middleton , R esource . R . Dr onald W Higdon and Dr John D Cave , pastors J r . Mr . A . H . Phillips , . , Mr Earl Posey , Mr . George J r . Hooks , , and Mr . Don Johnson , Chairmen of the Board of Deacons from 1 9 7 3 through 1 9 7 6 Research members : J r . A M . , , . rs George Hooks Mrs J Delbridge , Sr , A . L . , M . , M . M Mrs Stancil rs SMam Smith rs ack Brown , iss Fann ie Lee Carter , iss Emi ly Wi lliams , . M , . , . r Roger Lamb Mr John Privott Mr Harry Griffin , . A . L Mr Bi ll Nelms , Mr Russell Edmondson , Mr . Stan C1 1 Mrs . John R . Lee , Chairman and Historian CONTENTS PREFACE DEDICATION MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER I WE REMEMBER OUR BEGINNING HA R 1 1 WE REMEMBER OUR EARLY C PTE TORS PAS CHAPTER III WE REMEMBER OUR LATER PAS TORS CHAPTER I V WE REMEMBER TO PRAISE GOD CHAPTER V WE REMEMBER OUR LEADERS CHAPTER VI WE REMEMBER TO REACH OUT IN LOVE CHAPTER VI I WE REMEMBER TO COMMUNICATE GOOD WILL AND GOOD NEWS CHAPTER VIII WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO KEEP US VIABLE CHAPTER I X WE REMEMBER TO BUILD CHAPTER X WE REMEMBER TO TEACH AND TRAIN CHAPTER X I WE REMEMBER OUR WOMEN ’ S WOR K CHAPTER X I I WE REMEMBER OUR MEN ’ S WOR K CHAPTER X I I I WE REMEMBER OUR VI Ps CHAPTER X IV AS WE REMEMBER OUR HERITAGE WE ANTICIPATE OUR FUTURE CHAPTER I WE REMEM BER OUR BEG I NNI NG Being confident of this very thing , that he which hath begun a good work in you wi ll perform it unti l the day of Jesus Christ i - King James Version Phi lippians To stand firm for 96 years in a rapid ly changing world evokes gratitude and praise to God for his preserving and sus tain ing grace through all our vicissitudes .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • In Cyprus Until ISQG
    This is the fo~erllt in the series of booklets o~~tlii~iiig the history and work of the Covenanter Chz~rcllin fields abroad. The first was a brief sketclt of the begilz~~iilgand growth of the work in South Chii~a.The secoild was air otrtline of the work in Manclzzckuo written bg the Rev. J. G. Vos. The third is the story of tlze work itt Syria written by the Rev. A. J. McFarland, D.D. The foi~rth covers the work ill the Cypr~csfield and is written by Mr. Wilbtcr W. Weir. While tentative efforts had been put forth earlier the CIz~~rchdid not get a real start in Cyprus until ISQG. The work then begun has been carried on contin~~o~rslysince. It started as aiz offshoot of our Syrian Missioia. While the beginning of the work seeirred to have been alinost acci- dental, rather than the result of deliberate p1aniziit.g and foresight, it was intended to be an integral part of the work in Sgria. Bz~tthe event proved that it was the opening of another field with a difJerent lailguage, l~istory and outlook. As the years passed it was found that tlze probleins and conditions were so different, with no coin- moil langr~agesave English, that they became two inde- pendent nzission fields. So in reality the Coveizanter Chzrrch has four fields in latlds ab~oaclwhere it preaches the gospel and lifts up a stanclarcl to which tlze faithful may repair. TJzis brief history is sent otct wilh the prayer that it nzay prove a means of quickening Jresh interest and se- curing more earnest sztpport of tlze work in this field.
    [Show full text]
  • Fifty Years of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand Page 1
    Fifty Years of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand Page 1 Fifty Years of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand FIFTY YEARS Of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand. CONTENTS. PREFACE PART I.—INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I.—NEW ZEALAND. 1. DISCOVERY 2. PIONEERS 3. THE MAORIS 4. MISSION WORK 5. SETTLEMENT CHAPTER II.—PRIMITIVE METHODISM. 1. ORIGIN 2. GROWTH AND DIFFICULTIES 3. CHURCH POLITY AND DOCTRINES PART II.—PRIMITIVE METHODISM IN NEW ZEALAND. CHAPTER I.—TARANAKI 1. NEW PLYMOUTH STATION 2. STRATFORD MISSION CHAPTER II.—WELLINGTON 1. WELLINGTON STATION 2. MANAWATU STATION 3. FOXTON STATION 4. HALCOMBE STATION 5. HUNTERVILLE MISSION CHAPTER III—AUCKLAND 1. AUCKLAND STATION 2. AUCKLAND II. STATION 3. THAMES STATION CHAPTER IV.—CANTERBURY 1. CHRISTCHURCH STATION Page 2 Fifty Years of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand 2. TIMARU STATION 3. ASHBURTON STATION 4. GREENDALE STATION 5. GERALDINE STATION 6. WAIMATE AND OAMARU MISSION CHAPTER V.—OTAGO 1. DUNEDIN STATION 2. INVERCARGILL STATION 3. SOUTH INVERCARGILL MISSION 4. BLUFF BRANCH CHAPTER VI—NELSON 1. WESTPORT AND DENNISTON MISSION CHAPTER VII.—GENERAL EPITOME. 1. CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY 2. SUMMARY ILLUSTRATIONS. REV. ROBERT WARD MAORIDOM GROUP OF MINISTERS AND LAYMEN DEVON STREET, NEW PLYMOUTH MOUNT EGMONT WELLINGTON GROUP OF MINISTERS QUEEN STREET, AUCKLAND FRANKLIN ROAD CHURCH, AUCKLAND CHRISTCHURCH CAMBRIDGE TERRACE CHURCH, CHRISTCHURCH GROUP OF LAYMEN DUNEDIN DON STREET CHURCH, INVERCARGILL Page 3 Fifty Years of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand PREFACE This book owes its existence to a desire to perpetuate the memory of those pioneer ministers and laymen who founded the Primitive Methodist Connexion in different parts of this Colony. The Conference of 1893 showed its approval of the desire by authorising the publication of a Memorial Volume in connection with our Jubilee Celebrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Faithful Abundance the Church's One Foundation
    Build New Churches t JANUARY 2009 t VOLUME 118 t NUMBER 1 Faithful Abundance Ten approaches to faithful stewardship in unsettling times By Patricia Bjorling It would be an understatement practical responses. We must move staff and your church’s members are to say we are living in unsettling stewardship to the center of our all praying for abundant funding Itimes. There is probably not a lives together as Christians, and we for the work of the church, they will single segment of society—from must make sure we are constantly open hearts, uncover new resources Enhance Conference Centers Enhance Conference individuals to institutions—that is educating about stewardship and and reveal unexpected possibilities. not experiencing a measure of fear using best practices in how we t and anxiety about the financial carry out the “mechanics” of annual 2 t Teach abundance. The media future. As Christians, our response stewardship efforts. bombards us daily with stories of must focus both on the spiritual Here are 10 basics for / Stewardship continued on page 6 and the practical. The Rev. Kirk approaching stewardship during a Kubicek, rector of St. Paul’s, Ellicott time such as this. City, Md., makes a good case for a spiritual response: “The current 1 t Pray intentionally crisis is a spiritual crisis of amnesia, for generous hearts. So of forgetting who we are and whose frequently we approach we are.” Giving and stewardship the vital undertaking are a faith response, and giving and of raising funds for Expand Youth Ministries Expand Youth stewardship can suffer when our ministry without asking t trust in God wavers.
    [Show full text]
  • ARK-LA-TEX GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O
    VOLUME 40 THIRD QUARTER 2006 NUMBER 3 PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY ARK-LA-TEX GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. P.o. BOX 4463 SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA 71134-0463 THE GENIE IVOLUME 40 THIRD QUARTER 2006 NUMBER 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES Ancestors of Rosa B. Causey 102 Louisiana Fragments: Bayou Pierre, 131 Land of Yesteryear Ark-La-Tex Genealogical By Blaise C. D' Antoni 132 Association's New Publication 109 Jamestown's and America's 400th Birthday Party 133 Census Squeezing, Consolidated Tips Submitted by Ray Owens and Techniques for Genealogists at All Levels 110 Welcome To Our New Members By Phillip Burnett Adderley 111 Old Coates Graveyard 137 The Knox Family By Dale Jennings Submitted by Cynthia D. Millen 116 Zion Rest Cemetery, Shreveport, LA 138 Researching Claiborne Parish and the • (Continuation) Surrounding Area? ". 124 Tips for Research 139 Gleanings from a Past Genealogical Seminar on Texas Research 124 Indian Hunting Submitted by Herman L. Weiland 125 Exchange Periodical Review 149 Tombstone Cleaning on the Internet Compiled by Constance Whatley Submitted by Ray Owen 126 In Memory of Mrs. Louise Culbertson 150 Marriage Record Definitions for Pratt Mississippi State 127 King/Cason Families of Blackburn , Louisiana DEPARTMENTS By Brooksey King 101 The President's Message 129 Descendants of July Causey By Isabelle Woods " ©2006 Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association, Inc., Shreveport, Louisiana ARK-LA-TEX GENEALOGICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. Post Office Box 4463 Shreveport, Louisiana 71134-0463 The Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association, Inc. is a
    [Show full text]
  • An Uncompromising Commitment to Mission: Mundelein College and the Advancement of Women's Higher Education 1930-1950
    Loyola University Chicago Loyola eCommons Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1990 An Uncompromising Commitment to Mission: Mundelein College and the Advancement of Women's Higher Education 1930-1950 Pauline Margaret Abraham Tarvardian Loyola University Chicago Follow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Tarvardian, Pauline Margaret Abraham, "An Uncompromising Commitment to Mission: Mundelein College and the Advancement of Women's Higher Education 1930-1950" (1990). Dissertations. 2732. https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/2732 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Loyola eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Loyola eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. Copyright © 1990 Pauline Margaret Abraham Tarvardian AN UNCOMPROMISING COMMITMENT TO MISSION: MUNDELEIN COLLEGE AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN'S HIGHER EDUCATION 1930-1950 by Pauline Margaret Abraham Tarvardian A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Loyola University of Chicago in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 1990 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the members of the dissertation committee who directed and assisted this work. My sincere gratitude to Dr. Joan K. Smith, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy studies, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Director, for her expert guidance and encouragement; to Dr. Gerald Lee Gutek, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy studies and of History; and, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Churches and Emigration from Nineteenth
    Conclusion In 1902, shortly after the Irish Catholic bishops jointly issued what seemed a definitive, downbeat resolution on the ‘ruinous’ outflow of the previous half-century, the Irish Ecclesiastical Record also played host to a transatlantic clerical spat on the same subject.1 Initiated by the idiosyncratic American dispatches of a Dublin-based Oblate mission Father, M. F. Shinnors, and answered by an Irish-American priest, John Talbot Smith, the row was in several respects nothing new. Just as Shinnors rehashed the careworn arguments about Irish Catholic apostates that ‘may be counted by the million’, Smith countered in familiar terms that such claims were exaggerated, and, in any case, if true, ‘the explanation of apostasy will have to be made by their leaders at home’.2 These lines – the meat of their arguments – were well rehearsed, but the two men also offered further hallmarks of the Irish priest’s view of emigration from Ireland. Smith suggested that while the Irish migrant would find no better home than the United States, he should ‘consider change carefully, study the matter soberly, make shrewd preparations, and not let go of the bird in the hand until quite sure of the two in the bush’. Shinnors, meanwhile, dispensed clichés like Hail Marys at a Novena; on one hand Irishmen could be justly proud of having contributed so much towards the fabric of the ‘great’ nation, while on the other, the defective ‘moral atmosphere’ of the country presented a danger to their faith, the Irish failed to thrive as immigrants compared with other national groups, and the particular innocence of the Irish female emigrant put her in the path of evil.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Cha Eun-Hee 1048734 Ethesis
    This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from the King’s Research Portal at https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/ Victorian and confucian womanhood viewed by western women missionaries annie baird, ellasue wagner, jean perry, and lillias underwood Cha, Eun-Hee Awarding institution: King's College London The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without proper acknowledgement. END USER LICENCE AGREEMENT Unless another licence is stated on the immediately following page this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the work Under the following conditions: Attribution: You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Non Commercial: You may not use this work for commercial purposes. No Derivative Works - You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you receive permission from the author. Your fair dealings and other rights are in no way affected by the above. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 02. Oct. 2021 VICTORIAN AND CONFUCIAN WOMANHOOD VIEWED BY WESTERN WOMEN MISSIONARIES ANNIE BAIRD, ELLASUE WAGNER, JEAN PERRY, AND LILLIAS UNDERWOOD BY EUN-HEE CHA A Thesis Submitted to the King’s College London For the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Theology and Religious Studies School of Art & Humanities King’s College London May 2018 i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Weekly Journal Devoted to the PHENOMENA, PHILOSOPHY and PROGRESS of S P IR IT U a L I SM
    A Weekly Journal devoted to the PHENOMENA, PHILOSOPHY and PROGRESS of S P IR IT U A L I SM . RELIGION and REFORM. Entered as Second Class Matter, March 15th, 1929, at the Post Office at Boston, Mass., U.S.A., under the Act of March 3rd, 1S79 (Sec. 397, P.L. and R.). N o . 2 2 4 7 —V o l . X L I U . F riday, Dec. 1 9 , 1 9 3 0 . Price T w o p e n c e . MARYLEBONE SPIRITUALIST ASSOCIATION LTD., QUEEN’S HALL, Langham Place, W.1. North London Spiritualist Association, (Limited by Guarantee), Public W orship : Sundays at 0-30. H o r n s e y R d . N. 19 (one minute Hornsey Rd. L.M.S. Stn.) 8UNDAY, Dec, 21st. at 6-30, Su n d a y , D ec. 21st, at 11, M r . W IL L IA M EDWARDS. M r . ERNEST HUNT, A d d r e s s . A t 7, M r . A M rs. E. J. PULHAM. M r s . E. M. NEVILLE, C lairvoyance . W e d n e sd a y, D ec. 24th. at 8, M iss E. C. CANNON. S u n d a y , D ec. 28th, at 11, S E R V IC E . A t 7, M r s . E. E D E Y . AT HEADQUARTERS: N e w Y e ar ’s E ve, S O C IA L and DAN CE, All friends invited Marylebone House, 42, Russell Square, W.C.1. L yceum every Su n d a y at 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Better Worse
    For Better for Worse – The Role of Religion in Development Cooperation of Religion The Role – For Better for Worse For Better For Better for Worse The Role of Religion in Development Cooperation for Worse Can development cooperation be effective without a genuine understanding of religion and religious The Role of Religion in Development Cooperation actors? Considering that religion is an integral part of life for a majority of the world’s population and that sustainable change builds on peoples own resources, the obvious answer is no. Religion affects the way people think, act and understand the world they live in as well as permeating the cultures and the fabrics of our societies. Sometimes it is an asset, sometimes a problem. In both cases a thorough understanding and analysis of the world of religion is a necessity. This anthology has been written in order to offer the reader inspiration and knowledge about the role of religion in development cooperation; to introdu- ce the theme to those who might not be familiar with these perspectives and add to the knowledge of those who are already well versed within this field. Whether you are connected to a secular or faith-based organisation, dealing with development issues within politics or as a civil servant, if you are a student or simply have an interest in international development issues - this book is written with you in mind. The contributors are some of the most relevant academics and practitioners within their respective fields. As religion concerns most areas of life, the articles cover a wide variety of themes: from peace Odén Edited by Robert and conflict to climate change and the HIV epidemic, from the influence of growing religious movements such as the Pentecostal-charismatic movement to masculinity norms and women’s rights.
    [Show full text]
  • We Remember Our Heritage
    Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/werememberourherOOIeef Co, WE REMEMBER OUR HERITAGE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1880-1976 Florence Winstead Lee i PREFACE This is the history of the First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, N.C., from 1880 to 1976, in which we reverently recall how God has worked out his purposes through the mem- bers of his Body in this church. We stand in awe and amazement as we view his accomplish- ments, using our fragile strength, undeterred by our weakness, sin, and little faith. May the remembering inspire us and our successors to deeper faith, greater spiritual strength and purer lives, so that the years to come will prove more worthy of our Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Florence W. Lee Church Historian ii # 4 // 3g DEDICATION This history is lovingly dedicated to all who worship in this place, past, present, and future generations. May the reader find in its pages a warning, a guide, and a beckoning hope. iii Dr. John D. Cave MESSAGE from OUR MINISTER "I never weary of great churches. Mankind was never so happily inspired as when he made a cathedral", wrote Robert Louis Stevenson. During the past century, the saints of Rocky Mount have been engaged in making a great church. The steel, the stones, the stained glass windows have been united at the corner of Church Street and Western Avenue, giving visible evidence that men and women, boys and girls have taken seriously the injunction of being "co-laborers with God." However, First Baptist is older than the buildings we see or the people we have known who worshipped therein.
    [Show full text]
  • Rebel Leader Praises Catholic Work in Liberated Area
    WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | May 11-24, 2018 | Volume 79, Number 13 A focus on the beauty of vocations In Memoriam St. John Neumann High School mourns beloved teacher, mentor Priests ordained for Palm Beach Sisters offer education, Deacons to be ordained inspiration in Indiantown for Orlando Rebel leader praises Catholic work in liberated area PAUL JEFFREY The SPLA-North is one of several rebel Catholic News Service groups in Sudan, whose Islamist rulers have cracked down viciously on regional attempts NUBA MOUNTAINS, Sudan | The at autonomy. Hilu said “better management leader of a rebel group fighting the of diversity” is necessary if Sudan is to re- main intact. government of Sudan says the Catho- “We are fighting for a secular, democratic, lic Church has given hope to the peo- and united Sudan. Unity is a strength. But ple of that country’s war-torn Nuba the Islamists, the Muslim extremists under Bashir, do not believe in diversity. They don’t Mountains. respect religious diversity, ethnic diversity, Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu, chair of Sudan or cultural diversity. They want to extermi- People’s Liberation Army-North, says the ac- nate others in order to have an Arab Muslim companiment of the church, under the lead- Sudan. Anyone who is not an Arab or a Mus- ership of retired Bishop Macram Max Gassis lim has no place in their country,” he said. of El Obeid, has encouraged the people of the The liberation movement has tried to Nuba Mountains during decades of war with boost women’s traditional second-class sta- the government in Khartoum.
    [Show full text]
  • The Religious Educator Perspectives on the Restored Gospel
    Portrait of Elder James E. Talmage © by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Used by permission. “How Long, Oh Lord, How Long?” James E. Talmage and the Great War Richard E. Bennett Richard E. Bennett is a professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU. What is it that is happening? A war greater in area and scale and more fearful in carnage, than any that has ever been since life on the round world began. Five months—no more—have passed since the first gun was fired, and already the list of men who were strong, healthy, capable, keen, five short months ago, and who are now stark in death, outnumbers anything of its kind in human history. And to reckon up the load of sheer blank sorrow in innumerable homes, and the actual but incidental war sufferings, short of death, or possibly worse than death, would baffle the power of any man. Put thus bluntly, it is all horrible beyond words.lxvi1 So spoke Randall Thomas Davidson, archbishop of Canterbury, in a sermon he delivered at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on 3 January 1915. Lest we forget, more than nine million men in uniform and legions of civilians died on the battlefields, battleships, and bombed-out byways of the First World War. Another twenty-one million were scarred and disfigured. Whatever the causes of the conflict, they have long been overshadowed by the “sickening mists of slaughter” that, like a plague, hung over the world for four and a half years. The battles of the Marne, Ypres, Verdun, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Jutland, Passchendaele, and Gallipoli—these and many more are synonymous with unmitigated human slaughter in what some have described as a nineteenth-century war fought with twentieth-century technology.
    [Show full text]