April/May 1983 (Vol. 55, No. 4)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Cedarville University DigitalCommons@Cedarville The Ohio ndeI pendent Baptist 4-1983 April/May 1983 (Vol. 55, No. 4) Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/ ohio_independent_baptist Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Organizational Communication Commons Recommended Citation "April/May 1983 (Vol. 55, No. 4)" (1983). The Ohio Independent Baptist. 464. https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/ohio_independent_baptist/464 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Cedarville, a service of the Centennial Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Ohio ndeI pendent Baptist by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Cedarville. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BOUND PERIODICALS THE OHIO inDEPENDENT cC VOL 55 NO. 4 APRIUMAY 1983 The day dawned as a beautiful May day but It was February 20th. Dedication Sund a 4 This was Dedication Hay at First Baptist, TeLpuaPLj 2 0 , 1 9 8 3 Elyria. had done, it as the ^£o/id had commanded The Sunday School hour featured slides of fix. 39:43 by-gone days in the his tory of First Baptist leading up to Dedi cation Day. Several Senior Saints gave test- monies via tapes as to . i, J U L ^hat the church was Eke on Second Street as well as on Washi Dr. Allen Lewis Dr. C. Raymond Buck ngton Avenue. The f e a f U t i t C l u ts u c h At its tri-annual conference, March 12-16, held in Des Moine, Iowa, the General Council sat uf morning service began Lagrange Rd. at Rt. 10 of Baptist Mid-Missions unanimously elected Dr. C. Raymond Buck as President Elect of "hli a great glory to P.O. Box 929 Baptist Mid-Missions. Christ. Elyria, Ohio 44036 During 1982, Dr. Allen Lewis, President of Baptist Mid-Missions, requested the General We quote from the 216/ 458-5128 Council to begin looking toward the selection of a new President for Baptist Mid-Mis ;y haf Program of the day: Rev. Willis Hull, Pastor sions. With this request, the Council selected a Search Committee whose effort included ight “IN THE PAST __ m wit® the procedure for transition and the recommendation of the new President Elect. On this day of dedication, it is fitting that we take a brief look along the way God has Rev. Buck, with a Ph. D. from the University of Kansas, was a successful pastor and a !y Doll led us. foreign missionary in the Central African Republic before being named to the staff of isleep It was June of 1836 that Rev. Daniel Wait arrived in Cleveland seeking a field for Baptist Mid-Missions. He has been for the past years Vice President and Foreign Missions w Am) bristian service. Advised to go to the newly formed community of Elyria, he wasgrant- Secretary for Africa and Europe. Baptist Mid-Missions is an International Missions Coun ed permission to preach in the Court House the following Sunday. Soon a recognition cil representing some 8,000 churches with over 1,100 missionaries working in 43 coun or toy* ^uncii was called and the First Baptist Church was duly organized on November 26th tries in the world. friei^' 0i that year. Dr. Allen Lewis has served as President of Baptist Mid-Missions for 22 years. Under his Shortly after a revival, steps were taken toward the building of the first church house, leadership, Baptist Mul-Missions has grown to become one of the major mission agencies iUSt ffll lot on the corner of Middle Avenue and Second Street was donated by the Ely family in the world, recognized for its leadership, innovating but Biblically-grounded, and a pioneer in utilizing modern technology. of bed °r the purpose of establishing such a work, and a small building was erected on that site 2, 1839. The First Baptist Church of Elyria was officially incorporated by the State of The “passing of the mantle” of the Presidency will take place at the annual meeting of uhio the following year. Baptist Mid-Missions in November of this year in Cleveland, Ohio. During the next mon The congregation continued to worship in the original structure until May of 1884 ths, Dr. Lewis and Dr. Buck will effect the orderly transition of administrative duties. h en 3 much larger building was dedicated at the same location under the leadership of At the passing of the mantle in November, Dr. Lewis has been named President Emeritus jack to ^tor Frank Adkins. of Baptist Mid-Missions, continuing to represent the m ission and Dr. Buck will of ■*2^e coming of Pastor E. E. Neighbor in 1919 ushered in a number of important events, ficially become President. be prevalence of modernism in the teachings of so many schools and pulpits of the die y °rthern Baptist Convention led First Baptist Church to sever all ties with that conven- Even upon being occupied, the building had many things needing completion. Under ?b. Baptist Mid-Missions was also founded during this period of time in a prayer room the direction of the Property and Maintenance Committee, headed by John Rainey, ‘ the church under the direction of Rev. William Haas. dozens of tasks have been completed one by one. Hundreds of hours have been given by osoeve1 The emphasis on Biblical fundamentals continued in the 1920’s with the ministry of the faithful workers of the church to bring us to this day. We thank the Lord for each ev- Robert T. Ketcham. A prominent leader of the separatist Baptist movement, Pastor one. Many things still remain to be accomplished. A steeple will be placed this Spring. etcham guided the church through the early Depression years amidst increasing op As funds are given, outside signs, an expanded parking lot, kitchen cupboards, outdoor position from the Baptist Convention. landscaping and floor covering in some areas will be done.” Q^ev. J. Irving Reese assumed the pastorate in 1940 and led our growing church in the Highlight of the Day was the first use of the pipe organ in over a year - We again quote r8anization of the Fellowship of Baptists for Home Missions the following year. from the program: A third building was erected in 1951 on Washington Avenue under the leading of Pastor “THE PIPE ORGAN four Williams. The years which followed witnessed substantial growth in the church’s The pipe organ, played today for the first time in service in this building, has a rich embership. To accommodate this expansion, a classroom wing was added to the build and interesting heritage. - i n 1962. The organ was built by the Moller Organ Company in 1937 for First Baptist Church, “AT THE PRESENT when the church was located on Second Avenue. It was given to the church by two of its Christian education became a major emphasis of First Baptist with the coming of Pastor men, Mr. N. S. Fitch and Mr. A. E. Taylor; and was named “The Inez Drake Fitch Jibs Hull in January of 1972. First Baptist Christian School was founded in 1976 to Organ.” Its original cost was $7,200. It was dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1938. ach young people submission of every dimension of their lives and thoughts to the Details concerning its installation in the Washington Avenue church are sketchy, but °rdship of Jesus Christ. such was done, and it was used at the dedication of that building on June 29, 1952. ’ The thirty-three acre property on which the church is presently located was purchased There is no man to whom we are more deeply indebted today for the organ than Glen l980 77’ and the ActivitieS Center’ built by the men of the church, was completed in Carey. After hours of careful analysis, he felt led of God to undertake its move and re installation in the new building. It has been a long and tedious task, with thousands of Q Tbe building of this new facility is really the story of men - many of them from numer- details to adequately care for. The 1224 pipe range from 3/4 inch to 16 feet in length vocations and training, but each with a desire to use their abilities for God’s glory, with thousands of connections and wires and relays. His task is today completed; and for j be members of the first building committee, headed .by Glen Carey, earnestly sought that we say, “Thank you!” The word this week by the professional organ tuner about (° know God’s direction in planning that which would be attractive, convenient, com- Glen’s work was “fantastic.” We agree!! Pftable, useful, moderate and. a glory to our God. Today, we gather to praise God for The organ shall now join with all the other furnishings and this edifice to be used by ® leading in each of these purposes. God s people to honor Him, the only wise God - to Whom be glory forever and ever!” c Tbe original plans were drawn by Glen Carey. The General Contractor, was Victory During the service in the morning, the church honored Glen and Lorna Carey with a t.°nstruction, Bob Loper. The multiplied hours of labor and expertise provided by these plaque and a dozen roses. brothers in the Lord are only recorded in Heaven. We are deeply indebted to both of The afternoon featured an organ recital by Mr. Jeff Acker, organist of First Baptist Church, Strongsville. Mr. Acker studied under Dr. Jack Payne, former organist at First As the building neared completion, the plea was made for dozens of volunteers to give Baptist.