2 V . BAPl'ST "ibrary ' SOUTHEASTFRN \ IflferSelll er- outhaa.Mtern Da 3- 17 a J- QIC ^ 1976 LIGHT TRUTH I 27EP7 Official Organ of the General Baptist Convention of North Carolina, Inc. Voice of 350,000 Baptists Volume 98 Number 1 Raleigh, North Carolina, Dec, 1976 8 PAGES 25 CENTS Book Presented Foreign Mission To General Baptist Board To Sparta — While attending the North Carolina 103rd annual session of the New Covenant Baptist Association, The Foreign Mission Board of Dr. O.L. Sherrill, Executive- the National Baptist Convention Secretary of the General Baptist of America will hold its State Convention, was presented December meeting with the with a copy of the New Con- Sycamore Hill Baptist Church of venant Association's official Greenville, North Carolina, the history, The Chalice and the Rev. B.B. Felder, Host Pastor. Covenant, by the book's author, Rev. Felder is a member of the Mark S. Sexton Board. The Session will begin with a worship service Tuesday The presentation occurred on night, December 7, and continue 17 September, 1976, at the with full day sessions Wed- Macedonia Baptist Church near nesday and Thursay Sparta, North Carolina, site of Dr. Robt. H. Wilson of Dallas, this year's N.C.B.A. convention. Texas, Executive-Secretary of Extending over five counties the Foreign Mission Board, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of stresses that this Session will northwestern North Carolina be extraordinary. Many of the and southwestern Virginia, the general officers of the Con- Association is in New Convenant "Critical days are ahead for all black Institutions", declared Dr. J.J. Johnson in his Founder's vention are expected to be the only organization of Negro Day address before the student body at Shaw. Seated left. Dr. C.R. Edwards and Dr. Richard Fields, attendance. The sermon Baptists to have existed in this right. Dr. Johnson is the president of the General Baptist State Convention of N.C., Inc. Tuesday night will be preach«»d region duripg the years since the by the President of the Con- Civil War. vention, Dr. James Carl Sams, of Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. While the association was E.D. Dixon of Greenville, South officially in We Wish You Merry Christmas! organized 1873, the A Carolina is the scheduled histories of several of its con- preacher for Wednesday night, churches extend as far stituent Raleigh — Merry Christmas to ground which we have covered others at their points of need. and Secretary Wilson will back as 1868. In The Chalice and each of you from president. Dr. in 1976, we can but say: "Truly Our prayer and hope is that preach the sermon on Thursday the Covenant, the N.C.B.A. 's gracious to Joy J. Johnson, the Baptist the Lord has been you have been blessed through night. The day Sessions will be history is traced from its humble benefits Headquarters Staff, and all us". His gracious your giving of yourself, as much interestingly filled with Bible beginnings of log church houses, general Baptist leaders who towards us are more than we can as we have been blessed by your messages, information report through its lean years of modest have had the privilege of serving number. Yet, the truth is, that gifts. God's gift of Himself at sessions, and guided but steady development, until its you in 1976. We pause, with deep these countless blessings, came Bethlehem over 1900 years ago is discussions. gradual emergence thriving as a gradituted to say thank you for to us through your dedication of the central theme of Christmas. Pastors and missionary and vigorous organization today. your loyal yourselves to the Cause of support and unending May each of your experience His workers are especially invited to good will. Christ. You have been the in- presence anew. this meeting of the N.C.B.A. Moderator Mack share When we reflect upon- the struments of God, to touch Foreign Mission Board of the McMillan, who gathered most of National Baptist Convention of the photographs and historical America. It is expected that materials used in The Chalice GBSC To Honor delegations will be in attendance and the Covenant, relates that Workshops Will Continue in South Carolina, the 330 page book portrays a Dr. King^s Birthday from cities York, and other unique yet often overlooked Florida, New Spreading points in addition to the mem- heritage. He says that because Message Of GBSC The General Baptist State bers of the Board who come of its rare collection of old Convention is sponsoring a scattered places photographs and well from as widely DECEMBER - REGION SEVEN Whiteville, Rev. Banquet to honor the birthday of John Prince, as California, Mississippi and documented facts, the book has 13 First Calvary Baptist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of pastor Pennsylvania. been well received by a wide Church, Sanford, Rev. J.L. 6 First Baptist Church, Friday, January 14, 1977, 7:00 (Continued on Page variety of people interested in Morgan, pastor Wilmington, Rev. Clario p.m. at the Royal Villa, Raleigh, 8) Negro, Baptist, and Appalachian 14 West Durham Baptist Dickens, pastor North Carolina. studies. Church, Durham, Dr. H.J. Cobb, 7 Sandy Run Baptist Church, The price of the Banquet ticket pastor Jacksonville, Rev. E.W. Wooten, is $12.50. Each church, After the presentation, Dr. 15 Mitchell Chapel Baptist pastor association, union, district Sherrill, who has visited the New Church, Louisburg, Rev. E.L. Convention and auxiliary will Convenant Association at most Brodie, pastor JANUARY - REGION EIGHT receive credit for the tickets of its annual sessions during the 16 Martin Street Baptist 24 Mount Calvary Baptist they buy and it will also be last twenty years, commended Church, Raleigh, Dr. P.H. Church, Goldsboro, Rev. S. credited toward the Con- those involved for this valuable Johnson, pastor Williams, Jr., pastor vention's one million dollar goal contribution to religious history. 17 Shiloh Baptist Church, 25 St. James Baptist Church, for 1976-77. Henderson, Dr. R.W. Perry, Rocky Mount, Rev. C.T. Bullock, The profits from the Banquet Anyone interested in the New pastor pastor will go toward the construction Convenant Baptist Association JANUARY - REGION SIX 26 Sycamore Hill Baptist of a Retirement Home for and its history can contact 3 Lisbon Street Baptist Church, Greenville, Rev. B.B. ministers and missionaries at Moderator Mack McMillan of Church, Clinton, Rev. H.R. Felder, pastor the J.J. Johnson Baptist Route 2 Box 199 Piney Creek, Cogdell, pastor 27 First Baptist Church, Assembly. North Carolina 28663 (Ph.: 919- 4 New Christian Kinston first report of the tickets 384-2402). Chapel The Baptist Church, Rose Hill, Rev. 28 End Street Baptist Church, will be due on Monday, W.E. Beamon, pastor Scotland Neck, Dr. G.E. Brown, December 6, 1976 at the Baptist (Photo - Page 2) 5 Friendship Baptist Church, pastor (Continued on Page 8) Dr. Robert H. Wilson : Page 2 From The President's Pen Black Baptist Congratulate The Bicentennial A Banner Year President-Elect Carter For North Carolina Baptist RALEIGH—General Baptists 90 per cent of the Black vote swinging back toward recon- congratulate President-elect throughout the nation. There ciliation between the various The most excellent Executive and Kingdom. In 1977 let us work Jimmy Carter, not only because seems to be an air of healing and factions in our nation. Secretary, Dr. O.L. Sherrill, more diligently and give more he is a liberal Southerner, but reconciliation in the mood of the It seems that God in Christ has reported at the Special One Day sacrifically to reach our goal of because he is a Baptist. American people. The played an important role in Session, November 4 at St. over 5,000 souls and one million President-elect Carter is a significant thing in regards to shaping that mood of recon- James Baptist Church, Rocky dollars. Southern Baptist, a member of that mood is that the man who ciliation which we are now ex- Mount, N.C., Reverend C.T. By now, most pastors and the largest religious bodies in has stepped forward as a symbol periencing. Significantly, some Bullock, pastor, over 5,000 souls laymen have received an in- the United States. According to of reconciliation is a man who of the notable events that have saved and over $872,000 raised vitation and application to ap- recent figures that have been professes to be a Christian and transpired, during the recent from all sources by the entire pear in Who's Who Among N.C. released by the Southern Baptist comes from the deep South. election, have had their setting Baptist Family . pastors, Baptists and Shawites. If you Convention, they number 12.7 Racial unrest and the civil rig!, fs in the Christian church. This women, laymen, the General have not responded by returning million. movements began in the Soutu, would tend to indicate that the Convention and all Auxiliaries your completed applications, It has been 128 years since a now it seems that healing and non-violent approach to good during the fiscal year 1975-76. photos, and checks, please do so southerner has been elected to reconciliation will also come human relations, taught by This is a remarkable record. immediately. This significant the office of President in the from the South. Christ, is more effective than the No other black state Convention publication will not only be a United States. This is indeed a This is not to be construed to hostile methods, advocated by in the nation can boast of such a history of our heritage but will notable event, especially in light indicate that all Black many groups.