Sermon Tone Analysis

SECTION ONE: HISTORY AND CHURCH OVERVIEW

History of Reedy Fork Baptist Church

Reedy Fork Baptist Church, probably so named for the small stream that flows southward a few hundred yards beyond the church property, is ten miles south of Greenville, just off of Highway 25.

Worship services began here in about 1868 in a brush arbor built almost on the very spot of land where the present church is located.

The land was given by Mr. James Ashmore and Mr. William Linderman.

Services were held once a month, the fourth Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

The early services were conducted by William Ballard, Terry Nelson, and Rev. H.L. Henderson as moderator.

The group moved into the Reedy Fork schoolhouse where the first church was formally organized.

The first deacons were W.H. Ashmore and J.H. Pinson.

W.A. Bayne was the first clerk.

A complete list of charter members is not available because some early records were destroyed by fire.

In the 1870’s the congregation outgrew the one-room schoolhouse, and during the pastorate of Rev J.T. Singleton, the church voted to build a larger house of worship just west of the schoolhouse.

The material for this church building was given by the members and labor was done by men of the church and community.Their building soon became crowded again, and plans were made to sell the old building but reserve the seats, windows, doors, organ, pulpit-stand and lamps.

As before, the members furnished material and labor for a larger building.

This time new names were among the members who gave lumber.

They were W.T. Riddle, J.Q. Cox, Robert Holcombe, J.H. Whitten, James Davenport, John Davenport, G.W. Hawkins, J.R. Henderson, J.P. Bayne, J.S. Scott, and others.The first record of Sunday School, although it was said one was in progress before, was in the minutes of 1898 when Mr. J.M. Riddle was Superintendent, with an enrollment of 80, and an average attendance of 60.

Literature was listed as costing $1.20.

The membership continued to grow, and in minutes of the early 1890’s, names shown to be active in church were Hendersons, Blakelys, Carrs, Rays, and Clarks.

The growth in membership made it necessary to enlarge the church building once again.

This small building was sold and proceeds used for helping with a new auditorium.

Rev. A.E.

Howard was called as pastor and work on the new building was begun in the fall of 1903.

On May 20, 1904, the new auditorium was dedicated.In the year 1911, the church called Rev. John N. wren as pastor.

Rev. Wren was a half-brother of one of the most faithful members of the church, Mrs. Jennie Wren Carr.

The report was sent to the Association in 1912 was the best that had heretofore been sent.

When Rev. Wren resigned, Rev. R.G. Lee serves as pastor for six months.Reve J.G. Wilsom was pastor from 1921 to 1923.

He was Reedy Fork’s first pastor to receive an indefinite call, with a set salary of $300 per year.

In 1922 the church voted to have services two Sundays a month.

By 1925 the membership had grown and the need for more Sunday School room was evident.

Six Sunday School rooms were added to the auditorium.

Mr. J.H. carr and Mr. J.P. Bayne supervised the work.Dr.

S.H. Jones came as the pastor in 1925.

He was a ministerial student at Furman when he was called, and in 1928 left to enroll in New Orleans Seminary.

On December 12, 1937, immediately following the worship service, the entire church was burned to the ground.

Members at once made plans to rebuild.

Rev. G.Glenn Bolch was the pastor at the time.

The building was started in late December and completed in April.

Meanwhile, services were held at the St. Albans schoolhouse.

The first service was held in the new building on April 24, 1938.

At that time, there were 230 enrolled in Sunday School, 350 on the resident church roll, and 105 enrolled in Training Union.

The WMU was A-1, with Mrs. Nellie Blakely Ashmore as its president.

The church had grown so large now that the pastor, Rev. P.J. Mabry, moved on the field where he could better serve his people.

It was in 1941, while Rev. Mabry was here that the new debt-free, well-equipped auditorium and Sunday School plant were dedicated.Next the church voted to build a parsonage on the church property, and in 1945, Rev. A.A. Young moved into the new pastor’s home.

In January 1947, the church voted to build an Educational Building and renovate the auditorium.

Mr. Young was the last pastor to use the baptistery down the path from the church to the stream near Mr. F.D. Taylor’s home.

Where baptismal services had been held for many years.The next pastor was Rev. R.C. Eustace who served for almost a quarter of a century.

He came December, 1948 and retired February 1, 1970.

While serving as pastor of Reedy Fork, Rev. Eustace performed more than 100 weddings, and more than 150 funerals.

His ministry was characterized by concern, and he and his beloved wife always on hand to comfort, encourage, or rejoice with all those who were concerned.

In July 1959, when the Sunday School average attendance was 225, Training Union 75, and church membership 375, the church voted to build a new sanctuary and make more classrooms for Sunday School.

On Easter Sunday 1960, the first service was held in the new building.

On May 7, 1961, Homecoming and Dedication for this new building was held.

The church entered its second century under the leadership of Rev. C. Dillard Alexander, who became pastor August 1, 1970.

During his pastorate the church bought 21 acres of land across from the church, and a new pastorium was completed.

Also, the church called Jim Garrison as minister of music and he remained in this position until May 1985.

During his years of service he led three active choirs.

In January 1975, Rev. James Holston, Jr. became pastor.

The church voted to move the old parsonage and build a new educational building and gymnasium.

This work was begun in 1979, with the following men serving on the building committee: Buford Landers, Bobby Campbell, Joe Hayes, M.O.

Howard, Jr., and Bill Tadlock.

The first Sunday in December 1979, the new building was dedicated which housed a pastor’s study, five Sunday School rooms including a well-equipped nursery, a Family Life Center, kitchen, and a gymnasium.The auditorium was redecorated with carpet, pew cushions, and a new sound system installed.

A paved parking lot was added.

In April 1975, a Young-at-Heart group for senior citizens was organized and has grown to be one of the most active organizations in the church.

They hold a luncheon meeting once a month at the church.Rev.

Holston resigned in September 1983 and Rev. Harry Lee Thomas served as interim pastor until July 1984 when Rev. Ike N. Patterson began his ministry at Reedy Fork.

There were 46 additions to our membership in his first year: 33 by letter and 13 by baptism.Scott Ferrell was called as music director May 1985 and ran three active choirs.

Reedy Fork has a rich and glorious history of serving God.

Her members have maintained the conviction that God was in the establishment of the church and that her foundations are both safe and secure.

To those who come after us, may this history serve as a reminder of enduring values which must be preserved if our Lord’s church at Reedy Fork is to fulfill the destiny for which she was called into being.

Mission and Purpose

We exist to glorify God by making disciples in our community and around the world.

Our Mission is to follow the Great Commandment () and to fulfill the Great Commission ().

Our Purposes: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Evangelism.

Our Vision: Loving God and loving people both locally and globally.

Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Evangelism.Our Vision: Loving God and loving people both locally and globally.

Current Leadership

Dr. Bob Whaley, Senior Pastor

Rev. Barry Agnew, Minister of Children and Youth

Mr. Tony Legere, Interim Minister of Music

Ms. Meg Patton, Ministry Assistant

Mr. Otis Forrest, Pianist

Mr. Pat Cannon, Organist

Ms. Mandy Agnew, Minister of Media

Deacons

Joe Duerr, Chair

Doug Rice, Vice Chair

Mike Pair, Secretary/Treasurer

Hank Brown

Hank Brown

Wenifredo Daguimol

Richard Daniels

Ron Ferguson

Jeff Garrison

• Jeff Garrison

Mark Holcombe

Mike Morgan

Tim Owings

Dennis Poole

• Dennis Poole

Service Times