Page-6B-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Thursday, February 4, 1993
Oak Grove
Baptist Church,
area pastors
and these
sponsoring
firms invite you
to attend the
church of your
choice
regularly...
Setzer's Discount
Auto Parts
1301 S. Battleground Ave.
wie 734-0121
ones Intercable
Management and Employees
{ Winn Dixie Stores
and Employees
Allen's Flower
Shop, Inc.
Management and Staff
Grover Industries
"Where Friendly People Work"
Wade Ford
"You Can Count On Wade"
Harris Teeter
Supermarket
and Employees
First Carolina Federal
Savings Bank
Since 1907
739-4781 * 482-0222 » 865-1111
Kerns Trucking, Inc.
"You Call - We Haul"
739-4747
Mountain View Farms
Cameron Ware
739-5528
Peggy's Restaurant
Management and Employees
Loves Fish Box
1104 Shelby Road
Church Of
The Week
Oak Grove Baptist Church
Oak Grove Baptist Church was organized in September of 1897. Prior to organization, services were held in
the Putnam School House, which was located approximately 300 yards southeast of the present location of the
church building. Services were also held under an old fashioned "brush arbor".
Thomas Lovelace Sr. is said to have donated the original site consisting of about two acres of land. Rev. James
Crowell Blanton, founder of the church was elected as first pastor. The church has thirty (30) charter members - all
of which are now deceased.
A very short time after the organizational meeting, the first church
building was begun and it was completed during the winter months
after the organization in September. It was a one-room frame structure,
approximately 40x40 feet. The building was painted white but had no
bell tower. It stood on the opposite side of the highway about 50 yards
southwest of the present church building - in the ground now being
used for cemetery space.
The church made progress under the able and efficient leadership
of Rev. Blanton and there were three additions to the church during his
ministry. He submitted and issued a resignation on December 27, 1902.
The church accepted his resignation and issued a call early in 1903 to
the Rev. R. Newton Hawkins who served as pastor until September 16,
1905. Other pastors who came after him were as follows: Rev. B.M.
Bridges, Rev. WM. Gold, Rev. BM. Bridges (2nd term), Rev. ].R. Miller,
Rev. J.C. Blanton, and Rev. A.C. Irvin. The church began meeting twice
a month on the second and fourth Sundays. This was adopted by the
church in 1919.
A committee was appointed on January 27, 1924, to solicit
subscriptions for the building of the second church building. That
building was begun immediately, and was completed in August of the
same year. The dedication was held the second Sunday in August 1924.
For this all day service, the Rev. William Tate delivered the dedicatory
sermon and in the afternoon session, Brother Miles Thornburg gave an address on Progress of the Baptist Young
People's Union.
RON A. CAULDER, PASTOR
SER SEDER sa 5
3 GP nen IR ESR sl v i Kay
This building was used until February 27,1949 - it was also a white frame structure, 60x60 feet. It had two
I hal indowsk VSiwith opaque
glass. Tt Was heated with modern stoves and lighted with electricity. Bells Were installed in the towers. A piano
towers at the front of the building. The building was painted whitetand; hal iGot hie top
and organ were used for music. It would seat approximately 500 people.
On May 19, 1928, Dr. C.J. Black accepted the call to serve as pastor, Rev. Luther Hawkins - the only unmarried
pastor the church has ever had began his ministry on July 10, 1929. During his ministry the church voted to buy
the Oak Grove School House and grounds of approximately 2 acres at a cost of $80.00. This land became available
when the Oak Grove School consolidated with Bethware School.
In 1940 a building fund was started which was used eight years later to begin the present Education Building.
With the resignation of Rev. Hawkins, came Rev. L.M. Canipe, who was pastor for only about 8 months.
In September 1944, Rev. C.C. Crow accepted the pastorate of the church. During his ministry, the building
fund grew. In April 1948, Rev. T.W. Fogleman became the pastor. Under his able leadership the Education
Building was begun in April 1948.
In December 1948, Rev. C.C. Crow was recalled to serve the church and he led in the completion of the
Educational Building. On March 20, 1949, the first service was held in the basement of the building where
worship services were to be conducted until a sanctuary could be built at a later time. There were 148 members
present for Sunday School that day and the three-story building provided ample space for them all. .
In 1951, the Lord's Acre Plan was started. This project was begun with proceeds from the sale of the Second
Church Building for $600.00. Livestock was bought for anyone in the church who wished to raise it to be turned
over to the church for sale in the fall. The profit recorded in the fall from the sale of this livestock was $1,129.50.
This amount was applied to the church debt. :
While Rev. Crow was still pastor of the church, the people voted on a contract for a new sanctuary at a cost of
$37,000.00 on March 22, 1953. The ground-breaking services was held on April 5, 1953 at 3:00 p.m. The message
was brought by Rev. Garland Hendricks. The building progressed rapidly and on October 4, 1953 the first service
was held in the sanctuary. The Sunday School attendance on that day was 293.
Rev. Hoyle B. Alexander was called as pastor on JUne 27, 1954. The Sunday School became departmentalized
and more space was required for classes. This made it necessary to partition the basement.
Rev. James E. Holder accepted the call to this church and became pastor on July 1, 1956. With his coming the
church voted to call him as the church's fulltime pastor and to build a pastorium so that the pastor could live on
the field with his people.
In 1957 the church purchased 6.7 acres of land adjacent to the cemetery from Mrs. Blanche Ford. On July 15,
1957 grading was begun on this property for the pastorium. It was built at a cost of $17,538.12. Much of the labor
and materials were donated. Open house was held on October 20, 1957.
The year 1958 many exciting things happened: William Arnold Bell was ordained to the ministry. A church
library was started through the contribution of many books by several church members. Carpet was installed in
the sanctuary. Richard Spencer was ordained into the ministry. The church became a Standard Sunday School. On
November 3, the entire church debt was paid. On November 30, the church observed this event through a
dedication service with the burning of the note and laying of the cornerstone.
In August 1959 the parking lot was paved at a cost of $600.00. On May 22, 1960 a new electric Hammond
organ was installed and later was dedicated on July 10, 1960 to the glory of God and in memory of Mr. James S.
Ware and Mrs. Essis B. Wright. Both Mr. Ware and Mrs. Wright had served the church faithfully for 50 years as
Chorister and Pianist.
In 1965 the church voted to build the Fellowship Building. It was built as a cost of $32,403.04. and completed
in 1968. In 1966 parking area was enlarged and walkways were built around the church and fellowship building
which was at that time under construction.
Rev. Russell Lee Hinton became pastor on October 6, 1968. On October 27, 1968, dedication services were held
for the new church fellowship building. Rev. James E. Holder brought the message.
On January 28, 1973 the church began partial support of a Southern Baptist missionary family, Rev. and Mrs.
Obie Dyches.
In January 1974, Mr. Laddie Smith was hired as Director of Youth Activities. On August 26, 1974 a new 46
passenger blue and white bus was purchased at a cost of $10,087.47.
In December 1974, Mr. Crawford Lovelace deeded three tenths of an acre of land to the church. In May 1976
the church purchased 13.9 acres of land from Mr. Fred Lovelace for $1,500 per acre.
In August 1976 Chimes were given by Mr. and Mrs. Stokes Wright in memory of their son, Howard Stokes
Wright, Jr. and were dedicated to the church on September 26, 1976.
In 1976 Eddie Grigg was ordained to the ministry. In October, LaCount Anderson was called as Minister of
Music on a part time basis. He served until 1977. Upon Mr. Anderson's resignation, Mr. Buddy Webster became
Minister of Music, a position he had served earlier since 1958 and continues fo the present to serve faithfully.
Rev. Michael Goudelock became the pastor in October of 1979. On August 29, 1982 Rev. Bruce Hancock began:
his duties as pastor.
In 1985 the Fellowship Building Annex was built through the donation of Mr. Carl Champion and Family in
memory of Lyman Champion and in honor of Gertrude Champion, his parents. The fellowship annex was
dedicated on December 8, 1985.
Rev. Ron A. Caulder began his duties as pastor October 12, 1986. In January 1987 a monthly church newsletter
"The Oak" was begun as a way of communicating regularly to all church families. Also in January the church
added another Southern Baptist missionary family, Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Mills for partial support. On January
11, Mr. Carroll Brackett was named Minister of Youth. In May 1986, Mr. Brackett was licensed to the ministry.
In December 1989 the Frank C. Ware Family gave to the church a Carrillon System, in memory of Mr. and
Mrs. Frank C. Ware and Mr. and Mrs. John B. Ware. They were dedicated in May of 1990.
In May of 1990 the church purchased a twenty five passenger mini bus at a cost of $33,000. We sold the old
1974 blue and white Ford bus in July of 1991.
The church has come a long way from that original site of two acres to its present site of approximately 25
acres. Not only has the church grown physically but spiritually as well. Countless lives have been touched and
changed by the witness of this church. God has richly blessed the past ninety four years of the ministry of Oak
Grove Baptist Church. With God's direction and blessing, this congregation anticipates even greater things in the
future. God has been her help in ages past, and will be her hope for years to come.
Amity Finance
of Kings Mountain
739-1311
Hardee's
of Kings Mountain
© “Plonk Tire
Wray and Tim Plonk
739-0193
Kings Mountain
Hospital
739-3601
Nationwide Insurance
306 E. King Street
739-3953
Paul's Seafood
Paul and Joyce Hord
739-1631
The Printing Press
Canterbury Road
730.0333
Mac's Grocery
900 N. Piedmont Ave.
739-3391
Weiner Works
Kings Mountain Plaza
739-7691
Parkdale Mills, Inc.
#5 & #19
Management and Employees
Harris Funeral
Home, Inc.
Ollie Harris and Staff
The Sub Factory
124 A. West Gold Street
739-4255