Page SA
The Kings Mountain Herald
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Webber called from fighting fire to fight for God
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Staff writer
Rev. J. David Webber Sr., 59, stopped fighting fire after
30 years and God called him to fight for Him as pastor of
New Way Baptist Church on N. Piedmont Ave.
The Kings Mountain minister retired in 2001 as Captain
of the Shelby Fire Department and thought he'd sit back,
put his feet up, fish and pitch horse shoes. ;
"Not so," said Webber, who accepted the call as Associ-
ate Pastor of Washington Missionary Baptist Church in
Waco for four years.
He came to Kings Mountain last November as pastor of
New Way Church, organized 15 years ago here in the for-
mer First Wesleyan Church building on N. Piedmont Av-
enue.
As a young boy growing up in Cleveland County, Web-
ber said he never dreamed he'd become a firefighter or a
preacher. God works in mysterious ways. : :
Webber applied for a job with the City of Shelby and
the position open was in the fire department.
He graduated from Burns High School and took addi-
tional schooling at Gaston College, Cleveland Community
College and Catawba College and from the National Fire
Academy in Maryland. After receiving his call to the min-
istry he received his BA degree in Ministry from Columbus
University in Maryland, completing the necessary require-
ments online.
Numerous citations are on his office wall, among them
a meritorious award from the governor in 1979 after Shelby
$9500 BERAAGLENR000RBERIGINDODNEERACHEDDD
BW NEIGHBORLY LOVE
firemen fought one of the biggest fires in downtown
Shelby.
"I joined Washington Missionary Baptist Church in
1995 and served in numerous capacities, in choir, as Sun-
day School Superintendent, deacon, leader in Vacation
Bible School and in the outreach and jail ministry," said
Webber. He said he thanks God for allowing him to be of
service in the church.
He preaches "all over the Bible," he says, but his favorite
scripture is Matthew 11: 28-30, "Come unto me all ye that
labor and I will give you rest."
His family members are all active in the church. He is
the son of Claudine Webber and the late Arthur Floyd Web-
ber and’is married to Elaine Lawrence Webber and they
have four children: Andre, John, Solomon and Christy
Webber, the latter who directs the choir.
Webber has invited two:dynamic speakers, Dr. Robert
Abbott, formerly of Holy Trinity Baptist Church in New
York, and Pastor Melvin L. Clark of Washington Mission-
ary Baptist Church, to preach Fall revival, one day sery-
ices, Sep. 27. Regular services at New Way are Sunday
School at 10 a.m., morning worship at 11 a.m., mid-week
prayer service on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. followed by
Bible Study at 7 p.m. and intercessory prayer meeting every
Saturday, except fourth Saturdays, at 10 a.m. He invites the
public. Ry
New Way Baptist Church is growing. With a congre-
gation of 35-40 members the church has an active atten-
dance of 25 members.
EMILY WEAVER/HERALD
OPERATION BACK PACK - Pictured are youth iri the Kids Night Out program at East Gold Street Wes-
leyan Church with school supplies they collected recently in a church-wide outreach project. Back row,
from left, Gregory Douglas, Mitch Frady, Tyler Lewis, Rev. Darryl Lewis, Kierran Parks, Ernie Lail and
Iris Frady. Front row, from left, Youth Pastor Kyle George holding huge pencil, Kasey Batchler, Adam
Wiggington, Matthew Baity, and April Parker.
Church gives back
for back-to-school
By ELIZABETH STEWART
Staff writer :
Kids Night Out is making a difference for scores of
‘young people in Kings Mountain in a once-a-month pro-
gram sponsored by East Gold Street Wesleyan Church.
The outreach program in its second year is drawing 50
or more youth making a statement in the community, ac-
cording to Pastor Darryl Lewis.
Operation Back Pack, a back-to-school project coordi-
nated by Earnie Lail and Iris Frady, is one example of how
the youth are reaching out to others. They distributed over
50 backpacks and loads of school supplies to several areas
in the community, going door-to-door and in the process
witnessing to the families and inviting them to church and
to their youth group .
"It was fun," said Johnathan Frady, who also leads Bible
stories during the youth meetings. He dressed up as a Lion
recently to tell the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den and as
a whale to talk about the Biblical account of Jonah. His
mother made his costumes which were a big hit with the
group. Crafts, Bible study, food and games are all included
in the monthly Kids Night Out. An upcoming event will be
a big birthday party and all young people in the commu-
nity are invited'to call the church office to get in the fun at
the Family Life Center.
"If the church closed its doors would the community
know it?" asked the pastor as the youth boxed up more
items to distribute to school children. Several youth an-
swered at once. " They sure would and that won't happen."
Said Mrs. Frady, "Our intent is to reach the whole com-
munity with the good news about Christ."
REV. J. DAVID WEBBER, SR.
Living history program
this weekend at KMINMP
The public is invited visit Kings Mountain National
Military Park this weekend as living history interpreters
present The 7th Royal Fusiliers Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The 7th Royal Fusiliers will be encamped at the park's
visitor center. Designated as an elite unit by King James II,
the fusiliers were originally formed to escort artillery. enjoy
a variety of military demonstrations and learn more about
the history, weapons, tactics and the role of this elite force
in the British Southern Campaign during the American
Revolution. Weapon demonstrations will be held through-
out the event.
The park is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The event is
free and open to the public. For more information about
this ‘or other events, call 864-936-7921 or visit
www.nps.gov/kimo. : :
‘Pioneer Pathways’
hot off the presses
A new book, "Pioneer Pathways," is off the press and
will be presented to Jacob S. Mauney Memorial Library by
Girl Scouts of the Pioneer Council Saturday, Sept. 26, at
11 a.m. A reception will follow to which the public is in-
vited. : ; ;
Adult Girl Scouts who have been registered members
for more than 25 years completed the special project,
which includes photographs and other memorabilia.
Among those were Susan Goforth, a Girl Scout for 51 years
and a leader for 24 years, trainer and archivist; Jane Tal-
bert, a Girl Scout for 47 years, leader for 24 years and
trainer and archivist; and Sylvia Holmes, past president of
the Pioneer Council, past executive director of Pioneer
Council and longtime Girl Scout and Girl Guide.
chairman of the Historic
committee, has a surprise
prior to the meal and the
Christian Clown Ministry
‘from Laboratory United
Methodist Church will en-
tertain. A special display
will include framed photo-
graphs of families of the
church and all families are
encouraged to take pictures.
Martha Fortenberry and
the Adult Choir from Chris-
tian Fellowship Church will
lead the” afternoon song
service. The public is in-
vited.
Mary's Grove United
Methodist Church will
hold Homecoming Day
Sunday, Sept. 20.
The new pastor, Rev.
Charlene Hutchings, will
deliver the message at the
11 am. hour and Bill
‘Mason, pianist, will lead the
music. Brent Bingham will
present special music and
founders of the church, in-
cluding H. S. Sellers, will
be remembered.
Following the worship
hour a covered dish lunch-
eon will be served in the fel-
lowship hall. Luis Orlandi,
DOWNTOWN Se
\ isterians
From Page 7A | noted that
the Battle of Kings Mountain, waged on a before the
wooded hillside not far from here. It was a California
battle historians have coined to have been the gold rush of
“turning point” of the American Revolution- 7849 there
ary War. The city carries the name and city wag a gold
officials often give credit to that battle, but rush right
does downtown fully recognize it? “here on the -
Thirteen-year-old Steven Allen, who lives outskirts. of
in Kings Mountain and attends Gaston Day kines Moun-
School, said that he too would like to see aire ho
more historical ties. city’s soil
“I think the downtown area of Kings
was also once
HL ow
FONT
‘Mountain is great. There’s a lot of history,”
he said, as he helped his parents man the fam-
ily’s new market on York Road after school
last week. “A lot of customers stop in on the
way to the (Kings Mountain National Mili-
tary) park.” EA
But he suggests that the city might want
to play on more than just the historical sig-
nificance of that one battle. He said that he
thought it would be neat if historical markers
or notes could be placed downtown that
would immediately transport a person back
to a place and time.
For instance, a marker reading “on this
very spot in (such a year) on (such a date)’
President Hoover gave an address on the
commemoration of the Battle of Kings
Mountain.” That really happened, after all, on
a plot on Mountain Street.
President George Bush rolled directly
through downtown on a train when he was
running for his second term of office. He did-
n’t get that second term and several Kings
Mountain folks have joked that it was be-
cause he didn’t stop and talk in the city.
A marker already stands noting the old
Central School, which once housed a nation-
ally-accredited military academy in the
1800s. Roy
The soil of Kings Mountain has also been
the bearer of rich minerals over time. Several
street names, including Gold and Silver, give
~ STEVEN ALLEN
the great bearer
of the world’s lithium deposits. Coal, tin, ore
and other minerals have been harvested here.
“In order to know where you're going,
you have to know where you’ve been,” Allen
said. : ‘
Every plot of land has a story to tell. Dig-
ging it up may be a challenge. Marking those
moments in time may be a treasure. ;
Entertainment ae
Logeman said that she would also like to
see more family-oriented activities in down-
town that tie to history.
“I think entertainment is going to thrive
the downtown area,” Allen said, adding that
if people drive by downtown and see a crowd
or hear a concert they may be drawn by cu-
riosity.
“I'd like to see more outdoor activities,”
said Steve Sisk, as he sat on a bench along
Battleground Ave. last week. :
He and the man sitting next to him, Billy
Saap, agreed that they would like to see a big
recreation park with maybe an outdoor skat-
ing rink and public swimging pool.
“We need some places for the young peo-
ple to go. It’s important for us to have a place
in society,” Allen said, adding that a fun park
may be great. Ea
But he added that whatever the attraction
is, it should be unique — something that peo-
ple can’t already drive to do in outlying cities.
Once the Gateway Trail is complete and
open to visitors, Allen said that he thinks it
+ will be a great draw.
“Imagine that in the fall, with the trees,”
he said: “A lot of people travel to see the
leaves in the fall.” =
Give me choices
Erin Dalton, who moved to Kings Moun-
tain about two weeks ago, said that she would
like to see more sit-down restaurants that are
open later in downtown.
“Food brings people together,” she said,
as she sipped a coffee in J. Oliver’s.
“I"d like to see more shops that sell a va-
riety of clothing and sizes,” said Ann Barrett,
who came down to J. Oliver’s for her lunch
break.
The streets in downtown used to be lined
with department stores years ago — Belk’s,
Plonk’s Brothers and McGinnis’. Only
McGinnis’ remains today, with a storeroom
half the size it once operated. But then, the
shoppers don’t come like they used to.
An old view of downtown KM in 1948.
Linda Hastings of Kings Mountain Florist
said that business has been slow on Battle-
ground, The economy has hurt everyone, she
said.
But when the economy improves, she
would like to see more business come to
downtown and maybe a shoe store to fill up
some of the empty store fronts, she said. New
businesses bring new customers.
“Diversity is the key,” Allen said, “It
would be great if we could get every shop
downtown filled with diverse places.”
“Diversity thrives our country. We’re
called the ‘melting pot’ society. We’re one big
masterpiece,” said the 13-year-old, who
seems wise beyond his years.
_ He mentioned that a light rail connecting
Kings Mountain to Charlotte one day would
also be nice.
Steven Allen is the son of Don and Zena
Johnson of Kings Mountain and of Brian
Allen of Charlotte.
Adam Hines, executive director of MPI,
contributed to this report.
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