| |
Church History
IN THE BEGINNING…The land which is now occupied by South Seminole Baptist Church was once a farm which later became the Oakhurst Subdivision. Later, a portion of this land located at the intersection of Bennett Road and South Seminole Drive, became the site of one of the largest beer joints in the county. It was called “The Chicken Roost”. It is not known how long this spot of land was used in the service of the Devil. However, due to the will of God it was turned into a place to be used for His honor and His glory alone.
As time passed, God blessed the area with many new homes. It became a community of many young families. In the fall of 1952, the Hamilton County Baptist Association compiled a census of the area and recognized that there was a need for a mission.
THE MISSION…….The Associational Missions Committee requested that Brainerd Baptist Church start a mission in the Oakhurst Subdivision area. Rev. C. A. Dabney, Pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church, gave the responsibility of starting the mission to the Brotherhood of the church in October of 1952.
A committee of Brotherhood members was appointed to secure property and start the work. Fred Osborne was the chairman. R. C. Kerr, Herbert Kerr, Jack Boyd, J. B. Snow, Garland Tyrell were members of this committee. Later, Mr. Snow was replaced by Earl Huskey. |
 |
With funds from the Association and Brainerd Baptist Church, the committee purchased a small four-room house, which occupied a small portion of the present property at South Seminole Baptist Church. A short time later, the remainder of the property was purchased by Brainerd Baptist Church and given to the mission.
For several weeks, cottage prayer meetings were held in homes in the area. Services were begun in the small house on March 7, 1954. God blessed this mission because a full schedule of services (Sunday School, Training Union, Morning and Evening Worship and Mid-Week Prayer Service) were started the very first week and continued without interruption.
To begin the Sunday School and Training Union work, the following members of Brainerd Baptist Church were enlisted: Sunday School – R. C. Kerr, J. F. Walden, Mrs. J. F. Walden, J. T. Barnes, Mrs. F. M. Lowery, and Mrs. Doris Phillips. Training Union – Frank Day. With the exception of R. C. Kerr, they all served for varying periods of time and were replaced by those who came to join the chapel. |
|
 |
In addition, Mrs. R. C. Kerr came at the beginning of the ministry along with J. J. Boyd who continued until his illness and death. Other founding members of the chapel who came from Brainerd Baptist were Mr. and Mrs. Dick Page and Mrs. W. T. Page. W. T. Page, although not a member until later, came also. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Kerr continued at Brainerd Baptist Church on Sunday mornings, but worked at the chapel on Sunday nights and during the week. They eventually moved their membership to the chapel. Mrs. William Kerr moved her membership to the chapel also. |
The chapel was blessed with many fine speakers who gave freely of their time to serve during the first few months. They were - Rev. C. A. Dabney, Rev. Charles Hobbs, Rev. L. R. Baumgartner, Rev. Henry Stamey, Dr. John A. Huff, Rev. Don Carter, Mr. Bill Junker, Mr. Don Givens, Mr. Jerry Riley, Mr. Wylie Gross, Lt. And Mrs. Paige Couch, Rev. L. B Crantford, Rev. Bushyhead, and Rev. Coy Riddle.
IMPORTANT DATES:
The Mission... |
|
|
| |
|
March 7, 1954
|
The first service was held in the small house on the corner of South Seminole Drive and Bennett Road Rev. C. Dabney bought the first sermon. Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Burks were the first to join the chapel. Training Union was held that same evening. |
| |
|
| March 10, 1954 |
First Evening Prayer Meeting. |
| |
|
| May 9, 1954 |
Larry Warren was the first to be converted and baptized. |
| |
|
| May 16, 1954 |
Ground breaking for new chapel. |
| |
|
June 27, 1954
|
First service was held in the new sanctuary. The interior of the building was still unfinished. The morning speaker was Rev. C. A. Dabney and the evening speaker was Rev. L. R. Baumgartner. |
| |
|
| August 15,1954 – December, 1954 |
Rev. L. B. Crantford, Interim Pastor. |
| |
|
| September 5, 1954 |
Dedication services were held for the new sanctuary at 2:30 p.m. |
| |
|
| September 26 – October 3, 1954 |
First Revival – Rev. L. B. Crantford, Evangelist -
Wade Conn, Music Director. |
| |
|
| December, 1954 |
Rev. L. B. Crantford resigned due to illness. |
| |
|
| January 30, 1955 – July 16, 1961 |
Rev. C. L. Mosher, Pastor |
| |
|
June 13-22, 1955
|
First Vacation Bible School
Mrs. Bill Hickey, Principal
Total enrollment – 70
10 professions of faith. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Sept. 25, 1955
|
The Trinity Baptist Chapel was organized into a Missionary Baptist Church sponsored by the Brainerd Baptist Church. Trinity Baptist Chapel became the South Seminole Baptist Church. |
| |
|
| October 4, 1955 |
The WMU was organized. Mrs. J. E. Adams, Director. |
| |
|
| October 13, 1955 |
South Seminole Baptist Church accepted as a member of Hamilton County Baptist Association. |
| |
|
November, 1955
|
The following men were the first deacons ordained at South Seminole: Dale Coady, W. T. Hickey, Herbert Kerr, and Garlan Tyrrell. |
| |
|
| December 25, 1955 |
The first Christmas Program. |
| |
|
| April 20, 1956 |
Church purchased first pastorium at 1220 Reeves Avenue. |
| |
|
| December 6, 1959 |
The Church Library was dedicated and opened for use. |
| |
|
April 24, 1960
|
Ground breaking and dedication service was held for a new Educational Building. This was the first step in the building of the complex we now occupy. |
| |
|
March 25, 1961 |
The first marriage was performed: Mary Margaret Hickey to Leon Guinn. |
| |
|
| July 16, 1961 |
Rev. C. L. Mosher resigned. |
| |
|
| July 30, 1961 |
Rev. L. B. Crantford was again called as Interim Pastor. |
| |
|
| December 1961 |
Rev. Harry E. Welch was called as Pastor. |
| |
|
|
|
| March 12, 1968 |
Rev. Harry E. Welch resigned as Pastor. |
| |
|
| March, 1968 |
Rev. Frank Witt was called as Interim Pastor. |
| |
|
| October 17, 1968 |
Rev. C. S. Knapp was called as Pastor. |
| |
|
| April 14, 1970 |
The church voted to build the present sanctuary, fellowship hall and additional Sunday School rooms. |
| |
|
August 29, 1971
June 6, 1976
July 11, 1976
|
Dedicated new sanctuary.
Rev. C. S. Knapp resigned.
Rev. David Walker was called
as Interim Pastor.
|
 |
|
| September, 1976 |
Rev. Frank Witt was again called as Interim Pastor. |
| |
|
| February 27, 1977 |
Rev. Bill Delaney was called as Pastor. |
| |
|
| September, 1980 |
The church voted to build a Family Life Center to be financed through the Together WE Build Program. |
| |
|
| February 14, 1982 |
Dedicated Family Life Center. |
| |
|
| September 28, 1985 |
25th Anniversary Celebration. |
| |
|
| November, 1988 |
Rev. Bill Delaney resigned as Pastor. |
| |
|
| November 27, 1988 |
Rev. Mike Steele was called as Interim Pastor. |
| |
|
| June 7, 1989 – present |
Rev. Ron Perry was called as Pastor. |
| |
|
| July, 1989 |
Began Mother’s Day Out Program. |
| |
|
| August 16, 1989 |
Began TV Ministry. |
| |
|
| January, 1990 |
Began Child Care Center Ministry. |
| |
|
| Sept. 25, 1990 |
35th Anniversary Celebration. |
| |
|
May 28, 1995
|
The Church voted to construct an entrance lobby including elevator access to all floors. Church voted to include a handicapped accessible restroom in the lobby and elevator project. Estimated completion of the project was January 1996. Church approved a committee to study the renovation of the Worship Center. |
| |
|
| June, 1998 |
1st Music Camp - “Nic at Night”. |
| |
|
| January, 1999 |
AWANA program began. |
| |
|
| July, 1999 |
Purchased the house at 3458 Bennett Road to be used as a Missionary House for missionaries on furlough. |
| |
|
| October, 1999 |
The church voted to renovate the Worship Center. |
| |
|
| January, 2000 |
Church voted to build a covered walkway to connect the church to the Family Life Center. |
| |
|
| March 4, 2001 |
Moved into new sanctuary before completion. |
| |
|
| April 8, 2001 |
Dedicated new Worship Center. |
| |
|
| September 25, 2005 |
50th Anniversary |
|
|
The following men have served as Staff Members over the past 50 years.
Bill Brewer, Music Harry Schussler Brian Trostle, Music/Education
Mayo Hall, Music Wayne Dozier, Music Travis Shipley, Youth/Children
Mike Jones, Music Tony Carroll, Music/Youth Chris Fillers, Youth/Children
Terry Shannon, Music Gary Miller,Youth/Activities
Scott Andrews, Music/Youth Mark Granlund, Music/Administration
Steve Roach, Youth Ted Gocke, Youth |
|
|
|
