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Church History
They worshiped there for three years and became unsettled and wanted a
better site, so they moved from Seventh Street to Fourth Street, then Fifth
Street and back to Seventh Street from whence they came. Once again they
moved, this time to the corner of Poplar and Fifth Streets on the other
side of the Terminal Station.
After leaving there, the Church moved to
the rear of Elliott Street and held a baptismal in a corn field, a short
distance from the church. The water came from a clear spring across Ash
Street. Later Ash Street became Edison Street. This location was in-convenient
for funerals, so the membership along with the Pastor decided to seek a
better location.
Under the administration of Rev. J. S. Wooten, they were
successful in securing the site on the corner of East Second and Elliott
Streets for the sum of $250.00 and a building was erected at a cost of
$1,695.20. With added cost of renewing the notes twice, the total cost
was $1,945.20. Baptismal was held in the Ocmulgee River near the Spring
Street Bridge. The Church remained at this site until 1963. Many achievements
were made at this site and, many Ministers shared in this success.
In 1962,
the Pastor and Officers received word from the Commissioners of Roads and
Highway that a highway would be passing through the area and they needed
to seek another place. This was indeed sad news for the Pastor and members,
but times of depressions will assail the best of God’s people; so
we were uprooted. Under the leadership of the late Rev. Hosea Rancifer
and our efficient staff of Officers and members, the Lord led us to this
present site, located on the corner of Taylor and Kitchens Streets. On
January 5, 1963, the ground breaking ceremony was held with Rev. A. J.
Shaw as speaker. On January 25, 1963, the contractor, Mr. William Flanders,
began the erection of the new building. Our prayers were answered and all
the praises were unto God for the dawn of a new day. On May 12, 1963, we
marched from the old site to this present site and the new edifice was
dedicated to God for worship. We pause to thank God for his many blessings,
and the dedicated leaders. God has blessed us both financially and spiritually.
On October 13, 1963, the corner stone was laid, bringing to completion
the new building.
The hand of God still writes, tracing our paths by invisible records of
growth and achievements. The mortgage was paid off in nine (9) years. The
mortgage burning was held the Second Sunday in March, 1973. It is a thrilling
experience to write of such leaders and noble accomplishments they made
through their struggles, hardships and difficulties. Reflecting back on
the history of this great Church, there have been a number of leaders,
and all have made some progress in their day.
On June 25, 1954, God sent to us one of his selected messengers to preach,
teach and guide his people, the late Rev. Hosea Rancifer. The Church had
to relocate during Rev. Rancifer’s administration and several other
achievements were made. On May 14, 1978, new additions to the Church were
dedicated to God for worship. The mortgage on the new addition to the Church
was paid off in four and one half years, and the mortgage burning service
was held the first Sunday in December, 1982. We pause to thank God for
the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us, and give thanks unto
Him for the excellent leadership of the late Rev. Hose Rancifer. The late
Rev. Rancifer served well for thirty two years as Pastor and in December
of 1986, the Church retired him as Pastor Emeritus.
In January of 1987, the officers and members saw the need to begin full
time service, with Rev. David L. Stanley being elected to serve as Interim
Pastor. On the Fourth Sunday in June 1987, Rev. Stanley was called to serve
as full time Pastor. The Church has made tremendous progress under his
leadership. Groundbreaking for our new Edifice was held November 27, 1999.
On Sunday, April 1, 2001, God blessed us with the enormous opportunity
to dedicate our new sanctuary to Him!
We are extremely proud of our Pastor, Rev. David L. Stanley, for he is a man with a vision and is totally dedicated to this Church and its well being. Our Pastor is like a Moses in the wilderness, and with God’s blessings through him, we will reach untold heights. We are also very proud of our Officers and their hard work. We pray God’s richest blessings upon each of them. This occasion serves as an inspiration and our gratitude goes out to the Pastor, Officers, and members of this Church. We have had many leaders in the history of this Church. We have had our struggles and setbacks, but the Supreme Ruler of the Universe has blessed us. After all is said and done, we humble ourselves to God with thanksgiving in our hearts for a job well done!!