Hickory
North Carolina
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Viewmont Baptist Church
History
On Sunday, April 24, 1932, a group of twenty-eight Baptists met in the old Brown Hosiery Mill building to organize a mission, the Windy City Sunday School. Three years later, a group of 63 believers organized a mission Baptist church in the Windy City village. The Rev. W.R. Bradshaw was call to be the first pastor. In 1935, the church membership agreed to change the name to Brown Memorial Baptist Church and secured land on the corner of 13th Avenue. The land and building materials for the new Sanctuary were donated by the E.W. Brown family.
We owe great appreciation to the generation of brave people who lived through World War II and followed their faith to launch into the growth plans that provided the facilities and land that we enjoy today. It all began with an educational building completed in 1945. Following the post-war growth, Rev. Albert A. Young and Mrs. W. E. Brown led another ground breaking service for a new Educational Building completed in 1954. Then in 1959, the church dedicated the new Sanctuary building. Between 1974 and 1978 the old Sanctuary and educational building were removed for the construction of the multi-purpose building/ gymnasium. The Video Ministry began in 1983 with deacons delivering video tapes of services to members confined to their homes. The Brown property was purchased in 1989 for additional parking as was the property on the south side of the church. During the 1990’s, the members supported two capital campaigns for building renovations and the start up of the TV ministry.
God has done magnificent things already in the history of Viewmont Baptist Church. Each generation has sacrificed to maintain the vision to reach persons for Christ, strengthen disciples, and praise God’s name. The result of that vision and venture is the church that enriches us today. We must continue to dream, grow, and serve the Lord just as our forebears did. This is the time when our church, built on the vision of God, takes the next step toward His dream for us.
On Sunday, April 24, 1932, a group of twenty-eight Baptists met in the old Brown Hosiery Mill building to organize a mission, the Windy City Sunday School. Three years later, a group of 63 believers organized a mission Baptist church in the Windy City village. The Rev. W.R. Bradshaw was call to be the first pastor. In 1935, the church membership agreed to change the name to Brown Memorial Baptist Church and secured land on the corner of 13th Avenue. The land and building materials for the new Sanctuary were donated by the E.W. Brown family.
We owe great appreciation to the generation of brave people who lived through World War II and followed their faith to launch into the growth plans that provided the facilities and land that we enjoy today. It all began with an educational building completed in 1945. Following the post-war growth, Rev. Albert A. Young and Mrs. W. E. Brown led another ground breaking service for a new Educational Building completed in 1954. Then in 1959, the church dedicated the new Sanctuary building. Between 1974 and 1978 the old Sanctuary and educational building were removed for the construction of the multi-purpose building/ gymnasium. The Video Ministry began in 1983 with deacons delivering video tapes of services to members confined to their homes. The Brown property was purchased in 1989 for additional parking as was the property on the south side of the church. During the 1990’s, the members supported two capital campaigns for building renovations and the start up of the TV ministry.
God has done magnificent things already in the history of Viewmont Baptist Church. Each generation has sacrificed to maintain the vision to reach persons for Christ, strengthen disciples, and praise God’s name. The result of that vision and venture is the church that enriches us today. We must continue to dream, grow, and serve the Lord just as our forebears did. This is the time when our church, built on the vision of God, takes the next step toward His dream for us.