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Calvary Baptist Church

22861 Al. Highway
256-685-2120

On July 5, 1965 a group of people came together at Woodie and Faye Jefferys' House for a meal and fellowship. There had been some talk about organizing a church. At this meeting a committee was chosen to check and see what was necessary to organize a church. Those elected to the committee were Henry Smith, Woodie Jefferys, Bill Smith, Elmer Patterson, Oscar Owens, Coy Waldrep, and Virgil Randolph.

This committee reported back on July 17, 1965. It would take a lot of prayers and hard work, but it could be done. They group accepted the report and set began meeting Sunday, August 1, 1965. Bro. Henry Smith was elected moderator until a Pastor was found. Emmitt and Cecil Crosslin offered to let the group use their old dwelling house to meet and worship in until they could do better. On July 22, 1965, the group met and set the house in order. They began with prayer and followed with a lot of hard work cleaning and making curtains in order to have a place for Sunday school to meet. They purchased 18 benches for $75 from Sanderson Chapel Methodist Church with free will offerings.

It was decided that all people would support the church and wanted to become a member of the new group to sign their name that night and the clerk would ask for letters.

The next business meeting on July 26, 1965 the group voted to for a

Church and give it the name Calvary Baptist Church. Henry Smith

was elected Moderator and a Pulpit Committee was elected. The first

Trustees to be elected were Floyd Scoggins, Arolyn Burney and Elmer

Patterson. They were elected on a rotating system to serve three years

and remain off one year before serving again. Bill Smith was elected

to serve as executive board member. Plans were made for Bro.

Doyle Combs, to teach a book on the duties and work of a deacon.

After the study the deacons were to be elected. The business meeting

and prayer meeting was set for the first Wednesday of each month at

6:30 p.m. Coy Waldrep was elected to be in charge of the prayer

meeting for the first meeting.

A songbook committee was elected to see about songbooks for the service. Those who were elected to serve on this committee were Leon Beck, Sandra Owens, Brenda Carpenter and

Cecil Randolph. It was voted to pay the Preacher $25.00 for Sunday morning and Sunday night service. Meeting time was 6:30 pm on Sunday night for church training.

The first Sunday in August 1965 was the first Sunday service. For Sunday school there was 94 present, for Sunday Night training there were 69 present, and for the first Wednesday Night prayer service there were 59 present. The attendance was a great encouragement to a group

working to get a church organized and functioning. The songbook committee suggested that the Broadman Hymnal be bought for church services. Two dozen were all the church could afford at the time and a free will offering was taken to buy another dozen. The church asked Leon Beck to recommend a smaller book to be used for specials and such. He suggested Select Church Songs by Stamps Baxter Music Company, which we still use today. Mary McCreless was chosen for our first Vacation Bible School Director.

At this time the ushers were elected, they were Grady Waldrep,

Coy Waldrep, Arolyn Burney and Emmitt Crosslin. Junior ushers

were also chosen, they were Charles Crosslin, Gary Scoggins, Mike

Owens, and Clifford Burney. The Budget Committee was also

selected and were asked to make the Budget for our first full year.

They were Hill Carpenter, Arolyn Burney, Cecil Randolph,

Faye Jefferys, and Silas Witt.

If a church was going to be built, land was needed and thus the decision came to purchase three acres of land from Mr. Oscar Owens. It was also necessary to have a Purpose, the Guide and the Covenant.

First the Purpose of Calvary Baptist Church is to worship the Lord together, spread the gospel, win souls to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, minister to the needy and support each other.

Secondly, the Bible shall be our Guide.

Thirdly, the Covenant was read and accepted.

Fourthly, the By-laws were read and approved.

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