Friendship Baptist Church celebrated 125 years

During the proudly celebrated 125th Anniversary of Friendship Baptist Church, current Pastor Dave Million and grandson, Isaac David Ridgel rang the church bell to signal to the congregation that it was time to eat the feast prepared by members and guests. Approximately 150 people attended the celebration which marked a huge milestone for the rural church on the outskirts of Kennett. [Click to enlarge]

Friendship Baptist Church celebrated its 125th Anniversary, a huge milestone for a rural church, on Saturday, October 8.

Approximately 150 members and guests were in attendance for the festivities which included a meal prepared by the members and guests, that could feed a small country, and reflections on the churches long history.

Tables were set up with memorabilia and historical pieces of information as well as present photo scrapbooks and much more. There was also a wall of honor, displaying photos and information pertaining to the history of the well established church and pastors that once called Friendship Baptist their home.

Friendship Baptist Church held its 125th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 8. Melissa Finney and her daughter Ashley Finney enjoyed the "Our Kids" photo album which included several photos of kids that attend or have been guests at the church. The photo scrapbook was one of many pieces that the church made available for guests to enjoy in terms of reflecting on the churches amazingly long history. [Click to enlarge]

The church also provided the original minutes dating back to 1880 when the church was officially established, which had been discovered by C.E. Lemonds. The church was first organized in the 1860's but was disbanded during the Civil War. The first pastor was Rev. R.H. Douglas, and the first deacons were J.A. Harris and J.W. Jennings, who were officially ordained on August 22, 1880.

On the same day of Harris and Jennings ordination, the church was appropriately named Friendship, and by the end of June 1881, had 45 members.

Joan Lewellyng, a member who has attended the church since her youth, read an interesting compilation of the church's history which included information revealing sometimes humorous details, including the fact that during the period in which the church was established members were often dismissed for various reasons, such as, dancing, adultery, stealing hogs, using bad language, unchristian conduct, drinking, and horse racing. In the event that a person did something of this nature they had to go before the church and acknowledge what they had done and the church would either reinstate or dismiss them.

The reading by Lewellyng also disclosed that the forerunner of the Women's Missionary Union was organized in 1929 by Emma Wright and Stella Crites, and is still active today.

Much of the information included in the compilation was provided by documents of the church but the majority of it came from actual members, who have many memories of their experiences with the church. Raymond Lemonds told his account of being brought to the church when he was only one month old, and since the church did not have a nursery, he was laid in the floor on a quilt.

"The only danger there was that people would get happy and shout all over the building and I was lucky I did not get stepped on," said Lemonds.

In the late 1940's the church added the baptistery making baptism very different from previous experiences in which members were dipped in the Number 19 ditch.

In the 1960's, two classrooms were built at the front of the building and the church first received the comforts of central heat and air. The young adults claimed that the comforts weren't as they had idealized it and that during Sunday School class they would still have to wear their coats.

According to Peggy Masterson, a member for over 50 years, there was a crack under the door, "big enough to kick the cat out without opening the door," which obviously contributed to the chill that challenged the newly installed heating system.

Lewellyng said that in 1974, the church built a new cabin at Camp McClanahan, and the following year, a new youth department building was constructed. Many constructions and renovations have taken place within the church over the years, including the remodeling of the church auditorium in 1999.

Over the years Friendship Baptist Church has provided a place for its members and guests to worship, fellowship, and share with the community. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, revivals, Christmas programs, and numerous other events have been held within its aged walls.

In the earlier years people showed so much determination in attending the church services that they would walk, ride a horse, come in a wagon pulled by a mule, and even drive their tractor.

Masterson interviewed several members who could relate to the early days of the church and each person she spoke with had many vivid memories of their personal experiences with the church.

One of the members interviewed, Edna Slaughter, now deceased, spoke of 1934 when they sat on split board seats and had a " big pot-bellied stove," and proudly said that Friendship would always be her home.

Audrey Sowell accepted the Lord as her Savior and committed herself to him and the church in 1937 and was one of the members who recalled her baptism being performed in the Number 19 ditch. Today Sowell is living at the Heritage Nursing Home, and although her health prevents her from attending, she faithfully watches the services on TV.

Zula Brown described previous church experiences as dissatisfying until joining Friendship.

"I knew this is where I belonged," said Brown.

A glorious 98 years old, Brown like many members of Friendship credit the church and the continuous blessings of God for her life.

It is amazing the impact that Friendship Baptist Church has had on the community as a whole and those who live in it.

The church has been a major influence through the years by its spiritual and social contribution and because of its exceptional members who work, serve, and sacrifice so much, the church has not only been kept in place for 125 years, but remains alive, in the truest sense of the word.