Table Of ContentThe Sesquicentennial History of the
Kings Mountain Baptist Association
851 -2001
Lansford Jolley
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2013
in
http://archive.org/details/visionsoffaithseOOjoll
VISIONS OF FAITH
The Sesquicentennial History
ofthe
Kings Mountain Baptist Association
1851-2001
LansfordJolley
Authc
Published by Kings Mountain Baptist Association
Copyright 2001 Kings Mountain Baptist Association
All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the permission ofthe copyright holder.
Cover Illustration: Image Design and Advertising
Book Design: Image Design and Advertising
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
5
Foreword 6
Baptists in Europe and North America: a BriefHistory 9
Broad River Association 17
The Kings Mountain Association Is Formed in 1851 19
Association Leads in the Birth ofa High School 26
Leadership in the Development ofEducation 37
The Beacon BecomesThe Publication
For theAssociation 38
LeLand Kerr Assumes Leadership ofthe Association 51
Observations 75
Appendix 78
The Churches ofthe Kings Mountain Baptist Association 83
Index 142
THE SESQUICENTENNIAL HISTORY
ofthe
KINGS MOUNTAIN BAPTISTASSOCIATION
1851 to 2001
History Committee since 1997
Mr. LansfordJolley, Historian, Boiling Springs Church
Mrs. Delores Hamrick,Associate Historian, Poplar Springs Church
Mrs.Theresa Lowe, Double Shoals Church
Mrs. Betty Black, Emmanuel Church
Mrs. Ruth Philbeck, New Buffalo Church
Mrs. Barbara Starnes, Eastside Church, Kings Mountain
Mr.Thirlen Osborne, Boiling Springs Church
Mrs. Helen Blanton, Eastside Church, Shelby
Mrs. Lenora Morris, First Church, Grover
Mrs. Becky Hamrick, First Church, Shelby
Mrs. Lib Hughes,Westview Church
Twopersonsnotonthe committeewhoprovidedmuchassistancewere Mrs. LouiseWrightfrom OakGrove
ChurchandMr.YatesHarbisonfromFirstChurch,KingsMountain. Weappreciateeveryonewhohelpedmake
thebookpossible.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
^<-^v J& ne researcn an<^ writing ofthe history ofthe Kings Mountain
( s^JsF Baptist Association has been an enjoyable experience. When I
^- becamehistorianfortheAssociation,Ihadjustcompletedwritinga
Gardner-Webbhistorywhichwaspublishedin 1997. Forsometime therehad
beendiscussionsoftheneedforanewhistoryoftheAssociation. Manychurch-
es and various Christian organizations were founded near the middle of the
NineteenthCentury. Itbecame obviousthatifwewere tohaveanupdatedhis-
tory, the year 2001 wouldbe thepropertime to celebrate the Sesquicentennial
oftheAssociationfoundedin 1851.
While I did the research and writing ofthe history oftheAssociation, many
othersplayedsignificantrolesincreatingthisbook. ProfessorThirlen Osborne,
formerfacultymemberintheEnglishDepartmentatGardner-WebbUniversity
andmemberoftheHistoryCommitteeoftheAssociation,proofreadthemanu-
scriptandmade correctionsonstyle,grammar, andpunctuation.
Fromthebeginning,itwasfeltthatthebookshouldinclude ashorthistoryofeachchurchintheAssociationalong
with pictures of the present pastor and church building. The other members of the History Committee of the
Association gave assistance in contacting the churches and getting this material. Many people in the churches are
responsible forthe churchhistories andpictures. While wehave done some editing, the materialinthebookdealing
withthe churchesoftheAssociationisthematerialprovidedbythe churches. Wethankyou.
I am grateful to many people at the Associational office. Executive Director Leland Kerr gave his support and
encouragementthroughouttheprocessofcreatingthehistory. Thestaffwasmostcooperativeandhelpful. Iwillalways
appreciatethehelpfulness,kindness,andChristianspiritofMargaretLipscombassheprovidedneededmaterial,typed
themanuscript,andwashelpfulinverymanyways. JudyFranks,JoeCollins,andothershelpedinvariouswaysinclud-
ingthedevelopmentofgraphs. RobynKerrscannedandhelpedcorrectchurchhistories. LelandKerr, CharlesReed,
Bonnie Doughtie,Joe Collins,andTeresaDaviswereinterviewed,andIamthankfultothemfortheirtimeandinfor-
mation. Theirinformationwhichwasobtainedintheinterviewsmade avaluable contribution.
Suzanne Gobble servedasasummerworkerattheAssociationandduringthe summeroftheyear2000spentcon-
siderabletimetakingpicturesandgettingmaterialfromthechurches. SheisthedaughterofDr. Marvin Gobble,pas-
torofZoarBaptistChurch,andhiswife,Joy.
Mywife, Cothenia,isalwaysagreathelpandsourceofinspirationandencouragement.
LansfordJolley
Author
FOREWORD
ings Mountain Baptist Association, Inc., has a rich heritage of
ision, faith, ministry, and missions. A vision 150 years ago created
this Association and named it for a region (Kings Mountain
Battleground) thatwasdeartothehearts ofthepeople. Throughout
ourhistory, Godhasblesseduswith"visionaries."
The thirteen founding churches responded by faith believing that the forming
ofa new Association would broaden opportunities to work together with other
churchesina smallergeographicregion. Throughout our 150 years, this faithhas
continued as more and more churches have been started and more opportunities
occurto worktogether.
LelandA. Kerr
As theAssociationhasgrown, more opportunities are available forourchurch-
es to partnertogether to minister. Throughout our 150 years, our churches have ExecutiveDirector
responded to ministry needs. Today we are one of the strongest Baptist
Associations in North Carolina.
Missions supportandmissionsinvolvementhavebeenanimportantpartofthe workoftheAssociationthroughout
ourhistory. As theAssociation assists churches tobe onmissionintheir setting, we also encourage churches topart-
nertogetherto domissions literally all around the world. We are amission-mindedAssociation.
Thishistory will take you on ajourneyof 150years. Itwill alsohelp you learnmore aboutourfamily ofchurch-
es. I encourage you to readitwith a sense ofgratitude forthe past, anawareness ofthe present, andachallenge for
the future.
—
LansfordJolley,ourAssociationHistorian,isalife-longmemberofoneofthethirteenfoundingchurches Boiling
Springs Baptist Church. His expertise as a historian and appreciation for the work of Kings Mountain Baptist
Association, Inc., combine to create this fine writtenhistory. Forthis I am grateful.
I think ill be inspired as you read ofour rich heritage ofvision, faith, and ministry. I heartily recom-
mend this book to ministers, church members, friends, supporters, and other readers.
LelandA. Kerr
Executive Director
Kings Mountain BaptistAssociation, Inc.
