The Missionary Baptist Church

The group of worshipers who became the Missionary Baptist Church, when the split occurred in the early My Pleasant Church, were the stronger of the two groups. Therefore, they continued withe the organization structure of the early church and met for services once a month. Business conferences were held on Saturdays before the Sunday preaching services. At times they would meet twice on Sunday rather than meet on Saturday.

Records of the activities of the Missionary Church are sparse during the period from 1832 through 1900. At the turn of the century after one hundred years in existence, the roll book, before revision, showed more than two hundred members. This indicates that the church remained quite strong, and even more so following the Civil War.

A complete list of pastors is not available. Other than the two men already mentioned, Charley Hale is the only one known to have served in the 1900's. He was the pastor in the latter part of the 1890's. Since that time, these men, in the following order, have served as pastor of Mt Pleasant Missionary Church; J D Smith, J A Carlton, Sammie C Reid, C S Dillon, H A Russell, H A Russell, Jess Sullivan, Jim Ramsey, Wayne Tarplay, B Vchristian, J W Higgins, Leonard Arbuckle, J V Braswell, Mylers Ayers, David Lawler, Clifford Horn, Jess Williams, Wendell Knight, Gwyndol Love, E Floud Olive, Douglas O'Brien, Jess Williams, Donald Ricks, James H Carter, Darrell Whaley, Wilmur Lamm, Jess W Love and Brent Page.

Known deacons of the church are: John E Maxwell, John W Powers, Ben Heath, O T Ralston, N W Lamb, R J Garrett, Grover C Brannon, Robert R Smith, Herbert S Garrett, B W Carlton, Richard A Williams, Otho Nance, Walter Giles, James Carlton, Jarold Ralston, Edmond Wright, Gayle Hayes, Bud Nance and Eugene Ralston.

The following have served as clerks of the church: S Monroe Crick, J Ed Reid, Horace Reid, Clarence Puckett, Richard J Garrett, Harry Puckett, Vashti Manier Jakes (the first woman clerk), W Eris Read, Walter Giles, Gayle Hayes, Nancy Ralston, Gayle Hayes and Edmond Wright. The present clerk is Ruth Ann Manning Burris.

In July 1900, the Missionary Church held a four day meeting of the Duck River Association. Since this was a manor undertaking during those days, the Primitive Baptists and others in the community opened their homes to the many visitors who had to stay over night because of transportation difficulties. The church building was overflowing with people each day. Charley Hale was the pastor at this time.

On March 19,1904, the church met in business conference. David heath brought up the question of ascertaining whether the Primitive Church would buy or sell interest in the church house. A committee, composed of J E Reid, T W Garrett and J N Nance, was appointed to contact the Primitive brethren regarding this. Response from the Primitive church must have been negative on both counts, for on April 16, in conference, the Missionary Church members discussed the building of a new church house. To this end, J E Reid, John Maxwell, David heath, W J Maxwell, J N Puckett and S M Crick were chosen as a building committee and were asked to raise the necessary funds. Three hundred and fifty dollars were subscribed at once. Later, in June, the Primitive Baptist offered $50 for the Missionary Baptists' half interest in the union church. The offer was rejected.

The new church was finished and dedicated on the Fifth Sunday in October, 1904. A Brother Golden (possibly a former pastor) preached the dedicatory sermon. After the sermon sufficient funds were raised to pay the valance due on the new structure.

During this period of time and the following year, approximately fifty new members were added to the church. Some Primitive Baptists moved their membership to the Missionary Church. Sammie Reid was the pastor during this period.

A two-day associational meeting was held in August, 1910. In order to accommodate the huge crowds, services were held in both church buildings.

The service flag, during World War I, contained five blue stars. Those in service for their country were Horace Brannon, Alfred Carlton, Thomas Lamb, Ivie Powers and Vernon White.

During the period 1910-1918. The church removed from its roll several members who had become affiliated with a new religious group that had developed in the Concord-Rockvale area. This group later became know as the Church of God and is now an active church near Concord. Also, letters were granted to several members so that they could join a new Missionary Baptist Church which had been established at Longview in Bedford County.

The church was still exercising severe disciplinary action on its members in the early 1900's. A "Corresponding Committee" and a "Visiting Committee" to investigate members accused of certain conduct were appointed . Non-attendance, non-support of the church financially, denying the faith, swearing, dancing, lying, drinking, and card playing are examples of this action. Some members were reprimanded or "brought before the church," but remained in good standing after "repenting of their sins" and agreeing to try to do better. Other members were excluded and taken from the roll of the church. As late as July 1916. Two members were excluded for immoral conduct.

Sometime between 1926 and 1935, the Mt Pleasant church left the Duck River Association of Baptist Churches and became a member of the Concord Association. The Concord Association met at Mt Pleasant in 1945 and 1969.

Under the leadership of Pastor Wayne Tarpley, the church moved into a half time pastorate on April 1941. A full time pastorate was instituted in the mid-1940's.

The men of the church who served in the armed forces during World War II were: M B Carlton, J B Cothran, Thomas Garrett, Robert Kelton, Irvin Lamb, Rutledge Looney, Robert Kenneth Smith and Allen Williams. One gold star were place on the service flag for Robert Kenneth Smith who died in an airplane crash over England.

Pastor Leonard Arbuckle was holding a revival in 1944 and for the first time in the history of the church one of its young men was ordained to the gospel ministry. This young man was William Carlton who has held several pastorates in the Concord Association. Ralph Brannon, also under the pastorate of Leonard Arbuckle, surrendered to the ministry in 1948. Michael Giles, now a minister in Chesterfield, South Carolina, was ordained into a Christian service as a preacher in July 1973. Darrell Whaley was the pastor.

Originally, the present church building was just one large room with large windows on each side and three front entrances, including a set of double doors. The only heat source was a large wood burning stove near the center of the room. The building has been renovated several times in recent years, Sunday School rooms have been added at two different times, new heating and lighting systems installed, new pews purchased, air-conditioning units added, and inside plumbing installed. A praetorium, built in 1960 by Arthur Powers and members of the church, stands near the church on land donated by Grady Adcock. Burns Clark dug the well, without charge, to supply water for the house. Gwyndol Love was the pastor.

Since 1800, when it was first organized, this rural Baptist Church has been an active one. Even during its most trying times. It remains so today.