Brother Ellis was called to evangelistic work and sent brother John White to fill his place the second Sunday of May and June; then Brother Sol Price was sent to preach on July 10, 1938. The members were so anxious to hear more of the Lord they held a revival from July 17 to August 6 with Brothers Sol Price and G.C. Rogers.

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Sunday School was organized Sunday, September 25, 1938 with 15 on roll and was opened with song and prayer by the class. Annie Lou Perkins was the first Sunday School Secretary.

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Brother Wade Andrews filled his first appointment as pastor October 9, 1938. In the November 20 service, there was a business meeting held with singing and prayer service led by Brother Bodie. Two deacons were elected, Sisters Mable Hightower and Marie Hendrix.

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Later a paper tabernacle was built. The Cypress poles were cut from the Jack Yates Mill Pond. “The younger men went into the pond, neck deep, to get the Cypress poles and drag them out until we got enough to frame up that paper tabernacle. Heavy paper, received from the paper company, was nailed to the top and sides of the frame. It would take a good wind to tear the paper. The size of the tabernacle was about one half the size of the church now. There was a good number of people coming to the tabernacle back then,” said Mr. Evans.

 

Sawdust was placed flooring inside the tabernacle. For seating, benches were made out of slabs from the sawmill. There were no backs on the benches. Children were placed on blankets underneath the benches to sleep. If a child became noisy or disruptive the parent would take the child outside and put “a popping on them and carry them back in.” All the while services would continue sometimes until three or four in the morning. Some of the children of those days can remember the parents getting home just in time to have breakfast and go to the fields.

 

As we all know, these early years were hard years financially for people in this area. Offerings reflect how hard times were. Money received ranged from 50 cents to under $5.00. Produce, however, was also given. Several examples were: January 3, 1939, offering $1.30, 1 dozen eggs, 1 1/2 dozen eggs and meat. Then for a revival held April 17 through 21, 1939 the offering was 98 cents. For a meeting held October 8 through 15, the pastor received 1 dozen eggs, 2 quarts okra, 2 dozen eggs, and 1 bushel of potatoes.

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Christ’s Ambassadors (C.A.’s) were organized about July 1937.

 

Over the years, when the preacher was unable to attend, John Bodie often took his place at the last moment. How wonderful to be instant in season and out. 

 

The exact date in September 1940 that Brother S.N. Price was elected as pastor is not known, but he was elected by unanimous vote.

Remembering that the church roof and sides were just heavy paper, it is not surprising that services were occasionally called off because of rain or cold as was done December 6, 1942 and January 17, 1943. Also interesting to know is that Brother Harley Burke once got so happy praising the Lord that he ran through one of the paper walls. 

 

It is recorded time and again that singing in services were not just songs or singing, but were praise services. How wonderful! Another statement in the church records for May 2, 1943 for homecoming is that “dinner was spread on the table” not as we often say today, “dinner spread on the ground”. 

 

The date of the suggestion of Brother Bodie to build a lumber church is not known, but is supposed to be around 1943. Windows and a lock were purchased around that time.

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Brother H.C. Mitchell was called to be the preacher in October 1944. He filled his first appointment as pastor October 15 and was there through July 1951. It is noted that in November of 1944, Pastor Mitchell suggested ceiling the church and purchasing a piano for $100. 

The salary for Brother Mitchell for 1945 was $126.27. Also during the year the church borrowed $100 from the council for repair on the church. Total cost of the improvements was $213. The lumber cost $113 for re-flooring. The old flooring was sold for $40. 

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During June 1946, six people were baptized by Brother Mitchell in Holmes Creek.

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By 1947 the pay for the pastor was $299.75. During that year the church was wired for electricity at a cost of $18.87. We can’t even imagine that the light bill for one year was $12.24. Also during that year the first church bus was owned and operated by Brother Johnny Perkins. Eight dollars were paid on a tag by Brother Arthur Brown so the bus could bring people to Sunday School and church. The $8.00 was later returned to the church by Brother Perkins, which was sent by Rev. Mitchell. Before the bus, Brother Johnny used a one horse wagon to bring those in need of transportation to church.