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aaMiamiinimHiimt HillllHHHrg i I I Si ng - - utjmtm. «fcfca*j'"€ll MsK.m v- r *>;'« , l! ' ™>4 a,'. ft-, ® CMHhHHk % H JBf. I / From left to right, Mrs. Peggy Chaney, Church Clerk and historian, Mr. Archie Byrd, Member of the Building Committee, Reverend J. J. Morrow, Houston Lake Church Completes Building Project With Bond Burning In June 1962, ten years appeared to be a long time to pay on a debt to the small congregation of the Houston Lake Baptist Church. Now the debt has been paid and the church celebrated with a “bond burning” on Sunday, August 6, Homecoming Day. Ninety-three members were present to answer the roll call and hear the sermon • ** . * Wit- SP ■ Before Building Project.... r \; M J, ' ***, / **** & ■ ..../Is It Looks Today by Reverend Lester E. Pritchett, who was pastor of the church when the bonds were sold. Also present was Reverend E. M. Clapp, another former pastor, who served from 1937 until 1946. At the close of the morning worship service the bonds were burned by the Reverend Pritchett and Reverend J. J. Morrow, Pastor, burning the bonds, Mr. Joe Kovac, oldest active member, and Mr. Jesse Parker, Treasurer. present pastor. After a picnic lunch on the grounds singing by the Crossroads Quartet and Trebles Trio was enjoyed by the congregation. The church building was in need of many repairs ten years ago and did not look much like a church at all. The talk was strong for constructing a new building. An inspection revealed that all of the structural timbers were still sound after 100 years. A committee of Charles Stephens, James Denton, and Virgil Vickers was appointed and plans were made to repair and remodel the old building. Bonds were sold to finance the im provements. Work began on June 18 with the removal of Sunday School classrooms from the front of the building. A front porch was then constructed. The building was re-roofed and painted. The interior of the church was in bad condition. During one service a pew had collapsed with several of the members. As work on the inside progressed, it was decided that part of the money would be set aside for new padded pews to be in stalled as soon as the repairs were completed. Acoustical tile was installed in the ceiling and hard wood floors were laid. A new central heating system was installed and the building was un derpinned with concrete blocks. Not only has the church now paid off the in debtedness of the bond program, but during the same period of time several other major improvements have been made. Two educational buildings have been constructed; one is not yet complete. A baptistry was installed after over 100 years of baptismal services held in the lake. An air conditioning unit was added to the heating system. In 1969 a church steeple was installed, thus fulfilling the wish of Joe Kovac, one of the oldest members of the present congregation. The history of the church goes back to 1836 when it was first organized as the Sandy Ridge Baptist Church on June 25 of that year. The first site was near the Ocmulgee River and also near the present community of Sand Bed. The church was con stituted by Rev. Louis Peacock and Rev. Alason Culpeper. The charter members are listed in the minute book as Sampson Culpeper, Hardy Hargrove, James Holmes, Allen Sutton, Joseph Culpeper, William G. Collins, Agnes Green, Mary Joyner, and Temperance M. Baskins. Many important decisions were made during the first month. Reverend Alason Culpeper was chosen as the first pastor. The first deacons were Sampson Culpeper and Allen Sutton ;- James Holmes was elected clerk. It was decided that meetings would be held on the fourth Sunday and the preceding Saturday. The church also agreed to join the Echeconee Association of Primitive Baptists and delegates were appointed. The congregation grew steadily. Strict rules of conduct were adopted and offenders were called upon to explain their actions and to ask for forgiveness. Failure to do so satisfac torily resulted in ex communication. In 1841 the church was in trouble with the association. The church was charged with departure from former principles. A committee appointed by the association to investigate the charges never got the chance to perform their duty. The Sand Ridge Church heard of the pending investigation and declared itself unconnected with the association. Several years later the church became associated w ith the Rehoboth Association of missionary Baptists and has continued to be a part of that association until the present time. , . During the years prior to 1860 a large shift in population was taking place. Many people had moved into the county and the com munity around Houston Factory seemed to be ideal for the future location of the church. On October 22,1959, a building committee of J. T. Cooper, R. W. Baskin, William G. Moore, R. L. Farr, John H. Baskin and William H. Baskin was appointed. The building was completed on December 22, 1860 and the church resolved to move. At the first meeting in the new building a resolution was adopted for the removal of the con stitution of the Sand Ridge Baptist Church and the annexation of the Smyrna Baptist Church. This first meeting was held on January 26, 1861 and the minutes are headed “Houston Factory, Houston County, Georgia.” Thus, began the Houston Factory Baptist Church in the building which it still oc cupies on its original site. The name of the church was changed to the Houston Lake Baptist Church in 1953. aetoool/ Bors KmT fUßjg :§ i Stripes - Solids ■ Fancies $ V In Boys Sizes 2 7 , I H : ,i FLARE LEG SLACKS j ' ' I • Dress JeanssS»47 2/$4.50 , K . Western Flares SI»S7 • Young Mens Sizes $3,2T { rPAIGHT LEG SLACKS^M 97* JHB'WHo 'S SPORT SHIRTS IM W 111 • Boys and Young slo ° JBBIHI Mens Sizes / Jjj|ggjigß, •Size 7-14 $1.77 SPORT SHIRTS ftmtim ISii GIRLS BLOUSES & jjljm • all colors I FLARE SLACKS wSj^^.* Permanent P ress .JUjlffl WR • Size 3-6 x $1.57 2/$3.00| S/S SWEAT SHIRT'S W 'W ss??” $ m$ eiRLS PARTIES BOY# SOCKS • Size 4-14 • »Asst. colors and sizes OIRLS KMUHI'S 0/Q - t % • asst, colors 2/97 m 4/$ 1.00 WHITE BLOUSES W •_ originaljyjl.d? SO Perry Carroll Bfvd. FACTORY OUTLET Store Hours 9*6 iWon. Through Sat* The Sand Ridge Church building was given to the Negro members who moved it to the Sand Bed com munity where it became the Sand Bed Baptist Church. As the years passed the church experienced prosperity and de pression along with the community it served. Even though the congregation became small at times, services were never discontinued. The church was always involved in missions. Support was given to the missionaries to the Indians in the early years. Special offerings were taken to help support Mercer University and other schools as well as the Baptist hospital and Children’s Homes. Many of the Mercer ministerial students have preached at Houston Lake. The records of the church show name after name of the faithful, members who sometimes appeared to be alone in their struggle. Jerome 0. Sandefur was an active member for 54 years; his wife, Josephine Gray, for 60 years. Their daughter, Etta, and her husband, Dent Harrison, were also active members for 53 years and 54 years, respectively. Others were Mrs. Ida Woodard, 61 years, Miss Maude Brvan, 51 PERRY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, AUG. 10, 19 72 years, and Miss Jimmie Lee Barfield, 67 years. In June 1954 Mrs. Bettie Stafford Woodard, who had been a member for 76 years, wrote apoligizing for asking to move her letter to First Baptist Church, Perry, but explained that she was not able to attend at Houston Lake due to her feebleness. In more recent years, an active and faithful member for 46 years was Mrs. Alva (Kate) Davis, who was widely known for her dedication to her church and for her Christian witness. Among the 276 present members, five have passed the 50 year mark in mem | Humpty Oumpty j I House Enrollment | jl Now taking registrations for Fall ' ;,?N -||lik 1972 Kindergarten enrollment. For • 1; jT information contact Mrs. Wilson I Ij Moody, or call 987-3088. !; rTVL (National Weekly Reader Teacher I ,| Os Consultant) bership. These are Mrs Mary Perdue, Mrs. Irene Hester, Mr. Jerry Davis, Mr. Malphus Harrison, and Mrs Myrtice Arnold. The present pastor Reverend J. J. Morrow, came to the church in 1966 He is now devoting full time to the pastorate of the church, having retired from civil service in June 1970. The church now has active organizations in every phase of the church work and is looking forward to another 136 years of Christian ser vices. WANT ADS 9871823