Memory Lane - when God uses a man, part three

When we visited with mom and dad recently, I traveled around Cowpens and took pictures of the churches where my parents made an impact over the years. I forgot to take a picture of Central Baptist, the first church I attended as a baby. I even remember being picked up by their church bus a few times as a little kid to go to church. I also have fun memories of playing in the church parking lot while mom and dad talked. In later years, I attended Vacation Bible School at Central many summers. After Central Baptist, my dad became pastor at Gospel Baptist. It was during this time period I came to understand the gospel and that I needed to be saved. Even as a four or five year old kid, I remember hearing Dad preach on the rapture. (If you missed the previous posts, see links to part one and two below)

I also failed to take a picture of my Aunt Earline's church, the Clifton Church of God, and I recall my dad taking me out of at least one service there to spank me. I was a wee little boy, too:)

Seriously, It is encouraging to see what God can do when we are faithful to His work. "Faithful" is the key because I remember how the church attendance at Calvary would grow and decline and grow again over the years. But my parents kept "sticking to the stuff."

In the early 1970's, under my dad's leadership, Calvary Baptist was able to buy land and build their first church building debt free. I missed out on a lot of details as I was in college while the church was being built. The classrooms in the back were finished later.






A few years ago, the church remodeled this building and it was named the "Franklin Fellowship Hall". It has been used for many dinners throughout the years, including the "Homecoming Dinner" on the second Sunday in October each year.

After 20 years, my Dad retired and the church called their current pastor, Preacher Henry Coley, and he has been there to the present day - over 25 years. In February of 2002, they moved into a beautiful new sanctuary that was completed next door, also debt free, and the two buildings are now connected with an enclosed breezeway. Praise the Lord, Calvary Baptist has only had two pastors in 45 years!

The church recently paved the parking lot and added the covered drop off to the front of the new building.

Click to read Memory Lane, part 2

Click to read Memory Lane, part 1