History Timeline
First Baptist Church of Deep Run, NC
Fall 1949 - A group of people met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Harper to discuss organizing a Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. & Mrs. Mark N. Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Redding Williams, H. A. Thompson, Mr. & Mrs. Preston Harper and Rev. Howard G. Dawkins. Mr. Mark said that a Baptist church was one thing he wanted to see before he died. Mrs. Estelle said her beloved mother had prayed for a Baptist church in Deep Run.
January 13, 1950 - A small group met in the Deep Run School and decided to purchase land immediately and build as soon as funds were available. They named the church “The First Baptist Church of Deep Run, NC. Officers of the church and building committee were elected.
February 7, 1950 - First Baptist Church of Kinston voted to sponsor the Deep Run church.
November 8, 1952 - Decided to begin construction of the church building. Roy L. Wooten from First Baptist Church of Kinston was given the job of getting materials and supervising the building.
January 17, 1953 - Ground breaking was held for the new church, attended by a group of interested people of the community. (See picture in pictorial history of church.)
March 30, 1954 - At a called meeting of interested persons, 25 people expressed intention of becoming members. Church services would be held on second and fourth Sundays and Sunday School each Sunday. A communion service and offering plates were given by Mark N. Smith. Brass floral urns were given by Estelle F.Harper. Pulpit furniture and pews were given by Mark N. Smith and Lula S. Smith. One hundred Broadman Hymnals were given by Lula S. Smith.
We think it is very significant that a beautiful brick church has been erected and paid for before the organization of the Sunday School or the Church. Dr. Earl Bradley of the State Missions Board tells us he believes it is the first time in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention that this has happened. All of us realize that this has been a marvelous achievement and God has wonderfully blessed us.
A pulpit Bible was given by Oliver, Braswell and Lewis Smith.
April 11, 1954 - First services held at First Baptist Church of Deep Run. Rev. H.R. Starling, Neuse Association Missionary, preached the first sermon. Nannie Tyndall played the piano for Sunday School and Janie Carol Harper played for church.
April 12-18, 1954 - Rev. Howard G. Dawkins held the first revival. Sixty persons united with the church.
May 9, 1954 - Our Organization and Dedication Service was held with Rev. W. C. Reed, Supt. of N. C. Baptist Orphanage was the speaker. He said, “Because of the dedication of the church and individual lives to God and His work on earth, may many souls be won for Christ, and may Deep Run be a better place in which to live. Through this church, may God bless this community.”
Mrs. Preston Harper made a motion that the 63 who came by letter or by faith and any others who came within 60 days be accepted as charter members. The motion carried.
May 30, 1954 - At 3:00 p.m. Rev. Howard Dawkins baptized 22 people who came forward during the revival. Judy McRorie (Morris), the first to join, was first to be baptized.
May 31, 1954 - Mr. Mark N. Smith died at Lenoir Memorial Hospital.
June 2, 1954 - Mr. Mark N. Smith’s funeral was the first to be held at the new church. Rev. Richard Whitley held the service.
June 19, 1954 - The first wedding was held in the new church. Miss Marie Harper and Mr. Ernie Edward Bunn were married with Rev. Howard Dawkins officiating.
Fall 1954 - A picture of Jesus was given by Mr. Tom White in memory of Mr. Mark N. Smith.
July-September 1954 - Different preachers filled the pulpit.
October 10, 1954 - Rev. Douglas Pruden of Raleigh, a student at Southeastern Seminary, spoke and supplied the church until November.
November 21, 1954 - Rev. Douglas Pruden was called as pastor at a salary of $1200.00.
January 23, 1955 - Church Deacons were ordained. Dr. E. L. Spivey, State Missions Secretary, preached the ordination sermon.
January 30, 1955 - First communion was held with Rev. Douglas Pruden as Pastor.
October 17, 1958 - Preston Harper passed away. His funeral was held at the church on October 19 with Rev. Douglas Pruden and Rev. Howard Dawkins as ministers.
August 23, 1959 - Rev. Douglas Pruden resigned as Pastor.
September 13, 1959 - Rev. Richard Whitley was called as Pastor at a salary of $2,000.00. We rented a house for the Whitley’s in Deep Run.
1960 - The church built a parsonage at a cost of $13, 865.00. Mr. Guy Stocks was the builder. The Richard Whitley family was the first to live in the new parsonage.
November 26, 1960 - Rev. Richard Whitley resigned effective Jan. 15, 1961.
January 15, 1961 - Salary of Pastor was raised to $2,235.00.
March 4, 1962 - The church voted to secure a full time pastor.
May 25, 1962 - The church called Rev. R. H. Lineberger to be our first full time Pastor.
June 1, 1962 - The church voted to raise the Pastor’s salary to $4500.00: $3000.00 regular salary, $1200.00 expenses, and $300.00 Annuity Board.
July 1, 1962 - Rev. Lineberger began his service as Pastor of our church.
1965-1966 - A major renovation on the outside front and inside of the church was carried out. Mr. Guy Stocks did the work. A new steeple was given by Mrs. Estelle Harper to replace the first steeple that had been struck by lightening. The new one was larger. A beautiful landscape picture was given to the church to go on the walls of the baptistery by Ellen and Herman Tyndall.
1966 - A silver urn was given by Leurah Stroud and her GA’s.
April 1972 - Rev. Lineberger resigned as Pastor.
October 14, 1973 - Rev. Douglas Holland was called as Pastor.
October 13, 1974 - Jimmie Williams was licensed as a lay minister.
1975 - Piano and organ lights were given by the Smith Family in memory of Durwood I. Smith.
November 7, 1976 - Rev. Douglas Holland resigned as Pastor.
November 13, 1976 - Mrs. Lula S. Smith passed away. The church lost a great supporter. Rev. Douglas Holland preached the funeral services.
1976 - Hymn books were given in memory of Calvin Taylor by his family.
1976 - An organ was given in memory of Mrs. Lula S. Smith by her children and the church.
April 1977 - Rev. Bailey Elmore was called as Pastor. His family moved into the parsonage on Easter Monday.
1977-1978 - Pastor’s salary was $11,000.00.
March 12, 1978 - Jimmie Williams was ordained as a minister with Rev. Douglas Holland preaching the ordination sermon.
May 20, 1979 - We observed our 25th Homecoming Service. Rev. Bailey Elmore was the pastor.
October 26, 1979 - Mrs. Estelle Harper passed away. Her wish for the church was a Fellowship Hall. Rev. Bailey Elmore and Rev. Douglas Pruden preached the funeral.
1980-1981 - We built a fellowship hall. It is a 2304 square foot structure.
December 1980 - Rev. Bailey Elmore resigned.
September 1981 - Rev. Larry Hutchins was call as Pastor.
1982-1983 - Pastor’s salary was $15,400.00.
July 1983 - Rev. Larry Hutchins resigned as Pastor.
October 1983 - Rev. Bobby Hunter was called as Pastor.
December 11, 1984 - The first couple to have a baby while serving as our Pastor was Bobby and Denise Hunter. They had a beautiful daughter, Brittany.
1984 - Nell S. Sutton gave the church a beautiful cross-stitched picture of the Lord’s Supper. She spent many hours on this project.
1984 or 1985 - Stained glass windows were placed in the church. (See plaque in the Vestibule.)
February 17, 1985 - Vance Williams was licensed as a lay minister.
December 31, 1986 - A hearing aid system was given to the church in memory of A. R. Munn by Mrs. Cora Lee Munn.
1986 - A brass communion service was given by Vance and Evelyn Williams. A brass urn was given in memory of Sue M. Jones by Floyd B. Jones III.
March 27, 1988 - Rev. Hunter resigned as Pastor.
April 3, 1988 - Bobby and Denise’s second child, a son, Luke, was born on Easter Sunday. We now have Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in our Church.
September 1988 - Rev. Dennis Murphy was called as Pastor. He and his wife Janice had two sons when they moved here.
October 1, 1988 - Rev. Murphy began his work with us.
December 9, 1990 - James Tyndall was ordained as a minister by our church. Rev. James T. Layton preached the ordination sermon.
December 31, 1991 - A daughter, Lauren, was born to Janice and Dennis Murphy.
August 29, 1992 - The youth of the church gave a new pulpit Bible.
February 1994 - Rev. Dennis Murphy resigned as Pastor.
September 1994 - Rev. Gene Martin was called as Pastor. His wife Marge, his daughter and three grandsons came with him.
1995 - Pastor’s salary and reimbursements was $17,623.00.
April 21, 1996 - The family and friends of Elizabeth H. “Lib” Williams gave the Church new sanctuary and outside light fixtures in her memory.
May 1996 - Rev. Gene Martin resigned as Pastor.
1996 - Total Pastors package is $24,266.04.
1996 - Choir loft renovations were made in memory of Bobby White by Lynn White. A new pew was added on a raised platform.
June 1, 1996 - Rev. Bobby Belcher came to us as interim pastor.
November 1996 - Rev. Bobby Belcher was called as Pastor. Bobby and his wife, Irene, live in Goldsboro.
August 1997 - Mr. and Mrs. Braswell Smith and friends gave a beautiful grand piano in memory of their daughter Nell S. Sutton.
October 2, 1998 - A P.A. system was given in memory of Idlee Raines by her family.
September 10, 1999 - Mrs. Zennie T. Williams, one of the original group who worked so hard to start this church, passed away.
2000 - Total Pastor’s package is $26,680.00.
August 6, 2000 - A beautiful church sign in memory of Casco and Carolee Sparrow was given to the church by their daughter and her husband, Joyce and Allen Taylor.
2001 - Total Pastor’s package is $27,530.00.
March 11, 2001 - The parking lot was given in memory of Frank Mellette, John Stroud, Lossie Stroud, Virginia D. Sutton, Ernest “Tom” Taylor, Herman Tyndall and Zennie Williams by family, friends, and the church.
July 8, 2001 - Rev. Bobby Belcher resigned due to health problems.
July 2001 - Rev. Ken Jones came as interim pastor.
2002 - A Memorial Garden was put in place between the church and fellowship hall by Fred and Leah Harper in memory of Mrs. Estelle F. Harper.
March 31, 2002 - A beautiful organ was given by Iris Aldridge, friends, and the church in memory of Carl Aldridge.
2002 - Rev. Ken Jones resigned as interim. He gave several pictures to the Sunday School classes.
A monument, flagpole, and flags were placed in the south parking area in memory of Elmer B. Smith by his family and friends.
June 9, 2002 - Norman Davis, Jr. was called as Pastor. He and his wife, Kay, live in LaGrange.
July 14, 2002 - Our pastor Norman Davis, Jr. was ordained into the ministry.
Summer 2003 - An ice machine was purchased and placed in the kitchen of the Fellowship Hall.
November 2003 - A new audio/video system with a portable cabinet was installed in the sanctuary.
Winter 2003 - A new septic tank system was installed in the church.
January & February 2004 - Work was done on the Fellowship Hall. Windows were replaced, porch railings were replaced, the inside was painted, and doors and shutters were replaced and painted.
January 2004 - A new door and sidelights for the front of the Fellowship Hall and a new side door were given by Ray and Dot Blizzard.
May 2, 2004 - Church voted to begin searching for a Youth Minister.
May 3, 2004 - Church purchased 2.5 acres of land from the Brian Harper family.
May 16, 2004 - First Baptist Church of Deep Run celebrated its 50th Anniversary Homecoming.
March 3, 2005 - Luis Miranda began work as our Youth Minister.
Augugust 21, 2005 - Rev. Norman Davis, Jr. resigned.
In a church business meeting the church voted to refinish and recover pews, repair the stage area, paint and replace carpet in the sanctuary. This work took place over the next several months.
September 4, 2005 - The church voted to house a family from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina devastated their home in Slidell. The family of five stayed in our farm house for five weeks.
November 20, 2005 - The church began meeting again in the newly refurbished sanctuary.
January 22, 2006 - The church called Rev. David Fishman as full-time pastor.
March 1, 2006 - Rev. David Fishman, along with his wife, Stacy, began their ministry with us.
May 21, 2006 - First Baptist Church of Deep Run celebrated its 52nd Homecoming.
June 21-28, 2006 - First Baptist Church of Deep Run will sponsor its first foreign mission trip. We have a group of 12, lead by our Youth Minister Luis Miranda, going to Grenada in the south Caribbean.
May 6, 2007 - Luis Miranda, our first paid Youth Minister stepped down from his paid position to serve as a volunteer through August 2007
May 20, 2007 - First Baptist Church of Deep Run is celebrating its 53rd Homecoming.
June 22-July 3, 2007 - First Baptist Church of Deep Run will sponsor its second foreign mission trip. We have a group of 14, lead by our Youth Minister, Luis Miranda, going to Grenada in the south Caribbean.
October 2007 - The Adult Sunday School class meeting in the Sanctuary was renamed the Joe Tyndall Sunday School class in honor of Mr. Joe's faithfulness and dedication in teaching for over 40 years!
May 18, 2008 (Homecoming Sunday) - Our new addition of hallway, bathrooms, and carport with overhang was dedicated to the glory of God and in thanks to all who designed, built, and contributed to this good work.
January 2009 - A Curio Cabinet was given to our church in memory and honor of Shorty & Ellen Tyndall by Judy Morris. It houses many of our plaques, trophies and Bibles from years past.
February 8, 2009 - Steve Grissom (member, teacher, deacon, servant) was presented to our church by our pastor and deacons to be Licensed into the Gospel Ministry. The vote was unanimous and Steve was given a certificate designating this answer to God's call in his life.