North Clinton Ave. Baptist Church
A Brief History of Our Church...
During the year of 1951, the First Baptist Church with the Rev. E. P. Russell, as Pastor, started making plans for a Branch Sunday School in this community. A committee was appointed by the church to be responsible for the church. W.E. Cobb, L.L. Coats, L.R. Norris. Mrs. V.L. Stephenson, Mrs. K.M. Wood and Robert Draughon. Later, Joseph Norris, Sr. was added to the committee.
When the Branch Sunday School had it's first meeting on February 17,1952, there were 29 people present. The work began in a small building owned by Mr. Joe Norris, located across the street at 502 North Clinton Avenue. On March 30,1953, The First Baptist Church purchased the lot at 507 North Clinton Avenue, as the Branch Sunday School began to grow. In 1954 , a new building was built for the Branch Sunday School.
The people felt the need to include a worship service and Rev. William Davenport was elected to be the first Pastor of the Mission, followed by the Rev. Earl Davis Farthing. During 1957, Rev. Joseph O. Creech became Pastor and the Lord's Supper was added to the worship service. In October 1957, Training Union was added by Benny Wood and L.L. Coats.
On June 8, 1958, the Mission became an organized, self-supporting church. North Clinton Avenue Baptist Church was accepted into the Little River Baptist Association in October 1958 with 55 charter members.
On August 15,1960, First Baptist Church deeded the lot at 507 North Clinton Avenue to the church, which included the additional building. In 1961, the Sanctuary was added with the approximate cost of $30,000. The building was constructed by Ellis Godwin, with many of the members working on the building at night. In June 1961, pews were purchased and in 1962 , John Core Jr. donated an organ to the church.
In 1963, Rev. Gerald K. Riggs was elected as Pastor. In 1966, the Rev. Alva Ellis became Pastor and a parsonage was bought in September on that year.
In 1975, Rev. James Madison became Pastor followed by Rev. George McGill in 1977. The church library was founded in May of 1977.
In 1984 , a Fellowship Hall and classroom facility was dedicated and the church sold the parsonage. Rev. James Shaw was called to Pastor in 1986, followed by Rev. B. Carroll Owenby in May of 1990.
In 1999 the church purchased a new sign and a new church van. Rev. Joey Harrell became Pastor in 2000. In September 2005, Rev Billy Stines was called as Pastor. In 2007 the sound system was updated and a new projector and screen was added to the sanctuary. In 2011 a new digital keyboard was purchased to replace the organ. In March 2012 the church bought a new passenger van. In January 2018 , Rev. Grover K. Blackburn , Jr. introduced to us as Interim Pastor and now has been elected into out church as Pastor.
Today North Clinton Avenue has a group of members trained for Disaster Relief and dozens have participated in Operation "INASMUCH". Many have traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi, Red Springs and Armenia.
North Clinton Avenue Baptist Church continues to strive to fulfill the commissions given by our Lord through it's organizations and to minister to the needs of it's members and those of this community and around the world.
During the year of 1951, the First Baptist Church with the Rev. E. P. Russell, as Pastor, started making plans for a Branch Sunday School in this community. A committee was appointed by the church to be responsible for the church. W.E. Cobb, L.L. Coats, L.R. Norris. Mrs. V.L. Stephenson, Mrs. K.M. Wood and Robert Draughon. Later, Joseph Norris, Sr. was added to the committee.
When the Branch Sunday School had it's first meeting on February 17,1952, there were 29 people present. The work began in a small building owned by Mr. Joe Norris, located across the street at 502 North Clinton Avenue. On March 30,1953, The First Baptist Church purchased the lot at 507 North Clinton Avenue, as the Branch Sunday School began to grow. In 1954 , a new building was built for the Branch Sunday School.
The people felt the need to include a worship service and Rev. William Davenport was elected to be the first Pastor of the Mission, followed by the Rev. Earl Davis Farthing. During 1957, Rev. Joseph O. Creech became Pastor and the Lord's Supper was added to the worship service. In October 1957, Training Union was added by Benny Wood and L.L. Coats.
On June 8, 1958, the Mission became an organized, self-supporting church. North Clinton Avenue Baptist Church was accepted into the Little River Baptist Association in October 1958 with 55 charter members.
On August 15,1960, First Baptist Church deeded the lot at 507 North Clinton Avenue to the church, which included the additional building. In 1961, the Sanctuary was added with the approximate cost of $30,000. The building was constructed by Ellis Godwin, with many of the members working on the building at night. In June 1961, pews were purchased and in 1962 , John Core Jr. donated an organ to the church.
In 1963, Rev. Gerald K. Riggs was elected as Pastor. In 1966, the Rev. Alva Ellis became Pastor and a parsonage was bought in September on that year.
In 1975, Rev. James Madison became Pastor followed by Rev. George McGill in 1977. The church library was founded in May of 1977.
In 1984 , a Fellowship Hall and classroom facility was dedicated and the church sold the parsonage. Rev. James Shaw was called to Pastor in 1986, followed by Rev. B. Carroll Owenby in May of 1990.
In 1999 the church purchased a new sign and a new church van. Rev. Joey Harrell became Pastor in 2000. In September 2005, Rev Billy Stines was called as Pastor. In 2007 the sound system was updated and a new projector and screen was added to the sanctuary. In 2011 a new digital keyboard was purchased to replace the organ. In March 2012 the church bought a new passenger van. In January 2018 , Rev. Grover K. Blackburn , Jr. introduced to us as Interim Pastor and now has been elected into out church as Pastor.
Today North Clinton Avenue has a group of members trained for Disaster Relief and dozens have participated in Operation "INASMUCH". Many have traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi, Red Springs and Armenia.
North Clinton Avenue Baptist Church continues to strive to fulfill the commissions given by our Lord through it's organizations and to minister to the needs of it's members and those of this community and around the world.
Expanding the vision...
The past couple of years have been hard on the "church" , but we know that nothing is "too big for our Lord " and we are determined to reach out and help heal our community and bring them to Christ. Join us in making our church stronger than ever ! We are a faith based , serving, church family that is determined to bring Christ into our community and into our church for worship. Join us !
Where we are headed...
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16: 15-16)
The vision of North Clinton Ave Baptist Church is create a community of authentic believers and to witness a city transformed by the life changing reality of the gospel, as people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The vision of North Clinton Ave Baptist Church is create a community of authentic believers and to witness a city transformed by the life changing reality of the gospel, as people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
