Some of our members will remember the prayer meetings that were held in homes in the New Hope Community sponsored by the Rev. Walker Black, pastor of Rankin Lake Baptist Church. Two of the homes that were used were Mr. Ed Matherson and Mr. Truman Stephens.
On Sunday, some people in our community would ride to Rankin Lake Church in a bus sent from that church. Also, Mr. Garland Mull’s truck was used to transport some of the people. Rev. Black realized what a hardship it was for the people to attend his church, which was quite a distance from New Hope. He wanted to start a mission here. So, with the land donated to the church by Mr. Y.E. Springfield, the little White Church was built.
Mr. Luther Matterson, Sr. cut the first lumber for the mission. The building was a one room auditorium measuring 30’x 80’. The pews in the building were slab cut by Mr. Garland and Frank Mull. This writer was told that no one went to sleep or got too comfortable on those slabs for fear of falling off.
The first deacons were Mr. Y.E.Springfield, Mr. Garland Mull, Mr. Emory Harper, Mr. Frank Owenby, and Mr. A.M.Childers. The first Sunday School Superintendent was Mr. Garland Mull. The first Training Union Director was Laura Belle Matheson.
One rainy afternoon in late April 1949, a committee composed of Mr. Garland Mull, Mr. Emery Harper, and Mr. Luther Matterson Sr. Contracted Rev. A.P.Millen to help in the newly organized mission.
During this time, the only service in the mission was Sunday School. On May 2, 1949, the first worship service was held. Eighty-nine people were present.
On the first Sunday in June 1949 the organized church was established and called Rev. A.P.Millen to be it’s part time pastor. He remained in this position until August of 1949, when he became full-time pastor.
In the beginning, there were fifty-seven charter members. The charter was left open for six weeks and at the end there were seventy-six members.
Many names were discussed concerning the church. A committee of three people was appointed to select a name for the church. Friendship Baptist was the name that was chosen.
The first baptismal service was on July 17, 1949. Seven people were baptized in the river behind Mr. Condor Armstrong’s home.
As soon as the church was organized, a revival was held. Rev. Sim Martin from Young Harrison, Georgia, was called to conduct the service. One of the people that rededicated their life to Christ during the revival was Mr. Lawrence Doby. Mr. Doby has been a faithful member of our church for many years. During the month of July, 1949, Sunday School rooms were added on the back with a basement that was used for Sunday School rooms also. The Mission had outgrown its days of curtains being drawn together to separate the classes. Also, W.M.U. and Y.W.A. were organized this month.
In July 1950, twelve feet were added to the front of the auditorium as well as a steeple. The mission now looked like a growing church. The membership had grown to one hundred sixty-six.
In December 1982, the bond program was paid off less than four years of the ten-year program.
Mr. Jack Hord was ordained to the gospel ministry by the church in March of 1983.
On January 20, 1985, Pastor Wren announced his retirement as pastor effective April 7, 1985 and for the second time, Rev. Walker Black was called as interim pastor on March 10, 1985.
On November 24, 1985, the church called Rev. Lynwood Lavinder of Martinsville, Virginia as pastor. Rev. Lavinder, his wife, Roslyn, and children, Todd and Tracy came to us in January of 1986.
On September 1, 1992, Paul Rhyne was ordained to the gospel ministry.
On January 16, 1994, the church ordained Buck Harper to the gospel ministry.
In June of 1997, the Playground was finished and dedicated in time for Homecoming.
We have grown from a small building with slabs to sit on and with curtains to divide Sunday School rooms to the beautiful building we worship in today. God has surely blessed us spiritually and financially. Fine Christian people have come our way, some have gone on to be with the Lord, others have moved to other areas. Some have fallen by the wayside, but many have remained. From our present membership, we can look back to our humble beginning and be very proud. Because with God’s help, we realized that nothing is impossible. We who worship in this beautiful building today can say "Thank You!" to those fifty-seven charter members.
Becky Harper