Old Greenbrier Baptist ChurchPO Box 456Alderson, WV 24910Pastor: Bill Bryan(304) 646-8631Ministers of Music:Dell & Nancy WoodCarolyn Holliday Treasurer:Charlotte MeltonCongregational Visitor:Peggy BollenbachOfficial Board, ChairBob LaRueStreet Address:301 North Monroe St.Church Phone:(304) 445-7854

Old GreenbriER

Baptist News2015

Non-ProfitPostage PermitNo. 32

Volume XVII No. XI

Church website: http://oldgreenbrierbaptistchurch.typepad.com/

Forwarding Service Requested

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART

Although we sometimes neglect saying them, there are two words that we need to use with greater frequency in our daily lives. “Thank you” is the appropriate reply when someone blesses us with a kind action or a gift. In small things, like the opening of a door, or in larger things, like a special gift, our response should be one of gratitude and thanks giving to the giver. I believe the biggest thank you we give in our lives must be to God for he has given us the greatest gift of all—abundant and eternal life in Jesus Christ. But what a high price God paid to give his gift to us. The costliness of God’s special gift to us should inspire in us not only thanks giving but also thanks living. Our “thank you” to God should be given in more than just words. Although we can never earn the salvation we have in Jesus or pay God back for his sacrifice on the cross, I believe the best “thank you” we can give to God is our own sacrificial living for him. God calls us to join him by taking up our crosses and by sacrificing ourselves daily in service to others in his name. Such sacrificial living includes giving tithes and offerings, personally sharing the good news of Jesus with those who need it, and engaging in kingdom ministry in our church by putting our talents and spiritual gifts to work serving others in Jesus’ name. The heart of Thanksgiving is giving thanks. How are you giving thanks to God for his indescribable gift to you? Begin by saying “thank you” in a prayer lifted to him right now. Then consider how in this week you will act on your words by giving sacrificially to meet the needs of others around you. Saying “thank you” to God begins by giving yourself to him and continues by sacrificially giving yourself for him

that others might

Christmas Cantata Singers Needed

join you in an ever swelling chorus of thanks giving to God.

The next Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, December 5 at 8am at River of Life Church of God.

1 – Stacy Harris 4 – Wayne Dotson 5 – Rick Parker 14 – Danny Joe Craft 15 – Joyce Lehmann 17 – Trina Forbes

Jamie Massey 18 – Frances Canterbury 19 – Dorothy Taylor

Jack Taylor 20 – Anthony Bowden

Bill Gadd 28 – Kaitlyn Hunter

1Communion SundayS School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

2 3 4Bible Study ~ 6:30pCantata Practice ~ 7:30p

5Ruth Thurmond Circle ~ 1p

6 7Men’sBreakfastLutheran Church ~ 8a

8S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

Official Bd. ~ noon

9 10 11Bible Study ~ 6:30pCantata Practice ~ 7:30p

12 13 14

15S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

16 17 18Bible Study ~ 6:30pCantata Practice ~ 7:30p

19Pack Food Pantry ~ 9a

20Food Pantry~9a

21

22S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11aThanksgivers’Luncheon ~ noonCommunity Service – ROL ~ 7pm

23 24 25

No Activities

26 27 28

29S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

30

Our adult choir has begun preparation of “Breath of Heaven” for the coming Christmas season. If you are interested in participating in the cantata, please join with the choir on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm.

Our choir is open for participation by anyone from the community who would like to join us in preparation of this cantata. Please spread the word to anyone who might like to participate. We look forward to this annual musical celebration of Christ’s birth.

One of the problems that continually plagued the early church was the lack of attendance by her members. The minutes indicate attempts to improve attendance by demanding members give cause for their absences lest they be put out of the fellowship and by creating a roll to be called at each church meeting. It appears that the difficulty in consistent member attendance was due in large part to the distance that many members lived from the church and the ruggedness of the undeveloped terrain that they had to travel. The church struck a compromise by allowing members’ attendance to be a function of the distance they lived from the church. “The church has unanimously concluded for the clerk to Draw a list of the members names dividing them into three divisions the first Division those that are nigh to attend once a month: the second division those within 15 miles once a quarter and those at a further Distance once a year.”26 The problem of distance and the need for consistent fellowship led inevitably both to the birth of new churches in which members could worship regularly and to the birth of new associations of churches west of the mountains.

Greenbrier Baptist Church and Parsonage ca. 1906

Old Greenbrier Baptist Church ca. 2008 To Be Continued . . . Photograph from the personal collection of Jack Taylor

All rights reserved. Used by permission.steady in the early years as some families moved further west and others arrived in the area.

Her Associations

During the first seven years of his work and ministry in the Greenbrier region, Elder John never heard nor saw another Baptist minister.27 He certainly knew the importance of Christian fellowship and encouragement through his association with other believers in founding Greenbrier Church in 1781. He and his church also knew the fellowship, encouragement, and counsel that come from association with other Baptist churches. From the outset, Greenbrier Church was in contact at least annually with other Baptist churches. The church minutes contain annual references to the election of a delegate or delegates, the preparation of a church letter, and a report back from the delegate(s) after the association meeting. Shown below is the first such series of entries for the Ketocton Association meeting in 1782. This was the first association meeting at which the newly formed Greenbrier Church was represented.

2642. Ibid., July the 26th 1788.2737. McDanel, 308.

. . . ordered that a call’d meeting be held the 8th of August next in order to write the Association letter which is to be held at Br John Gerrards meeting house Mill Creek Bartley County August 3d Sunday28

According to our appointment last meeting in course the Ass[ociatio]n Letter was Brought forward, read & approved, Our Br John Walker appointed as our messenger to Bear the same and represent us at the Association―Our Brother having made his return from the Ass[ociatio]n The Letter was read on Sunday the 12 of September in the audience of the church29

Similar entries were faithfully recorded in subsequent years as the church ordered that an annual letter to the association be written in July or August. The church then approved the letter and appointed a messenger or messengers to attend the association meeting in August/September. Upon the messenger’s return, the association meeting minutes and circular letter were read before the church.

While Greenbrier Church was diligent in associating with other Baptists for support and counsel on the western Virginia frontier, there were circumstances that sometimes prevented attendance at associational meetings. “The Church matters, lying somewhat difficult and times Intricate, so that we cannot send a messenger to our annual Ass[ociatio]n this year”30 “The Church for several reasons have omitted sending to the Ass[ociatio]n this year”31 The details of the circumstances that prevented attendance at these annual association meetings in 1783 and 1791 are unknown. However, it soon became clear that due to the difficulty of travel and the growing number of believers on the frontier that an association of churches on the western side of the mountains would be necessary.

Continued on page 7

“BAPTIST BEGINNINGS AND EXPANSION IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA”What follows is the fourth excerpt of an article written by Pastor Bill for the American Baptist Quarterly in honor of the 150th anniversary of the West Virginia Baptist Convention. The entire article is available in American Baptist Quarterly XXXIII, no. 1 (Spring 2014): 25-44. It will be published serially over the next several months as a feature article in the Old Greenbrier Baptist News.

Greenbrier Baptist ChurchHer People

A church must be more than a building. It is an association of like-minded believers who share in the ministry of the gospel. From a beginning of twelve souls, Greenbrier Church grew in number. The first business entry in the church minutes states “Monthly meeting held by the Baptist Church of Christ. Meeting was opened by reading a small

improvement upon the 4th chapter of Nehemiah after prayer for direction a Door was opened for Receiving of Experience, Rachel Davis was received by telling a law and gospel experience.”32 Examination of the church minutes shows that meetings were generally opened in a similar manner with singing, Bible reading, and preaching. After this, as cited above, “a Door was opened for Receiving of Experience.” This was the church’s invitation for any non-members in attendance to speak about their conversion experience and walk with the Lord. After hearing this testimony, the church members voted whether to receive the individual or not. The minutes reveal three typical ways that members were received: 1) by their statement of experience including prior believer’s baptism, 2) by their statement of experience with believer’s baptism to be administered by the church as expeditiously as possible, or 3) by the receipt of certain “Letters of Dismission” from their previous church of like order. However, not everyone found the door to church membership open. The minutes record that one woman shared her experience on two separate occasions but was not received into the membership. No reason is given in the minutes for her exclusion. The two Baptist ordinances were regularly celebrated by the church. Church records reveal that the first Lord’s Supper was observed in January 1783, and the first baptism took place on July 26, 1783.

The exact membership of Greenbrier Church during her early years is difficult to ascertain. John Asplund, a Swedish immigrant, travelled widely and corresponded with many Baptist churches in order to ascertain the locations and sizes of Baptist churches in America during the early 1790s. Due to difficulties in both travel and communication, his information was often somewhat sketchy and incomplete. For Greenbrier Church he gives the number of members in 1790—38; 1791—31; 1792—29; 1793—29; 1794—29.33 The church minutes are of little help in resolving this issue, since the membership rolls are incomplete. While dates when letters were written for departing members were often

included, the dates of death for members were not always included. Further complicating the issue is the fact that the Greenbrier Association minutes, which include membership numbers, are not available for most of the early years (i.e., 1801-1828). It appears that the initial membership of Greenbrier Church quickly doubled and then remained somewhat

Our Finance Team meets on a regular basis to monitor our church budget and spending. Thank you for your regular tithes and special offerings. Each month, we want to present an overview of where we are financially.

2838. Minutes 1781-1835, July the 27th 1782.2939. Ibid., August the 8th 1782.3040. Ibid., July the 25th 1783.3141. Ibid., July the 30th 1791.3235. Minutes 1781-1835, January the 25th 1782.3336. John Asplund, The Universal Register of the Baptist Denomination in North America, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793 and part of 1794 (Boston, MA: John W. Folsom, 1794), 26, http://hdl. handle.net/2027/wu.89065946980 (accessed December 22, 2014).

General Fund for the Month Ended September 30, 2015Beginning Balance $ - 2,297.77 + Income $ 6,848.90

− Expenses $ 12,336.41Ending Balance $ -7,785.28

Budget Needs * Actual Need Difference

Giving thru September: $84,824 $103,701 - $18,877September 4, 11, 18: $ 4,579 $ 7,977 - $ 3,398 Total 2015 Giving: $89,403 $111,678 - $22,275

* These numbers represent actual giving versus budget. We do not spend money we don’t have. So, some budget items are not fully funded. The Treasurer and Finance Team closely monitor spending.

Fill-Up and Fuel-Up ResultsOur Fill-Up and Fuel-Up dinner was a success with $3,692 raised toward the replacement and filling of our fuel oil tank before winter. The oil tank is in and filled. Thank you to all who helped.

Thank YouThank you for giving to our General Fund, Building Fund, and annual missions offerings. We faithfully continue to care for our church facility and to reach out to the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Needs as of October 25

Saeed AbdeniGlenna Adams (Mary Godby’s sis-in-law)Phyllis AkersHope Aliff (friend of Anne Parker)June Ames (friend of J. Lehmann)Bedford BakerKaren Baker (sister of L. Carter)Jim Belcher (friend of Anne Parker)Max Bowyer (friend of Anne Parker)Barbara BradleyNathan BradleyDreama CarterDarius Christian (Charlotte Grimmett brother)Nathan Clay (friend of Anne Parker)Cody (Alice Clark’s grandson)Jean Dodson (friend of Anne Parker)Aretha Dowdy (friend of Betty Highlander)John Dynak (friend of Curtis Pauley)Donna EskinsStephanie EstepLinda Fitzwater (Friend of Anne Parker)Shirley FreemanEvelyn Grimm (Alice Penfield’s sister)Crystal & Emma HalsteadBrittany HannaKent Hanserd (C. Knapp’s nephew)

Clara HardestyDola Harris (C. Knapp’s sister)Betty HighlanderAnita & Don Hill (friend of Mary Godby)Dickie & Ora HonakerRed Honaker (friend of Anne Parker)Shawna Hopkins (C. Smith’s granddaughter)Lorene HouseMadeline Howard (C. Knapp’s sister)Lynn Hutchinson (friend of Lawrence Lewis)Jesse Hylton (friend of Dolphis Wood)Matthew Jarvis (friend of Mary Godby)Jim JohnsonScott KadleDale Kidd (friend of Anne Parker)Bob LaRueJoyce LehmannLevi LevisayLori Loggins (A. Parker)John Mace (friend of Lawrence Lewis)Sarah& Neal McClung (friends of Jo Honaker)Michael Canterbury (Anne Parker’’s nephew)Pearl McCurdyPeggy McKenzie (friend of Curtis Pauley)Virginia Miller (sister of Charlotte Grimmett)Charles Mitchell (friend of Mary Godby)Melody Moss (A. Parker)Sharon Mullins (C. Holliday’s sister)Sandra Neely (friend of C. Knapp)Eva Nichols (friend of Anne Parker)Lee PattersonJoe Price (friend of Jason Ward)Levi Pugliani (Bob & Gayle LaRue’s grandson)

Rebecca Rexroad (Jewell Smith’s grand-daughter)Marsha RayHeather RichmondChuck & Lisa ShaverLibby, Stephanie, G.W. Richmond (C. Smith)Isaac RobinetteTheresa Rookstool (Carolyn Knapp’s niece)Margie SimmonsChristine SmithEddie Smith (friend of Mary Godby)Lucy May SmithMelinda UtterbackSammy Walker (friend of C. McCallister)Theda Wallace (friend of Anne Parker)Larry Wickline (Jack Taylor’s uncle)Jeanie Zopp (friend of Theresa Massey)

ALL TROOPS In Our Armed ForcesRandy Fleshman (home)Joseph Garcia (New Jersey)Katie Hunter (home)Jess Phillips (home)Brent Taylor (home)Ernie Tincher (Afghanistan)

Church Family Shut-inMary Lou Bowden Ernestine LightFrances Canterbury Juanita RookstoolHarriett Dancy Dorothy Taylor Louise Utterback

Government Officials Heads of State

Students: Jonathan Bradley, Bethany Burdette, Hannah Griffin, Rhys Rogers, Kari Still, Kelsey Still, Stephanie Willis, Keith Wiseman, Brennan Wood

EMMA ALDERSON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Note: Please notify church office 304 445-7854 to delete or add to prayer list.

Throughout the school year, the EACA would appreciate donations of snack food for the preschool and after-school programs. There are currently no children with food allergies in our programs. The following snack items may be left in the church kitchen in the box marked EACA Snack.Pretzels 100% Fruit Juice in large bottles seedless grapesGraham Crackers * Apple Juice RaisinsGoldfish * White Grape Juice

Applesauce cupsRitz Crackers Juicy Juice – any flavor Fruit cups

Teddy Grahams Orange Juice

CraisinsClub Crackers Bottled Water - gallon jugs

Canned PineappleCheese Crackers

StrawberriesPeanut Butter Crackers

BlueberriesAdditional Items: paper towels, napkins, 5 oz. plastic cups, plastic spoons, zip lock bags (any size), toilet paper and tissues. The EACA Staff and children thank you for your generosity.

The children have been studying the topic of “helpers.” Here are some of the helpers they have met recently.

Carpenter Tony Hedrick

Pianist Nancy Wood

Chief Jeremy Bennett Librarian Ms. Rose

Emma Alderson Christian Academy