Butts County GaArchives News.....COUNTY LINE CHURCH November 5, 1897
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Don Bankston http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005864 November 6, 2006, 6:48 pm

Jackson Argus – Butts County November 5, 1897
Its Organization and Its Struggle With Hardships, Led Up to a Veritable 
Crowning Glory

In antebellum days, a few missionary Baptist met under a bush arbor near where 
County Line church now stands, to worship God.

In those days there were hardly any denomination in this county, except the 
Primitive Baptist.   They prayed that their number might be increased until 
they were able to build a house of worship.   A grocery stood just across the 
road, where whiskey was sold, even on Sunday.

These good people were preached to by three young men, known as Billie 
McMichael, John, and Jimmie Kimbell.  The veteran preachers are not called by 
these familiar cognomers now, but all our people know it was the Rev. W. G. 
McMichael, Rev. J. T. Kimbell and Rev. J. G. Kimbell, who are referred to.

But about this time, the dark cloud of war hung over the country, which shortly 
burst forth in all its fury.  However, in 1862 or ’63, Rev. J. G. Kimbell got a 
few people together and organized County Line church, which he served for 10 
years as pastor and received about $20 a year for his services.  Mr. Kimbell 
generally served four churches for about $100 a year, from all the four of 
them. 

Rev. J. T. Kimbell and W. G. McMichael got something like the same salary for 
the same work.

Mr. Henry Thornton, of Jackson, gave $2.50 of the first bale of cotton he ever 
raised, toward the erection of the house, which is standing there until today.  
But it is used as a school house now, and there is a magnificent church 
standing near by, with a membership of over 100.

Mr. W. G. McMichael has gone to his rest, but the two Kimbell’s are still 
living.

The Flint River Association had grown so extensively that it had gotten to be 
too clumsy for the amount of work it had to perform.  Several years ago the 
Rev. G. H. Carter conceived the idea that it would be better for the churches 
of this county to form another association, and every body to whom it was 
mentioned, saw the idea was a capital one.  The name of the new association 
suggested itself.  On account of the life’s service and noble, Christian 
character of the man, it was decided to name it the “John T. Kimbell 
Association.”

Last Sunday, Oct 31st, 2897, just 35 years after the church was organized, the 
association was born.  The Rev. J. T. Kimbell, whose name it was to have taken, 
was sick and could not be present, but sent word by his brethren on Friday, 
that it was his request to the body, and perhaps his last one, that the “John 
T.” be dropped from the name, and it was done.  Hence the new association is 
name “The Kimbell Association.”

The association is at present composed of 13 churches, the number of original 
states in the Union.  It is worthy of remark, that Rev. J. G. Kimbell organized 
5 of the 13 churches, which make the association.

Last Sunday the moderator of the association, Rev. G. H. Carter, of Jackson, 
preached to a congregation a powerful doctrinal sermon, advocating missions.  
There was between 2,500 and 3,000 people on the ground, and those hospitable 
people could have supplied twice the number with the dinner, which was spread.

The little beginning of 1855 has ended in a great work, more than its most 
ardent devotee could have anticipated; but the end is not yet.  The offspring 
of the bush harbor meetings have organized anew, and are now ready for greater 
achievements, and like the pebble that is cast into the ocean, it makes a wave 
that touches the shore of every nation, and will roll on to Berma and Africa, 
and into eternity, where it can never find a breaker, rolling on forever and 
ever.  Even as God lives, lives the seed sown long ago at the bush arbor, by 
these few true, brave, Christian soldiers.

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