Ware County Churches Camp Branch File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/ware.htm WAYCROSS JOURNAL-HERALD, Waycross, GA Monday, April 22, 1974 CAMP BRANCH CHURCH OLDEST OF ITS KIND Camp Branch in Ware County, Georgia, is the oldest Church of God of Prophecy church in the state of Georgia. It was set in order on Sept. 15, 1915, in the Camp Branch School House with five charter members - Walton C. James, John Smith, Plato Smith, Rachel Smith and Nancy Ratliff James. Shortly after the church was organized a small building was constructed, but after only two years of worship in the building, it burned to the ground. This did not present a permanent set-back to the people of God, however. They began to build again. The newly built church was called the "tabernacle" by the members, and even today many people still refer to the old church building in that way. The people of God would worship Him fervently in the "tabernacle," and many a young minister of the Church of God of Prophecy has begun his Christian service at Camp Branch and has been set forth into the ministry by the Camp Branch Church of God of Prophecy. As time went on the membership of Camp branch outgrew the old "tabernacle" and a zeal to build caught hold of the people. Under the direction and leadership of Charlie Pace in 1957, a new church was constructed, with the finishing touches added during the pastorate of Chester A. Williams in 1958-59. Then in 1960, the members at Camp Branch decided to build a church parsonage. The house was built under the supervision of the pastor, Monroe Brown, and the insdie finish work was conpleted in 1961, while Sherman Minter was serving as pastor. Because of the faithful labor over the years of members and ministers, the Camp Branch Church of God of Prophecy supports a full-time minister, even though it is a small country church. Credit is due these pastors who have labored over the years, 1915 until the present time: E. A. McDonald, Allen Adams, Melvin Pittman, Mannen Crews, Dewey Holloway, Bill Murray, Gerald Hersey, Ralph Phillips, Charliec Pace, Johnny Bragg, Chester Williams, Joseph Brown, Sherman Minter, Dewey Lolly. [Contributed by Barbara Walker Winge, ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============