Churches: First Baptist Church of Florien, Sabine Parish Source: Sabine Index, Many, La., Jul 23, 1970 Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck carlrad@earthlink.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Florien First Baptist Church will observe the 50th anniversary, Sunday, July 26, with a program and lunch at the church. All past and present members and friends are invited. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m., with registration and singing beginning at 10 o'clock. After the welcome is given, former pastors of the church will be recognized. They are: 1920-1921 - W. G. Bailey 1921-1922 - J. H. Ricks 1922-1925 - L. F. Gill 1925-1927 - J. M. Pate 1928-1929 - T. M. Behan 1929-1930 - Oliver S. Roberts 1930-1936 - W. G. Bailey 1936-1937 - Farley Green 1938-1939 - Ernest Lilly 1940-1943 - J. P. Stockman 1943-1949 - V. K. Fletcher 1949-1952 - L. B. Ritchie 1952-1955 - Homer Burr 1955-1959 - J. W. Raynaud 1960-1963 - J. S. Ware 1963-1964 - John W. Goodwin 1964-1967 - W. L. Fuller 1967-1970 - Avon W. Cavanaugh Other Christian workers and charter members will be recognized, after which there will be a memorial service. At 10:30, special music will be presented, and reflections, and testimonials will be given by former pastors and others. After the worship service, which will begin at 11 a.m., with songs, offerings being taken, and the message will be served. Everyone will assemble in the Fellowship Hall at 1:30 p.m., for congregational singing, scripture reading, and prayer, note burning, dedication of the educational building, cutting of the anniversary cake, and fellowship. Tithes and offerings brought into the church over the past 50 years, amounts to $499,668, and mission gifts sent out from the church, $129,653. Five hundred nineteen have been received into the church by letter, and 446 have been baptized in the church. The present Sunday School Enrollment is 216, with an average enrollment of 168. The present Training Union enrollment is 126, with an average enrollment of 73. The Rev. W. G. Bailey was first pastor of Florien First Baptist Church, L. A. Pynes, first Deacon, L. F. McLanahan, first Sunday School Secretary, Miss Ruth Williams, first WMU president, Mrs. W. F. Leach, first WMU secretary, Lewis Nelson first BYPU president, and Miss Sallie Woods, first pianist. Mrs. Sybil Geoghagan Lilly was first superintendent at the mission, east of Florien, and A. V. McLanahan was first superintendent at the Lewing Community Mission. The first Bible Class Sunday School teacher was L. A. Pynes, Advanced Class, G. C. Reeves, Intermediate Class, Miss Ruth Williams, Junior Class, Miss Lucille Woods, and Card Class, Mrs., W. M. Leach. Miss Lovie Williams was first Vacation Bible School principal. History Fifty years ago, on July 16, 1920, in the Florien High School auditorium, thirty three inspiration filled individuals listened to a stirring revival sermon preached by Rev. H. R. Holcomb. They then banded themselves into the formation of the Florien Baptist Church, that, through the years, would help spread the news of God's love to the "uttermost parts of the earth". Three weeks after this memorable organizational meeting, two committees were appointed, a building committee to locate and secure a place to build a church, and a finance committee to raise funds to erect the building. On September 5, 1920, Rev. W. G. Bailey (Gip) was elected as pastor for one year. That fall, a Woman's Society, and a Sunday School, with five classes, were reported, when the Florien Baptist Church petitioned, and was accepted into the Sabine Baptist Association. The church's messengers, Mr. W. R. Leach, Mr. L. A. Pynes, and Bro. L. A. Woods, were welcomed. The only deacon in the church was Mr. L. A. Pynes, a Charter Deacon. A need for more brought about the ordination of Mr. W. K. Holt, and Mr. S. J. Williams, on November 7, 1920. Rev. J. H. Ricks was called as pastor on August 3, 1921. Because the church was still very weak, the members, four months later, found it necessary to ask the Home Mission for $150.00, to supplement his salary. Sometime in the early days of the church, Mr. George W. Miller, a faithful worker, and an outstanding Christian, came into the church, and served as a deacon. Following Rev. J. H. Ricks' resignation on April 5, 1925, Rev. L. F. Gill led the church. Another deacon, Mr. Owen A. Bush, was ordained on February 1, 1925. Rev. J. M. Pate of Many, was called as pastor on April 12, 1925. He received a yearly salary of $180. Under his leadership, another building committee, composed of Mr. Mack Duggan, Mr. L. A. Pynes, Mr. L. F. McLanahan, Mrs. S. L. Williams, Mrs. C. C. Leach, and Mrs. A. V. McLanahan, was appointed in January of 1927, the site chosen for the church building was near the Florien School, on school property. May 1, 1927 brought the culmination of nearly seven years of dreaming, planning, praying, and saving. On that day, the church moved into the beautiful new five room wooden structure, that was valued at $1,600. The pastor, Bro. Pate, spoke at the morning service, and the evangelist, Bro. Holcomb, preached the Sermon of Dedication. In August of 1928, Rev. T. W. Behan was elected pastor. His yearly salary was $182. Two months after Bro. Behan's coming, the Florien Baptist Church entertained the Sabine Baptist Association for the first time. Additional Sunday School Rooms began to be needed in the church, so in 1929, the deacons were asked to inquire about the cost. The school too, during this year, was building a new building. The School Board asked for, and received permission for the school to use the church for classrooms, until their new brick building (the present one) could be completed. On August 11, 1929, Bro. Arthur Funderburk was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel. Bro. Bailey preached the Ordination Sermon, and Bro. Behan presented the charge. Rev. Oliver Roberts came as pastor in October of 1929. Through the church had occasionally given to missions, the deacons, after meeting with the pastor, reading Psalm 116 and praying, brought a resolution before the church, stating that because the church was not giving anything to the Cooperative Program, they recommended paying $5.00 per month, or $60.00 per year. At this time, the monthly church budget was $50.00. In the Fall of 1930, Rev. W. G. Bailey came back as pastor. The depression years affected the church and her members. The monthly budget was cut from $50.00 to $40.00, and the pastor's salary was $20.00. A committee was appointed to study the needs of the poor in the community, and the church tried to help however it could, with a contribution of $10.00, taken out of the treasury. On September 6, 1931, Mr. Mack Duggan was ordained as a deacon. The year 1933 brought a little more prosperity for the church. They were able to give $12.00 each month to missions - $4.00 to foreign missions, $4.00 to home missions, and $4.00 to state missions. In an annual financial statement for 1933, all bills were reported paid, and there was a balance of $30.00 in the treasury. The church began to make plans to build a mission church east of Florien. They also were making plans to entertain the Sabine Baptist Association a second time. Mr. Ernest Lilley was licensed to preach by this church in the early thirties. Nineteen hundred thirty four was the year the church decided to have church services two Sundays a month, instead of one a month. Nineteen hundred thirty five also brought changes - rooms were added to the church, and the plan of giving the offerings through the Sunday School was adopted. In addition to money, tithes of canned goods, and other items were brought into "God's Storehouse", and were either sold, given to the pastor, to the Orphans' Home, to Arcadia Baptist Academy, or to the needy. By 1936, the Mission Station was progressing nicely. The church bought Bibles to be distributed among those who came. Rev. H. F. Green of DeRidder came as pastor to the Florien Baptist Church in 1936, and served in that capacity for one year. In June of 1938, Rev. Earnest Lilley accepted the pastorate, and became the first pastor to live on the field. Under his leadership, the church acquired a parsonage, (the J. W. Salter house), had full time preaching, and established a second Mission Station (Lewing Community). A monthly budget of $164.50, which included a pastor's salary of $82.50, and a mission offering of $22.00, was adopted. On April 8, 1939, Mr. Amos V. McLanahan, and Mr. Othal Miller were ordained as deacons. During the pastorate of Rev. J. P. Stockman, who came in 1940, the church was very active in ministering to the needs of the soldiers during the big Louisiana maneuvers. The members gave permission for the church building to be used as official Officers' Headquarters. It was also during this time that Rosalie Duggan Clinkscales, and husband Tom Clinkscales, were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board, and went to Brazil for the first time, to begin twenty seven years of work as foreign missionaries in the state of Parana. Within three years, two more deacons were accepted by the church. Mr. C. L. Canterbury came in 1940, from the First Baptist Church in Lake Charles, and Mr. Dan Lucius in 1943, from the Plainview Baptist Church. Rev. V. K. Fletcher became pastor in 1943. Shortly after his coming, the church purchased the Rufus S. Gandy property (our present location). Building materials were very scarce. The School Board, again, let the church use the school as a meeting place for services. In June, 1945, the old church building was torn down, and the salvaged lumber used in the new one. The church also bought and tore down the old gymnasium at Plainview, and put that lumber into the new church. The months of work, and miles of traveling spent in seeking proper building materials were climaxed on Sunday, November 4, 1945, when the Florien Baptist Church held her first services in the new church building, with the tall beautiful steeple that proudly pointed upward, to remind every passer-by of the goodness and the greatness of God. The church minutes for that day read, "... The weather was perfect. We rarely have a more lovely day. The church has been praying for just such a day. Great crowds of people from far and near came to worship, and rejoice with us. We are truly proud of the new church plant, and give all the honor and glory of it to 'Him who doeth all things well'". During this happy day, Bro. Fletcher preached the first sermon in the new building. Rev. J. P. Stockman spoke in the afternoon service, and Rev. Ernest Lilly at the night service. The church had an indebtedness of approximately $12,750, that was to be paid with 5 percent interest. Two hundred dollars was due on the note each month. Mr. John Wright was accepted as a deacon on August 7, 1946, when he came from the Antioch Baptist Church, Florien, Louisiana. A desire for a church owned cemetery brought about the purchasing of thirty two acres of land on October 22, 1947, for $3,000. An additional $500.00 was borrowed to improve the property. Four months later, the church voted to retain six and one half acres for the cemetery, and sell the rest of the land for $3,000. On September 5, 1948, a campaign was launched to pay off the remainder of the building debt of $1900.00 before January 1, 1949. The Lord, again, bountifully blessed the efforts of everyone, because on November 16, 1948, the note was paid off. Dedication services for the three church owned buildings were held on November 28, 1948. Bro. Fletcher preached the morning sermon, Bro. C. W. Williams delivered the Dedication Address, and Bro. D. A. Youngblood spoke at the evening service. In January of 1949, Rev. M. L. Delk became pastor of the Florien Mission. Mr. W. E. Worsham came from the First Baptist Church, Waller, Texas, on January 12, 1949, and Mr. Homer Jordan came from the Holopaw Baptist Church, Holopaw, Florida, in August of 1949. Both were accepted as deacons in the church. After Bro. Fletcher's resignation on January 30, 1949, Rev. L. B. Ritchie was pastor from May 29, 1949 until July 9, 1952. The church established a nursery, built a front porch onto the church, and began investigating the cost of enlarging the recreational building. In an impressive ceremony, three men, Mr. W. R. Turner, Mr. Newt Dalton, and Mr. Melton Wright were ordained as deacons in the fall of 1951. During Rev. Homer Burr's pastorate from October, 1952 until September, 1955, the bulletin service was started, the fire escape erected, the pageantry for the Christmas program was begun, and the auditorium air-conditioned. On February 4, 1953, Mr. Walter Powell was accepted as a deacon, after coming from the Plainview church. In 1954, Mt. Carmel Church asked for, and was given permission to use the mission building equipment. From 1955 until 1958, Lavelle Jordan Barfield, and her husband Charles Barfield, worked with the Spanish people in Sabine Parish, under the auspices of the State Mission Board. In September, 1955, the church was debt free, and had a monthly budget of $909.67, which included $350.00 for the pastor's salary, and $230.00 for missions. Gerald Cook was licensed to preach August 15, 1954. Rev. John W. Reynaud came as pastor in December, 1955. By September of 1956, the budget had been increased to $1,144.67 per month. A surplus of $1,000 in the treasury was given to missions. Charles Porter, a young soldier, was licensed to preach on May 8, 1957. Again, on January 8, 1958, the church gave a surplus $1000.00 to missions. The monthly budget had increased to $1248.17, with $475 going to missions. In December of that year, the church voted to buy 25 choir robes, and decorate a Christmas tree in the church yard. Mr. S. G. Keadle was accepted as a deacon on July 8, 1959. He came from the Central Baptist Church, New Orleans, Louisiana. When Bro. Reynaud resigned on November 4, 1959, the church called Rev. Sam J. Ware, who served as pastor from February 7, 1960 until July 18, 1963. On January 31, 1960, Mr. Oscar Lee came from Union Baptist Church, and was accepted as a deacon. Mr. W. L. Dees Jr., and Mr. Woodrow Jett were ordained as deacons on June 4, 1961. During Rev. John W. Goodwin's pastorate, from December 15, 1963 until July 26, 1964, he launched a clean-up for the church property. In the sanctuary, the walls and ceiling were painted, the floors and furniture refinished, and a new carpet and curtains for the choir loft and baptistery were donated. The parsonage, and church were re-roofed. In 1964, Edith Mothershed Hawkins, and her husband Lynn Hawkins, went to Wyoming, and worked under the direction of the Home Mission Board. After Rev. William L. Fuller's coming as pastor on November 29, 1964, plans were begun for a new educational building, and a sanctuary. In 1965, the church bought the adjoining Williams property for $3000.00. Under the direction of Bro. Fuller, the young people of the church organized a B-Hi-U, and engaged in various planned summer activities. The church voted on June 9, 1965, to change her name from Florien Baptist Church, to the First Baptist Church of Florien. The church was incorporated on January 12, 1966. Mr. W. G. Lilly, and Mr. Lamar Salter were made deacons in an ordination service on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 1967. The church bought the Addison property across the street for $4000.00, on February 7, 1968. The present pastor, Rev. Avon Cavanaugh, came to our church on October 8, 1967. He, with a building committee composed of Mr. Melton Wright, Mr. Jack Canterbury, Mr. Oscar Lee, Mr. W. L. Dees, and Mr. Walter Powell, were able to complete the plans for the educational building, which was built at the cost of approximately $80,000.00 The church had to borrow $25,000. By June 1, 1970, all indebtedness had been paid. On June 30, the treasury had a balance of $1901.72. Plans are now being discussed for a new sanctuary, by a committee composed of Mr. W. G. Lilly, Mr. Melton Wright, Mr. Jack Canterbury, Mr. Glen Anderson, and Miss Barbara Duggan. The church, at the present time, has a yearly budget of $32,563.67, with $4,978.59 allocated to missions. In the spring, two young men in the church heard and accepted God's call to preach the Gospel of Christ. Gil Arthur was licensed on March 22, 1970, and Dana Joe Salter on May 17, 1970. Mr. James R. Cook (Bob) as accepted as a deacon from the Antioch Baptist Church on May 3, 1970. Through these fifty years, more than 446 people have made professions of faith, and have been baptized into the Florien First Baptist Church. The Lord has so richly blessed us spiritually, and materially, Man, in his feeble way, tries to evaluate the worthwhile things of life, but only eternity will reveal what actually has been accomplished. ------------------------------