Church History

The late Junior and Doris Childers, Charter Members, who owned a cinder block store building on Perth Church Road, repaired the building and we moved in for services. Movie theater seats were found at an auction sale and placed in the building and lawn chairs were also used for seating. A wall air conditioner was installed directly behind the pulpit, which bothered preachers with hair-most of the time to be turned off so the message could be heard. 

The first checking account was opened August 2, 1982 with a deposit of $826.27 and a savings account in the amount of $2000.00. Sunday afternoon November 21, 1982 at 3:00 p.m. Liberty Baptist Mission was organized as Liberty Baptist Church by a council composed of 11 Deacons from Landis Baptist Church and seven Pastors with Rev. Eddie Sherrill moderating.  Rev. David Harrison of New Hope Baptist Church in Salisbury delivered the principal sermon.  A list of 49 names as members was read after which the moderator invited others to  join.  Two came forward bringing the total to 51.  The moderator moved that the charter membership remain open until January 2, 1983.  The council voted unanimously that these be listed as charter members.  Rev. Bo Hammond of Landis Baptist Church gave a charge to the church.  God added many members to the fellowship. God blessed us with overflow crowds of people.  Many came to worship with us but left because of a shortage of parking. Baptismal services were held at Fern Hill Baptist Church and Brother Joe Steele's sister allowed us to use her home lake access in Cornelius for baptism also.  Five acres of land were approved for purchase from Mr. Ray Curtis for $15,000.00 on Johnson Dairy Road. This place was  destined to become the home for Liberty Baptist Church but for the next few years,  services would be held in the little white block building, souls would be saved and lives would be made Holy. The property was purchased and through the Providence of God, paid for in full in fourteen months.

In October 1984, Pastor Sherrill resigned and Pastor Wilmer Walker was called to become our Under Shepherd. A groundbreaking service for our first church was held on August 30, 1987, and construction began.  A member of Rehobeth Methodist Church in Terrell made us aware of the church furniture they had for sale since they built a new church.  We were so thankful we could discard the squeaky movie theater seats and purchase pews and pulpit furniture for $7500.00. The night before our first service, a small group of people moved the piano into the new sanctuary. Those people  gathered there that night sang "Amazing Grace," and felt the presence of the Lord.  On April 3, 1988 we held our first service in our new church.  The dedication service for the new church was held August 21, 1988 at 3:00 p.m. with Brother Steve Dagenhart preaching the dedication sermon. Liberty Baptist church choir sang "He Did it All for Me" and "That Wonderful Country." Revival services were held the next week (August 22-26) with Brother Dagenhart preaching.

It is noted that in May 1988, the church ran low on funds towards payments on the new construction. Mrs. Christine Williams and her husband Walter had money in savings and loaned the church (interest free) $4675.00. This amount was exactly what was needed to meet our obligation. WHAT A BLESSING! The loan was repaid in April 1989. God is so Faithful.

In January 1991, Pastor Wilmer Walker resigned and Brother Ralph Robinette became supply pastor. In March of 1991, Preacher Robinette was called as Pastor of our church. His first sermon topic was "Five Smooth Stones" taken from 1 Samuel 17:40.

Many souls have been saved and people have learned about our Great God, Saints have passed into eternity - through all these times, God has been faithful. With the increase in enrollment and shortage of space for Sunday School rooms, Pastor Robinette led in an enlargement program to add a choir loft, enlarge the sanctuary and add a new educational building. A sum of $275,000.00 was loaned to the church, with a payment of $2630.00 per month for 5 years. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 22, 1993.

  The new addition was completed in June 1994. property of 1.6 acres joining our property and a doublewide mobile home became available for the church to purchase at a sum of $50,000.00. It was voted unanimously to purchase and was paid for with a cash lump sum. The home served as our fellowship hall, Sunday School room and gathering place.

We did not know but the Lord knew this land was destined to become the present sanctuary site. Membership and attendance had taxed the facility to bursting. Visitors came, but felt they were using space needed for church members. Chairs were carried and placed in the aisle and around the front of the pews at the altar. Those arriving late had problems of finding places to sit. In June 1998 a building committee was appointed and approval was given to secure funds for the present sanctuary. This plan for a new, larger sanctuary was a vision and dream of Pastor Robinette and the congregation. The doublewide mobile home was sold and removed, land scraping began, building material and concrete arrived for the new sanctuary all paid for from the building fund.

We had fully paid off the loan for the last construction of our church and another groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 26, 1998 for our new sanctuary.  The "old note" was burned and the choir taped a live cassette tape, which is still a blessing to all that hear it.  In September of 1999, the church voted unanimously to borrow one million dollars for the new building.

In October of 1999, Mr. George Hall offered his doublewide mobile home on the other side of the church property.  A price of $71,000.00 for the mobile home and 3/4 acres of land was asked.  God richly blessed us and we were able to pay cash for the property and the mobile home was then used as our fellowship building and Sunday school class.

On July 2, 2000 Pastor Robinette resigned and for five months guest preachers preached the word.  Pastor Keaton was one of these men of God and in January 2001 he became the Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church.

July 15, 2001 construction was completed and Charter Members led the congregation from the old sanctuary into the new sanctuary at 10:00 am for our first service held where we now worship.  Sunday School attendance was 148 and 232 attended the 11:00 worship service.  The offering total was $5,223.43.  Pastor Keaton delivered the first message entitled "How We Want Our Church Represented In The Community", taken from 1 Kings,  Chapter 8.  This marvelous facility has been provided not for the members of Liberty only, but we extend a warm and friendly welcome to the community and our surrounding neighbors.

  To dedicate our new building,  a Jubilee week was held September 9-14 with guest speakers each night.  Kenneth McCain, Michael Sudfin, Gene Brown, Scott Caudhill, DeWayne Barber and Keith Cudd were our visiting preachers.  These services led up to our Homecoming September 16.  Brother Larry Campbell preached an inspiring message that day and nine were gloriously saved.  Homecoming lunch was spread in our old church building, which is now our fellowship hall.

The first wedding in our new church was on October 20, 2001.  Christin Beaver and Jason Benge were married in a beautiful ceremony.  Mrs. Ava Hawks funeral was on December 16, 2001.  This was the first funeral service held in our new sanctuary.  The first baptismal service was on October 28, 2001 with 28 candidates being baptized.

In December 2001, Arnold Douthit was named Associate Pastor and July 2002, seven new deacons were appointed.  Our present membership is 472.

The history would not be complete without the remembrance of the many who have gone on before us to be with the Lord, waiting on us there to join them.  Wonderful revivals that we have witnessed through the years - men who have accepted the call to preach the Gospel - the youth groups who have been led to work and have blessed with ministries such as the Nursing Home Ministry.  And Pastor Keaton has led us into becoming a Missions Minded church.  We now support 17 missionaries around the world with monthly support.  Ultimately all the events and happenings are about our Great God, Lord, and Savior.  Through it all we've learned to trust in Jesus, we've learned to trust in God, we've learned to depend upon His word.  His spirit has led and guided us and will continue to until Jesus says, "Come up hither".  TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.  As we look to the future our minds should be set on 1 Corinthians 2:9 - "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither entered into the heart of man the things God hath prepared for them that love Him.

On Sunday morning May 2, 2004, Pastor Keaton resigned and for over a period of 5 months we had several guest preachers.  Associate Pastor Arnold Douthit was named as the Supply Pastor until God would send us another man to be our shepard.  God continued to bless during the time that we were without a pastor.  One of the many men that came to preach to us was Eddie Graham.

On October 3, 2004, Eddie Graham became the Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church.  After Pastor Graham accepted the pastorate, Supply Pastor Douthit relinquished his supply pastor duties.  God is continually blessing Liberty and we have had numerous new members to join with us in Fellowship over the past several months.