Ivey Baptist Church Pastors

Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe by theSpirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

IVEY BAPTIST CHURCH PASTORS

1950 - Present

Rev. A. C. Martin...... May 1950 – Jan. 1952

Rev Miles F. Holt...... Feb. 1952 – Aug. 1953

Rev Robert Vinson...... Sept 1953 – Feb 1954

Rev Jerrell Pritchett...... Feb 1954 – Oct. 1957

Rev. O. C. Overby...... Jan. 1958 – Oct. 1958

Rev. Billy Searcy...... Oct. 29, 1958 – June 1960

Rev. C.H. Meadows...... July 1960 – Feb. 1962

Rev. Larry Meadows...... April 1962 – March 1963

Rev W. B. Gaultney...... June 1963 – Nov 1965

Rev Otis Andrews...... Jan. 1966 – Sept. 1966 (Interim)

Rev. Jack Branan...... Sept. 1966 – Mar. 21, 1971 (resigned Aug. 3, 1970)

Rev Bill Anglin...... Mar. 1971 – Aug 1, 1976

Rev Sidney Wheeler...... Sept. 1976 – Oct. 1977 (Interim)

Rev Roy Johnson...... Nov. 1977 – Feb. 1979

Rev. Cary Wood...... Feb. 1979 – May 1979 (Interim)

Rev Tom Hood...... June 1979 – June 1981

Rev James Woodfin...... Aug. 1981 – June 5, 1986

Rev Wesley Long...... June 26, 1986 – Sept. 28, 1986 (Interim)

Rev Kerry Bunn...... Oct. 5, 1986 – Sept. 24, 1989 (10/22/89)

Rev Wesley Long...... Oct 29, 1989 – Mar. 25, 1990 (Interim)

Rev. G. B. Howell...... April 1, 1990 – March 28, 1993

Rev Jack Ayers...... April 4, 1993 – July 25, 1993 (Interim)

Rev Joey Smith...... Aug. 1, 1993 – Dec. 6, 1998

Rev Dennis Andrews...... Dec. 13, 1998 – May 1999 (Interim)

Rev. Alan Fuller...... June 6, 1999 – June 5, 2002

Rev Ken Danuser...... Sept 8, 2002 – Feb 9, 2003 (Interim)

Rev. Ken Danuser...... Feb 9, 2003 – Nov. 6, 2005 (Bi-Vocational)

Rev. Dan Hodges...... March 12, 2006 – May 2007 (Interim)

Rev. Michael Woodham...... May 6, 2007 - Present

The East Side Baptist Church of Macon, Georgia, established a Mission at Ivey, Georgia in the early part of 1950. During the months that Ivey was a mission, Rev. Stephen Krysalka, then a member at the East SideChurch, preached at Ivey.

On May 7, 1950. This mission was constituted into the IveyBaptistChurch with Rev Roy Fincher, pastor of the East SideBaptistChurch, serving as moderator and Thomas H. Holloway serving as clerk during the organizational meeting.

The Ivey Baptist church began that Sunday with 17 members. Four are living today:

John L. Brooks (deceased) (Lamar)
Charles Byington Jackson (living)
E. S. Youmans (deceased)
Mrs. E. S. Youmans (Sallie) (deceased)
Jessie Lee Jackson Korwin (living)
J. B. Youmans (James Byron, Sr.) deceased
Mrs. J. B. Youmans (Flossie) (deceased)
V. P. Jackson (deceased)
Jessie L. Jackson (deceased) (Lamar)
O. L. Brooks (Orace Lamar – Red) (deceased)
Mrs. O.L. Brooks (Gladys) (deceased)
Ira S. Brooks (deceased)
Mrs. Ira Brooks (deceased)
Mrs. Mary Hardie Bills (living) (Thomasine)

It was agreed at that time that anyone who joined the church within 30 days after its constitution would also be considered a charter member of the church.

Willard Wood (05/10/50) (deceased)
Jimmy Wood (05/20/50) (living)
Mildred Wood (06/04/50) (Mrs. Willard Wood) (deceased)

That brought the total number to 17 Charter Members. As of 2006, We have 4 living Charter Members.Our only active Charter Member, Flossie Youmans, passed away in 2005 with Joey Smith and Ken Danuser as officiating Pastors.

At the first meeting of constitution in 1950, both the New Hampshire Confession of Faith and the Church Covenant, as published today in the Baptist Hymnal, were adopted as the church’s official confession of faith and covenant.

October 18, 1950, at the 138th annual session of the Ebenezer Baptist Association Meeting with GordonBaptistChurch, Gordon, GA, the IveyBaptistChurch sent the following messengers, Mr. O. L. (Orace) Brooks, Mrs. O. L. (Gladys) Brooks and E. S. Youmans to request membership into the Association. Brother A. T. Wimberly, Moderator, appointed Rev. Frank Clark, Rev. Martin Smith and Brother H. E. Stephens to investigate the matter and make the proper report to the Association in order to admit the new church. On October 19, 1950, the committee submitted the following report:

“After having prayerfully investigated the IveyMissionaryBaptistChurch, we recommend to this Association that the IveyBaptistChurch be accepted in the Ebenezer Association; and that their Associational Letter be included in the minutes.”

Respectfully submitted,

M. D. Smith

Frank Clark

H. E. Stephens

After the IveyBaptistChurch was constituted, Rev. A. C, Martin, of Macon, Georgia, was called as its first pastor, serving from May of 1950 until January of 1952.

During this time Ivey was a half-time church, meeting on the 1st and 3rd Sundays only. The first year at IveyBaptistChurch was a year of tremendous growth with 22 people being baptized, more than any other year in the history of the church except one. The church was a frame building with a wood stove, but the church grew and many were saved.

The second pastor called to serve at Ivey was Rev. M. F. Holt, Jr. (Miles) of Macon, Georgia. Brother Holt was called as pastor on Feb. 10, 1952 and served the church until August of 1953. During this time the church went from a half-time church to a full-time church that met each Sunday. It was under his leadership that the church held its first VacationBibleSchool. WMU was started by Ms Hennilu of Danville, on Sept 25, 1952. The first meeting was held at the church where Mrs. Martha Lord was elected the First Director and served until 1957when Myrtle Wood took over as Director. Meetings were held in the member’s home later. Baptist Training Union in 1952 had a larger attendance than our Sunday School. In 1952 we had 66 to attend “M” Night. (Mobilization) also in 1952, Dec 10, we hired a custodian for the church. The church also ran a church bus for some time back during the early years to bring many people to church that could not otherwise attend. The bus was discontinued on August 2, 1953, as it was revealed that people were failing to take advantage of the opportunity to come to church on the bus.

Rev. Robert Vinson, also of Macon was the next pastor called by the church. He served the church from September of 1953 until March of 1954. In 1954, the church added 4 Sunday School rooms to it frame building, but the need for a new building and more room became increasingly apparent. During his pastorate, a bus was purchased in January of 1954 for $200.00 plus $25.00 to be paid to WilkinsonCounty for the body on the bus. The bus was financed by the Wilkinson County Bank, and we were to pay back as we were able too. The final payment for the additional Sunday School rooms was paid on the same date the new note was made for the bus.

On Feb. 28, 1954, Brother Jerrell Pritchett was called as pastor of the IveyBaptistChurch. Brother Pritchett served the church for 3 ½ years, the second longest pastorate in the history of the church. During his pastorate the church grew in total membership past the 100 mark for the first time, from 71 members to 110 members. It also grew in giving doubling its income form $2,367 annually to $4,860 annually. The first VacationBibleSchool was held in the summer of 1954. Literature was approved for order on July 2, 1954. In 1955 the pastor’s salary was raised to $5.00 per week as long as funds lasted also $5.00 was allocated to spend on advertising for the upcoming revival.. In 1955 goals for Cooperative Programs were $50.00 and for the Association Program $25.00. In 1956 Lottie Moon Offering and Annie Armstrong Offering was set at $14.50. Even though the church had previously added four Sunday School rooms to it frame building, the need for a new building and more room became increasingly apparent. Under Brother Pritchett’s leadership the church constructed a permanent brick sanctuary and educational building on the present church site. A loan from the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention was secured after some extended discussions and The Home Mission Board made an exception to its policy and loaned the maximum available. . Services were first held in the new church building on Homecoming Day, May 19, 1957.

Rev. Jerrell Prichett, Pastor, and the congregation celebrated worship in a new building for the first time on Sunday, May 19, 1957. The service began with a baptism of those who had been waiting. Some of Brother Pritchett’s sermon: “As we come today we recognize it is through the cooperation of the people and leadership of God that we are privileged to enter into this sanctuary. We are so grateful in our hearts to God for His goodness and kindness. He has so wonderfully blessed us in such a tremendous way. It is our prayer that the people of IveyBaptistChurch and this community will recognize God’s power and that we will always look to Him for guidance in everything that we do.”

Even the first baptism of the first Sunday of worship in the new church did not go by without some events. One of the most painfully experienced was the baptistery had been installed for quite some time and a good sized family of wasp had decided this was a good place to be. Apparently, they resented the intrusion of their space and proceeded to attack. Brother Pritchett’s neck was so swollen by the time he left the baptistery that the collar of his shirt had to be cut in order for him to have adequate air way.

In the early May 1954, Brother Jerrell Pritchett and his wife, Belva, came to IveyBaptistChurch. He was a ministerial student at MercerUniversity and Dr. Clark, Dean of Students Office sent for him to see if he was interesting in preaching. He explained it was a very small church near Gordon, Georgia and they needed someone to preach on Sunday. He was very much interested and got directions to the church. The following is what he remembers from his stay here.

Belva, his wife, was a new bride at the time. They left early on the cold wintry Sunday with the directions from Dr. Clark. When they arrived in Ivey there we no signs, no street markings, and no identification of a church. After a frustrating time, they determined the only building it could be was a small building near the railroad tracks. The building was unlocked and they went in and found the building was definitely used for worship. There were pews, pulpit and other items that identified it as a church, but they were not sure it was IveyBaptistChurch. They found a hymnal with the name Ivey Baptist written inside and decided this was the place.

The building had not been kept and was in great need of a good cleaning. Belva found an old brush Broom and started sweeping. As it was very cold in the building and the only source of heat appeared to be two radiant heaters, he prepared to light the heaters. He went out to his 1940 Ford and held in the “lighter” until it was beginning to burn his fingers. He placed the lighter to a piece of paper to set it afire and used a small stick to light the heater. He knelt down to the heater in the back of building, and just as he did “poof”. Someone had left the gas heater partially on. There went all his eyebrows, eyelashes and the front of his hair. There were no restrooms or water in the building and they knew no one in the area so Belva tried to clean him up as best she could.

It came time for Sunday School and three families arrived, the three families were Orace and Gladys Brooks, D.P (Doc) Carr family, and the Hubert Lord family. There were about twelve people that Sunday. Hubert wanted to know if he could come back the next Sunday. Brother Pritchett thought they might want to see what he looked like when he was cleaned up. He came back the next Sunday and for years of Sundays until 1957.

The church at that time was several years old but had experienced difficulty in reaching out in the community. There were general feelings that the church was not needed as people could go to nearby churches. Even the Baptist Association leadership was not for supporting a church in Ivey. The families attending were at a difficult point in making a decision to continue or close the church. The leadership was about to decide to make a compromise decision and have services twice each month, but Brother Pritchett felt strongly that he could not stay as pastor, even though they had not called him yet, if the church went to two services a month. He felt like the church should go forward not backward. He was asked to stay for ninety days until they could consider what to do. This was the only time he was voted to be pastor of Ivey.

Most would assume that he was an Interim Pastor because the call was never extended beyond the ninety days. But at the end of the ninety days, no one said anything and he wanted to preach and he said nothing. At the leading of Orace Brooks, it was determined that he needed to be ordained as a minister since he was only licensed. IveyBaptistChurch requested his home church BethanyBaptistChurch in Cochran to ordain him as a minister of the gospel. It was held on May 9, 1954, Mother’s Day. After that, there was never a reference to the “ninety day call”.

There was a train coming through every Sunday Morning just before the conclusion of the service. There was no way to out do the sound of the train. This was frustrating as there were so many young adults and youth that needed to be reach. The church started a bus ministry that proved to be very successful, especially in bringing the children and younger youth to church. The church was growing, but the train still caused a problem with its noise during services. At this time relocation was mention.

Mrs. Hardie offered the ideal piece of property for the church and the church started a building fund. Not everyone agreed to the relocation of the church and funds were not received. OraceBrooks and Brother Pritchett would envision the beautiful worship building sitting on one of the tallest hills of the area overlooking what Orace envisioned and dreamed of being a beautiful lake from Commissioner Creek. It was determined that one reason the building fund did not grow was the people needed to see plans and something to work for. The church contacted the Baptist Sunday School Board and requested them to draw up plans for a worship area and adjoining Sunday School space. (Plans used for the original building at the present location). After a contractor gave us the price of the materials and estimated cost for building the church, funds still did not increase.It was decided that if we could get something started funds would come. Brother Pritchett and a new member and builder, Cosby Holland, went to see Mr. Bone who operated a brickyard and was known as a benefactor to churches in the area. He gave them the price for the brick and there was not enough money in the building fund to purchase the brick. Mr. Bone wanted to know how much money the church had in building fund and after realizing that it was less than $50.00 he laughed so hard you could hear him all over the brickyard. He then said he would give the church the bricks that were needed if the church could furnish a truck to pick them up. Believing God would provide, and the gracious effort of Byron McCook, there was a truck at the designated time to pick up the wonderful gift of bricks.

Brother Pritchett felt he and Belva could do so much more if they lived in the church area. The only problem was that the only house available was the Hardie House. It had not been lived in for some time and never been painted. Soon after Gean and Myrtle Hatfield began attending and stated they had a house in Gordon for rent. After Brother Pritchett moved into this house he started packing it every Sunday Nights after church with youth for a fellowship time.