|
History |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the Beginning
During May of 1952, the Woodland Hills Baptist Church
of Atlanta organized a mission Sunday School. In August of 1952, a
group of individuals gathered with the dream of constituting a new
congregation. These individuals were quoted as saying: “we believe that it is God’s will for us to have a
church here and we are willing to cooperate, work, and pray and do our
best for the sake of Jesus our Lord” One source states that 18 Charter members gathered for the beginning of the Church. Another document gives the names of the Charter members, and it only contains 13 names. The following individuals were Charter members:
The dream of this group was realized on September 21,
1952, as the Church was constituted at services held in the Bouldercrest
Elementary School located near the intersection of Bouldercrest and
Constitution Roads. The church began under the sponsorship of the
Woodland Hills Baptist Church and the Atlanta Association of Churches.
The Church was constituted with 28 members. Dr. J. L. Baggot presided
over the service. Also participating in the service was Rev. Ebb G.
Kilpatrick, Sr., Rev. C.J. Johnson, and several denominational leaders of
the Atlanta area. The following week, Rev. C.J. Johnson, the first
pastor of the Church, led the congregation in its first revival service. One year later, the church celebrated its first anniversary with 62 members. Allen Stephens reported a Sunday School Enrollment of 115 and Mr. Mobley reported a B.T.U. enrollment of 42. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox were serving as Chorister and Pianist. Building the Church
On March 7, 1954, ground was broken for the first
building, a two story cement block educational building, located at 2295
Bouldercrest Drive, SE, Atlanta. The Atlanta Baptist
Association purchased the lot and the church borrowed $8000 from the Home
Mission Board to begin the building. The Church at that time had 62
members. Bouldercrest celebrated its second anniversary in September,
1954, and the church had reached an enrollment of 125 in Sunday School
with an average attendance of 50-60. The Training Union had 40 members,
GA’s had 18 members and the RA’s had 16 members. During the first
two years, the church had received $6,391.46 in offerings and gifts from
sponsors and had paid out $5,194.91. Early in 1955, Bouldercrest
Baptist was able to move into its new facility. It was in 1955, that Rev. C.J. Johnson became ill and resigned as pastor of the church. He passed away the following May. H.P. Bell came and served as Interim Pastor until June, 1956 when Rev. Ebb Kilpatrick, Jr. was called as the first full-time pastor of the church. There were 72 active members with 40 attending at that time. It was during this time that the first deacons were ordained and began serving. The first deacons of the church were:
Later that year, the church had Vacation Bible School
with an average attendance of 46 with 14 workers. The next
several years focused upon outreach, training, and growth. Records
indicate that Sunday School attendance increased from approximately 55 in
1954 to 125-140 in 1959. Another significant moment for the church in 1959 was
the building of a new Pastorium adjacent to the church. Ebb
Kilpatrick, his wife, Allie and son, Gray moved in. On April 5, 1959,
the Kilpatrick’s had an “open house” for all the church membership. The Church began to look at the long-term needs of the church and its potential for growth and ministry. The Church felt the need for more space and property if they were to realize their potential. After much time and energy, the church purchased, from Mr. R.M. Brown a 10- acre tract on Bouldercrest Road just two miles from their present site. The cost of the tract of land was $10,000. The church requested aid from sister churches of the Atlanta Baptist Association. The following churches agreed to send the church $50 per month to help meet the payments on the property:
The church at that time was able to sell their old
building to the Lighthouse Assembly for the price of $20,000. On
November 11, 1961, the church moved back to the Bouldercrest School until
they could construct a new house of worship on their ten acres. In 1962, the Sunday School attendance had increased
to 150. Also in 1962, Mal Rabern came to the church as Music
Director. In May of 1962, the church began selling $50,000 in bonds to
start construction on an educational-worship building at the new church
site (3200 Bouldercrest Road, Ellenwood, Georgia). The resident
membership during 1962 was 196. The Dedication of the new building
took place on October 14, 1962, and the new church property was valued at
$94,000. Another historic moment for Bouldercrest Church came
during 1962, as the Church marked the beginning of the Church
Kindergarten. Also, on Wednesday, October 24, 1962, the church began
their regular family night suppers. The cooks on that night
were: Mrs. Fannie Crowder, Mrs. Annelle Jordan, Mrs. Millie Ward and Mrs.
Joan Wooten. In September, 1963, Byron McCarty was called as Music Director of the Church. It was in December of 1963, that Rev. Kilpatrick resigned as pastor. During this period, the church had three Interim Pastors who served for brief periods:
Rev. Howard Norman was called as pastor in May of
1964. On May 10, 1964, the church voted to sell the Pastorium for
$12,500 less 6%. In August of 1964, a building committee was
elected to begin plans for construction of the second phase of the present
building. After a period of six months, this committee recommended
that the second bond program be initiated and they offered $70,000 in
bonds at 6% interest. This program would provide funds for the
construction of a new sanctuary, new educational space, office facilities
and improvements to the parking facilities. In March, 1965, the church
voted to accept a bid and begin construction. The new sanctuary would
include organ chambers to house a new Allen organ that the church had
voted to purchase as soon as the voluntary fund raising program was
completed. On September 12, 1965, the church voted on, and approved,
the purchase of an Allen Electronic Organ for $3500 after funds were
raised. The dedication service took place on October 3, 1965. Sunday School enrollment on the first Sunday in 1965 was 349. By September of 1966, the Sunday School enrollment had reached 458. One year later in 1967, Sunday School Enrollment had increased to 495 with an average weekly attendance over 250. The operating budget was $46,000. On January 8, 1967, the church approved the purchase of a sound system for the Auditorium with speakers in the Nursery. The cost was $300. Rev. Howard Norman resigned as pastor in May,
1968. Rev. E.E. Keen served during the interim period until a
pastor could be called. On December 8, 1968, the church approved a
new policy that the Chairman of Deacons would serve as Moderator for all
business sessions. The Church voted to move a four room white frame
house, owned by the church, to the church property and put it into service
as educational space. The men of the church laid a foundation, moved
the house and did the necessary carpentry work to give four additional
Sunday School rooms. Years of Growth and Prosperity
Rev. Russell T. Barker was called as pastor and began
serving in November, 1968. As the church approached the challenges
of the 70’s, it quickly realized the need for additional space. This
prompted the church to vote to build two small buildings of four
classrooms each to provide temporary space. One of these buildings was
built at a cost of $3750. As the church began to grow, space
continued to be a priority. Bouldercrest had the Dedication Service for the
Softball Field in October of 1971. Dekalb Commissioner, Robert Lanier,
participated in the ceremony and Rev. Russell Barker dedicated the field. Byron McCarty led the church music program and this
program was a strong part of the church ministry. In September of
1973, McCarty resigned to enter Southern Seminary. The music ministry
enrollment was 99 with an average participation of 52. Jim Cook was
called as Music Director in September of 1973. On June 17, 1973, the church voted to purchase a
1969, 60 passenger bus for church use at a cost of $3600 plus
insurance. On October 10, 1973, approval was given to re-surface the
paved parking area, pave the graveled area, and add two speed bumps at a
cost of $7862.50. On January 1, 1975, Jimmy Cochran began serving as
Church Pianist. Jim Cook served as Music Director until January of
1975. At this time, Jerry Chandler began serving as Music
Director. Jerry had been a member of the church and a very active
member of the music ministry when he was called as Music
Director. The music program continued to grow. In February of 1975, the church called Jimmy Cochran
in a part-time role as Activities Director. Jimmy had also been an
active member of the church and began planning and coordinating activities
for all age groups. Early plans included a summer Day Camp for young
children that enrolled 99 children. Jimmy began serving in a
full-time role in January of 1977. In January of 1977, the Delores Nee Memorial Fund
made it possible to dedicate a church library with over 100 books. In
May of 1976, the church approved the contracting for a metal all purpose
building for educational space and recreational space. The total cost
of this building through August of 1977 was $93,218 which included a
balance owed of $26,600. The dedication of this building took place
on September 18, 1977, during the Homecoming which celebrated 25 years of
ministry. Linda May began serving Bouldercrest as Director of
Activities in May of 1978. On October 10, 1979, the Building
Committee requested $44,000 to remodel the Sanctuary (painting, carpeting,
and expanding choir loft), softball field, and additional rooms for the
educational building. On October 8, 1980, the church
purchased a new piano at the cost of $8112. The 1979-1980 year
was the last year for the Kindergarten program. Jack Tewalt came to Bouldercrest in June of 1981, as
the first full time Minister of Education and Music. Bouldercrest celebrated its 30th
Anniversary Homecoming on September 19, 1982. This day was to be known
as “Fannie Crowder Day” and tribute was paid to Mrs. Crowder for her
impact upon the Bouldercrest Congregation. In October of 1982, Russell Barker resigned as pastor
of Bouldercrest to become the Director of Missions for the Atlanta Baptist
Association. Dr. Prue Kelly served the church as Interim Pastor from
October, 1982 through May of 1983. In November of 1982, the church began a new ministry
to Harvest Heights Nursing Center to teach Sunday School lessons each week
to patients. Rev. Larry Boswell was called as pastor in May of
1983. In June of 1984, the Church took a Mission trip to Stormville,
NY as a part of a sister relationship with Dutchess Valley Baptist
Church. In June of 1985, the youth took a mission trip to St.
Simons Island. In August of 1985, the church went to Washington and
New York on a Mission trip in the Amenia/Wasaic area. Jack Tewalt resigned in April of 1986. For
financial reasons, this full time position as Minister of Education and
Music was abolished. Rick Gattoni began serving as Interim Music
Director. Neil Bullock came as part-time Music Director in August of 1986. Linda May resigned as Activities Director in 1989. The Church took a Mission Trip to Memorial Baptist Church in Savannah. The Age of Maturity
Dramatic changes in the Cedar Grove Community and
Southern Dekalb County presented challenges in the new age of
ministry. Many of the traditional families of the church had moved
to neighboring communities and other areas. The pluralistic and
cultural makeup of the community changed the face of ministry by
Bouldercrest Baptist Church. This had a radical impact on such
things as membership and enrollment totals. Bouldercrest had to learn
the difficult lesson of how to minister in a diverse community.
Bouldercrest would be engaged for the next decade in ministry to people
who needed the good news of Christ and who would search in other places
for church membership. This would perhaps be the most
challenging era for Bouldercrest. This would begin an “Age of
Maturity”. Larry Boswell resigned as pastor of Bouldercrest in
September of 1990, to pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gainesville,
Georgia. It was during this interim period that Russell Barker was
called as Interim Pastor of the Church. He served in that role until
the first Sunday in May of 1992. It was on February 6, 1991, that the Church began
it’s covered dish dinner on the Wednesday Evening prior to Church
Conference. The Church called Rev. Ed Galbreath who began
ministry at Bouldercrest on the second Sunday in May of 1992, and he
currently serves as pastor of Bouldercrest. The Church approved the installation of a new security system for both buildings. The men of the Church provided much of the labor at a savings for the church. Alma Hollis was employed as Church Secretary on January 24, 1994. In February of 1994, the Church installed a new sign out front of the church to announce special activities of the church. In July of 1994, Bouldercrest hosted a Sports Clinic
for the community. This was a major outreach opportunity. Members of
First Baptist Church, Norman, Oklahoma came and conducted this
clinic. Baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and golf were
taught. This endeavor involved the cooperation of Cedar Grove
Methodist Church in the use of their gym and the driving range of the
Sugar Creek Golf Course. In March of 1995, the Church voted to engage in a
historic lease agreement with the New Covenant Metropolitan Church for use
of the Activities Building for Worship and Educational Programs.
Their pastor is Rev. Richard Green. This Church had an average
attendance of 40-50 persons. The lease agreement was signed on
Sunday, April 2, 1995. This agreement marked a new era of
cooperation in ministry and expanded the current ministry taking place at
3200 Bouldercrest Road. This lease agreement continues through
the present time. Neil Bullock resigned on November 10, 1996, to become
part-time Minister of Music at Crossview Baptist Church in Lilburn.
Rick Gattoni began serving as Interim Music Director and later as Music
Director for Bouldercrest. Rick currently serves as Music Director for
Bouldercrest. In September of 1997, the Church voted to hold the
first Church Conference of each quarter immediately following the Sunday
Morning Worship Service. This was an effort to get more people
involved in the decision making of the church and to assist those who are
unable to attend on Wednesdays. On February 8, 1998, the Church hosted an
Appreciation Day and Luncheon for Rev. Russell Barker upon his
resignation/retirement as the Director of Missions for the Atlanta Baptist
Association. On June 14, 1998, Bouldercrest Celebrated Sara Ross
Appreciation Sunday in recognition of her 30 years as Church
Organist. It sought to pay tribute to her outstanding commitment
to ministry through music and the way she has touched so many lives. On March 28, 1999, Jimmy Cochran resigned as Church
Pianist to become Church Organist at Salem Baptist Church in
McDonough. In April of 1999, Sara Ross resigned as Church
Organist. On June 5, 1999, a cooperative endeavor among
Community Churches took place as they joined together to plan a
Community Church Festival. This was an attempt to let the
community know about the programs, ministries, and opportunities in area
churches. They Bouldercrest Church continues to cooperate with
area churches each year through a joint Easter Sunrise Service and a Joint
Thanksgiving Service. The Bouldercrest congregation has embraced a new century with a commitment to caring, ministry, and touching lives. Community changes continue to give more opportunities for witness and a place to minister. Some might look upon Bouldercrest Baptist as a “small church”. A closer look reveals a church that has a big heart for ministry, a big compassion for people, and a big desire to touch the lives of others. It continues to find new ways to present the good news of Christ!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This page was last updated on Thursday September 21, 2006 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||