About Us

Callaway Baptist Church is a bible centered church, that believes the bible is the infallible word of God.

We believe in the trinity and that Jesus was the word made man, who died and was resurrected for the sins of mankind. By believing in Jesus and accepting Him as our Savior, we can be saved from an eternity in hell by choosing to exist in an eternity of worship with our Savior.

History

September 13, 1910: A group of people met and held a prayer meeting to form a church. They met at Glanton School on Greenville Road Rev. J. A. Funderhurke was the pastor. This was Salone Baptist Church, Pine Mountain Association. B. R. Dollar gave the church its name. The, following were charter members of Salone Baptist Church: Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Dollar, R. P. Bryant. O. E. Bryant, Myrtle Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. J. 0.Smith, Mary Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. Z. Estes, Ella Dollar, Mr. and Mrs. M. 0. Parish, Mary Phillips, Rev. J. A. Funderburke, Ophelia Dukes, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Cobb and Clara Cobb.

1919: The pastor was paid $100 for the year. The original church/school building was at the corner of Greenville Road and the old Pattillo Road.

1920: The church/school had to be enlarged. Members raised money for a new building. They moved to the present location corner of Greenville Road and Callaway Church Road when Rev. G. W. Poore became pastor.

1924: The building was remodeled as Callaway Baptist Church.

1927: Pastor’s salary was $76.5O a year, and was also given food and other items of value because of the depression.

1928: Rev. J. W. ‘Uncle Jim’ Vowel was the pastor. At this time worship services were being held only twice a month and there were five Sunday School classes held in the sanctuary.

1936: Callaway Baptist Church was a member of the Western Association. At this time, Rev. John Key was called as full-time pastor of the church.

1937: The church began to have weekly services rather than the twice a month service.

1939: The building at Greenville Road was constructed under pastorate of Rev. J. D (Buddy) McMillian. The membership grew to 556. During World War I there were 51 men in the service of our country that were connected with our church.

1940-1942: A bus was purchased to pick up people who could not get to church. Odell Harper was the driver. In addition, inside bathrooms were installed in while Rev. McMillian was pastor.

1949 Rev. Monroe Wiggins was called, during the time he was pastor, and the pastorium on Callaway Church Road was built. Rev. Wiggins had a sawmill and he also pulp wooded. He provided the lumber for the pastorium. He was living in the back of the church while the pastorium was being built. The first Vacation Bible School was conducted while Rev. Wiggins was pastor here.

1950: For a period of fifteen years, the following ministers were ordained from our church: M. K. Hill Cecil Cobb, Carl Burdette, Wallace Ragland, Jesse Knight, Monroe Driver and Henry Carroll.

1953: Rev. M. K. Hill became the pastor of Callaway Baptist Church.

1954: Callaway Baptist Church split and Welcome Baptist Church was started from the split. Rev. M. K. Hill was still pastor at Callaway Baptist Church.

1957: Rev. Joe Brown was the pastor.

1960: The educational building on Greenville Road was started and completed in September of 1960 when Rev. John Rigsby saw the need for and originated the plan for the building. Under the pastorate of Rev. Kelley Runyan, the building was competed.

1961- 1965: Rev. Hugh Barrett was pastor.

January 1965- August 1966: Rev. Olin C. Ray was pastor.

June 1967: Rev. C. W. Gregg became the pastor.

November 1977: Rev. Sidney Shelnutt came to our church as interim pastor: serving in this capacity until May 1978, at which time he became our full-time pastor. Brother Sid was ordained by Sunnyside Baptist Church on June 11th 1978.

Nov. 8, 1978: Had a sign for the front of the church built.

March 7, 1979: Voted to carpet one Sunday school class a month.

November 4, 1981: The old pastorium on Callaway Church Road was sold for $3,000.00.

August 29, 1982: We had dedication services for the new pastorium on Callaway Church Road.

1980’s: Early in this decade the 2nd bus was purchased, it was used for recreational activities only.

1983: A major remodeling was under taken, the church was re-roofed, a ramp was built for the front of the church, the church was painted, a scene was painted on the baptistery wall and heat and air was installed in the educational building.

1984: Hand rails were installed and the educational building was insulated and the parking lot was graded.

1985-1986: The parking lot was paved. Pews, chairs, and stools were covered. The auditorium, Sunday school rooms, and nursery were carpeted.

October 1987: Sunday School Superintendent, L. J. Folds passed away from a heart attack.

June 1988: The Sunday School rooms in the Educational Building were re-carpeted and the building was painted for the first time since 1960.

October 1989: A third bus was purchased; this bus was also used for recreational activities only.

1990: More Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall were built. In April of 1992 after the new building was paid for, vinyl siding and aluminum trim was installed on the rest of the buildings.

1991: Carpet in fellowship hall was replaced and the educational building re-roofed.

April 7, 1993: The church voted to purchase 5.365 acres of land that was joining the church property and on June 1. 1993 the land was purchased.

September 6, 1995: It was voted to update the decorum and by-laws for the church and on September 4, 1996, the new constitution and by-laws were passed. At this time, we also remolded the restrooms in the Sanctuary.

1996: Installed separate heating and air for back portion of sanctuary, repaired the roof on sanctuary and install wind turbines. We also sold the bus that year.

1997: We added 20 parking spaces by fellowship hall.

1998: The church purchased a new sound system, vinyl siding and gutters were put on the pastorium, a new parking lot was built and carpet was replaced in the pastorium.

January 27, 2000: The church purchased 49.57 acres of land located on John Lovelace Road. On April 14, 2000 the land was paid for and on Sunday. April 16. 2000 we had a Dedication/Note Burning Service on the newly acquire property.

October 10, 2001: Drawings for new sanctuary were approved, church voted for the Bus Committee to find a new 15-passenger van.

March 2002: Church voted to delay building sanctuary and build Family Life Center. In August 1, 2002 we rented the current pastorium out.

July 11, 2003: The church voted to build, Family Life Center at a cost of $774,141 and on July 19, 2003 ground breaking services were held on the new property.

October 1,2003: Construction began on the Family Life Center.

May 2, 2004: Rev. Sidney Shelnutt asked the church to accept his resignation; the church was unaware of his intent to resign, but unanimously voted to accept his resignation after 26 years. Gerald Barnes, the current Chairman of the Board of Deacons, filled in moderator.

May 12, 2004: The members of Callaway Baptist Church had a called conference and voted to nominate a Pastor Search Committee. Mike Ring. Billy Whitten, Marty Smith, Charles Bishop and Bob Comerford were elected by the church. They had the task of filling the pulpit each week, and they were looking for an interim pastor for our church.

July 18. 2004: The Family Life Center as complete and Callaway Baptist Church held the first service in their new Family Life Center. Gerald Barnes, Chairman of the Deacons held a dedication before Sunday School that morning for the Family Life Center. Rev. Bobby Robinson preached the first service.

August 2004: At our monthly conference voted Rev. Bobby Robinson as our new interim Pastor. We also voted to begin paying back the loan on the Family Life Center. The loan to construct the building was with SunTrust Bank for $421,303.86. The Callaway Foundation donated $120,335.49 to Callaway Baptist Church leaving a balance of $300,968.31 with SunTrust Bank.

September 12, 2004: Callaway Baptist Church celebrated their 94th anniversary, held, and open house at our new location, 310 John Lovelace Road. Flyers and letters were mailed to all the members that we had current address on, inviting them to attend.

            June 15, 2005: The church voted in conference to add a Pastor’s office, along with an office for the secretary and an additional Sunday School room, Bradley’s Construction will start as soon as we hear from the Callaway Foundation if they will be willing to donate funds to this project.

June 26, 2005: The Pastor Search Committee Chairman Mike Ring brought before the congregation, Rev. Ronnie A. Jordan to preach the morning and evening service. The members provided a covered dish luncheon after the morning service. Along with Rev. Ronnie A. Jordan, his wife Kathy and their son Justin and the members ate and had fellowship. Chairman, Mike Ring announced that on Sunday, July 3, 2005 we would have a called conference to vote on Rev. Jordan as the new pastor of Callaway Baptist Church.

July 3, 2005: The members voted by secret ballot as directed by the bylaws and constitution. The deacons counted votes, with 111 members voting. Rev. Ronnie Jordan received 110 yes votes and one no vote.

August 7, 2005: The members held special recognition for Rev. Bobby Robinson and his wife Margie. He was the interim pastor at Callaway Baptist for one year. During that time the church, as a whole, seemed to prosper and grow more united under their leadership.

August 14, 2005: Rev. Ronnie Jordan preached his first sermon as the pastor of Callaway Baptist Church. He and his family moved into their new home at 409 Baldwin Park.

April 29, 2007: Callaway Baptist Church held a note burning service of the loan for the Family Life Center. After the note burning we had a dinner and singing.