First Baptist Church Celebrating 125th Anniversary

By Sarah Stubbs
First Baptist Church Dillon will celebrate its 125th Anniversary October 9, 2016. Sunday School will begin at 9:30 a.m.; a special worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. Gary Hollingsworth, Executive Director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention will deliver the morning message. A covered dish dinner will follow the conclusion of the worship service.
“Lest We Forget” is the theme for the anniversary celebration. Dr. William R. Cullum, Pastor of First Baptist Church, has been delivering a sermon series on this theme. He states there are four things a church should never forget: our foundation, our formation, our focus, and our future.
The strength of any building is only as good as its foundation. “The Church’s one Foundation is Jesus Christ Her Lord,” a line from a well-known hymn, clearly states the source of a church’s strength. The founders of First Baptist Church have given the Church a strong spiritual foundation which has led to growth over the past 125 years.
The formation of First Baptist Church began June 28, 1891, in a little schoolhouse. In the late 1800’s, Dillon was still mostly uncleared land and unpopulated. The building of the railroad through Dillon led to growth and development. As Dillon grew, citizens longed for a place of worship.
The first place of worship in the small town of Dillon consisted of large wood slabs used for seating. The slabs were placed on a lot located on what is now the Old Latta Highway. Services were held twice daily for a week. Later services were held sporadically at a log school building located near the
area of what is now the court house and then at an oil mill.
On Sunday, June 28, 1891, Baptists in the Dillon area held an organizational meeting after worship service held at an academy located on 4th Avenue and Washington Street. The meeting was led by Rev. Joel I. Allen, Rev. T. M. Bailey, and Rev. R. H. Burriss. “Articles of Faith” were read, and a “Church Covenant” was adopted by the 15 chartered members in attendance. Dillon Baptist Church was the name chosen for the organization, and Rev. R. H. Burriss became the first pastor of the new church. Services were to be held on the second and fourth Sundays.
The vision of a permanent house of worship began in 1892. The Academy was moved to another location, and Dr. J. H. David donated an additional lot adjoining the lot on 4th Avenue and Washington Street. The vision was realized with the completion of the church building in 1894. The church was the first brick church building east of the Great Pee Dee. The first parsonage, located behind the church was completed in the early 1900’s.
As Dillon Baptist Church began to grow, many changes and additions took place in the operations and the programs of the church: Sunday School began September 30, 1894; a bell and hymnals were added in 1895; worship services were held every Sunday beginning in 1897; the name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church sometime between 1906 and 1910; the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) and youth and children’s programs were organized in the early 1900’s; the first full time secretary was hired in September 1949; September 4, 1949, marked the first time deacons were elected by the church membership; and  the church became incorporated in 1962.

The buildings have also undergone changes and additions over the past 125 years: a two- story Sunday School annex was built in 1918; an enlarged educational annex was built in 1949; a new sanctuary was built in 1954; a new parsonage was built in 1959; a new Sunday School annex was built in 1962; the remaining lots on the block were purchased in 1968; rooms were added to the parsonage in 1970; a preschool and youth wing was added in1999, and renovations to the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and kitchen began in 2011.
There have been twelve men called to pastor First Baptist Church since 1891. In the past 68 years, there have been only four pastors: A. T. Usher, 1948-1959; Frank Zedick, 1959-1979, Fred Brown, 1980-1994; and William R. Cullum, 1995- . Each pastor has possessed a different leadership style and a different personality. One common thread between all of them has been their love of the Lord. First Baptist Church has been blessed by the men called to lead over the past 125 years.
Lest We Forget –
Our Focus
“Inspiring People to Become Authentic Followers of Jesus Christ,” the mission statement of First Baptist Church, is the focus of the church. This statement is a summary of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18+) given by Jesus to his disciples prior to His ascension. First Baptist Church is a missions-minded church and supports the mission work of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Individual church members participate in mission work in locations such as West Virginia, Honduras, Cambodia, and Cuba. The youth of the church spend one week each summer working with World Changers and one week working at Victory Sports Camp. The youth also work with the collection of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Over the years, First Baptist Church has sponsored and/or participated in community outreach programs. The church sponsors a Sunday School program for inmates at the jail in Dillon; members also participate in the Angel Tree Ministry, a Christmas program for children of prisoners.

Lest We Forget –
Our Future
Jon Mohr wrote the Christian song, Find Us Faithful. The song includes the lyrics –“Let us run the race not only for the prize / But as those who’ve gone before us / Let us leave to those behind us / The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.” First Baptist Church has been blessed through its 125 years to have pastors, leaders, and members who have been devoted and faithful to the mission of the Church.  The church has a deep appreciation for its beginnings, an unwavering devotion in the present, and a vision fixed on the future. As a messenger of the Word, First Baptist Church remains dedicated to preparing the way for those who are yet to come.
Everyone is invited to join First Baptist Church Sunday, October 9th, for the 125th anniversary celebration. There will a great time of reminiscencing, fellowship, and delicious food!