By Mary Miller
Members of East Dillon Baptist Church celebrated the 65th Anniversary of their church on Homecoming Sunday, October 2. Pastor James Smith began the service with a cordial welcome to all in the filled sanctuary. In attendance with the church family were former members, guests and friends. Following the special music by the choir and an inspiring solo by Mrs. Susie Lee, Pastor Smith introduced the guest speaker Reverend Keith Mincey and his wife Faythe. Their children and grandchildren had come to join their father/grandfather on this special occasion.
Reverend Mincey, a former member of East Dillon, surrendered to God’s call into the ministry in 1990. He is a missionary with the North American Mission Board and is officed with the Piedmont Baptist Association in Easley, South Carolina. His message, a personal testimony, was heartwarming and encouraging.
Following the worship service, Pastor Smith prayed the blessing and invited everyone into the Fellowship Hall to enjoy the delicious meal prepared by members of the church. It was a fitting finale to a day celebrating 65 years of God’s rich, bountiful blessings, and His continuous love.
Regarding the 65 year anniversary itself, a brief history which appears in the 2006 Church Director shows that East Dillon Baptist Church was organized in 1946 and received into the Pee Dee Baptist Association in October 1947. The first church building was located at the end of 22nd Avenue on land donated by Stonewall Jackson. Reverend E.L. Coleman was the first pastor.
After continued growth and the rich blessings of God, the church family purchased six lots on 16th Avenue. Construction began in June 1966 on our second church sanctuary and Sunday School Classes and completed August 1967.
In 1970 fire destroyed the old church building on 22nd Avenue. Fire also destroyed the sanctuary and other areas of our second church in June 1992.
Renovations were started right after the fire and were completed in December of that same year, restoring use of our facilities.
Once again in 2002 the church family began expressing desires for a new worship and fellowship center. In March 2003 the church voted unanimously to build on the present site on 16th Avenue. On Homecoming Sunday 2004, the new building was dedicated to Pastor James Smith. The church on that Sunday was filled to capacity with members, past and present, and about 400 attended the homecoming meal in the new Fellowship Hall.
The history of East Dillon Baptist Church ended with the following: “Today we continue to use this beautiful building that God has blessed, not as a badge of success, but as a vehicle to reach lost people and to encourage and strengthen the saints of God.”
