 |
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
Our History
Our
Belief
Email Contact
Phone
Fax
Mailing Address
|
A simple statement appeared in Gadsden's bi-weekly newspaper on Tuesday, October 5, 1897: "A Baptist Church was organized at Alabama City Sunday night." The church, with seventeen charter members, was named Dwight in honor of Dwight Manufacturing Company which largely made up Alabama City. By October 1898, the church had grown to 101, with twenty-nine baptisms. Some of the early services were held at Dwight Hall and later in a small one-room county school at Canterbury Station. In 1900, the Dwight Company build the Union Church to be used by all religious denominations, including the Dwight congregation. By March 1901, the church dedicated its own new building. In these early years, most Baptists were baptized in a creek. In 1908, 91 baptisms were listed, 67 of which were performed in a single service. A study of the next few years shows steady growth in membership and in finances, as well as generosity of spirit as Dwight Baptist Church gave to foreign, home and state missions. Despite the stock market crash of 1929 and the depression which followed, membership nearly doubled in the next decade; partly due to the pastor N. L. Gilliland's strong evangelistic emphases. During the depression, many people told visitors from the church that they couldn't attend because they didn't have appropriate clothes. On a particular Sunday, which came to be known as "Overalls Day," all the men wore overalls and the ladies wore gingham dresses. This willingness to be sensitive to the people in the community might help to account for the tremendous growth during that period. During the next decade, the United States was at war and there were many young men stationed at Camp Sibert in Attalla. The people of the church opened their homes to them, inviting them for meals and fellowships and for Sunday worship at the church. In the latter 40's, the decision was made to build a larger church at the present site and the dream was realized in 1949 when the move was made to the new building. The Rev. G. W. Riddle came to Dwight in 1951 and remained for twenty-three years. Great growth was recorded during his term as pastor, with much emphasis placed on evangelism, stewardship and building. In April 1954, following a revival lead by T. W. Wilson of the Billy Graham Association, a total of 101 people were baptized by Bro. Riddle. Two wings were added to the church during this time and Dwight became very active in associational work as well as in state, home and foreign missions. From 1952 to 1959, 528 people were added to the church through baptism and 295 by transfer of letter. In 1974, Bro. Riddle resigned and Wayne Hostetter came to pastor Dwight. The 28 year old young man had a great heart for evangelism and ably lead the church over the next decade. During this time, Sunday School attendance grew and the church lead the association at least twice in baptisms. There was much emphasis on the singles ministry and an excellent youth program. One major event of the late 70's was the destruction of the worship center by fire caused by a lightening strike. Though both wings suffered some fire and water damage, the men of the church were able to rebuild and remodel the wings, allowing the church to concentrate on a new sanctuary. During this time of rebuilding, the church met at Elliot Community Center. In the face of this adversity, the church pulled together, and the new sanctuary was dedicated on May 25, 1980. Wise financing and willing workers meant the church was building without going into debt. From 1983 to 2003, there was a decline in membership and attendance; however, there were a number of positive events. A children's program was developed in the mid-80s and continue today with the Awana program. Special days were held on several occassions to honor public servants. The God Bless America rallies held each July brought positive attention to the church. In addition, during this same time, the church celebrated it's Centennial Year in 1997 and began a building campaign to erect a New Life Center, occupied since 1998. In early 2002, the church called Rev. Steve Trader to serve as Interim Pastor. As the elected Search Committee began to seek out a new pastor, it became increasingly clear that the church wanted Bro. Trader to lead. He accepted the call, becoming the church's thirty-sixth pastor in April 2003. During the past 107 years, church ministries and methods have changed to meet the needs of each era; but the gospel message has always remained the same: Jesus Is Lord - Celebrate Jesus.
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
