HISTORY
THE WHITE OAK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Out of an
era of turmoil, at a time when there was much disunity in the Nation, at a time
when the question was whether this nation could survive half slave-half free, at
a time when President Lincoln was struggling with the Emancipation Proclamation;
Reverend G. Perry and a few faithful followers had a vision.
Through prayer and faith by our ancestors, it became apparent that this
Nation could not survive half slave–half free.
The vision of Reverend Perry gave birth to the White Oak Missionary
Baptist Church in 1865. Believing
what Jesus said, “that where two or three are gathered together in my Name,
there am I in the midst of them”, these few gathered together and its first
worship service was held under a “brush harbor.”
Some of
our earlier leaders were: Rev. C.L. Hackney, Rev. Pete Wynn, Rev. J.H. Caldwell,
Rev. J.H. Dunston, and Rev. B.F. Hopkins. The struggle for survival continued.
For
fifty-seven years, the places of worship were crude; but that did not discourage
our forefathers from continuing to praise the Lord.
Membership began to grow and the future began to brighten for a more
suitable place to worship. By the
Grace of God, an act of compassion fell upon the hearts of John and Hettie Yates
to donate land on which a simple wooden structure was built.
Its furnishings were only the bare necessities.
On September 22, 1922, under the leadership of Reverend Sam Fuller, the
cornerstone was laid.
In 1923,
Reverend James Stewart became the pastor. He
was a dynamic spiritual leader and led many souls to Christ.
He also envisioned the need for services to be held more than once a
month. Rather, twice a month; then
later every Sunday. Under his
leadership, the Usher Board, Trustee Board, Junior Choir, Gospel Choir,
Pastor’s aide Club, and Male Chorus were organized.
He inspired the congregation to remodel the church structure to include
two additional rooms, brick structure, pastor’s study, indoor baptismal pool,
pews, modern electrical, plumbing, and heating facilities.
Forty-six years of service gave him the distinction of having served the
longest pastorate in the history of White Oak thus far.
In August
1968, Reverend Carlton T. Bellamy became pastor.
Realizing that God’s program must go on, he led the membership to
further progress. Under his
administration the floor was carpeted, organ purchased and an area was provided
for emergency illness.
While God
was still watching over White Oak, in February, 1972, (with the help of the late
Dr. O.L. Sherrill), God sent a man-servant named "Charles
In July
1973, Ground Breaking ceremony was held for this structure, and completed in
March 1974. This completed “Act
I” of Pastor Tyner’s Production. Reverend
Tyner envisioned a growing congregation, a well developed program in religious
education and a strong spiritual atmosphere in which to give God praises.
Under
Pastor Tyner’s teachings and leadership, the following have occurred: In
November 1976, new pews were purchased and installed. In 1977, Ground Breaking was again held to mark the beginning
of construction on the Fellowship Hall, which was completed and first utilized
on Homecoming, November 1978. In
1981, four additional classrooms were added to accommodate the Sunday School,
which increased tremendously in attendance.
In 1982, Ground Breaking was held to mark the beginning of another
addition – the Administrative Wing, which included the Church Library,
Conference Room, and offices for the Pastor and Secretaries.
This addition was completed shortly thereafter, and in October 1983, new
furniture was purchased for the Pastor and Secretaries’ offices.
The Parking Lot was paved in August 1986, and dedicated on Sunday,
November 2, 1986. Another Ground
Breaking occurred in 1993, for the enlargement of the Fellowship Hall.
Additional land, church parsonage and a house adjacent to the church have
been purchased. As part of the
Vision of Pastor Tyner, the White Oak Foundation, Inc. was founded – a
non-profit organization. In this
age of computers and technology, a Computer Technology Program was established
which placed a computer in the home of all school age children at White Oak.
From the brush harbor to the beautiful edifice of today – it was nothing but
the Grace of Almighty God that allowed this to happen.
The White Oak congregation is grateful to God for the prayers and
leadership of the former Pastors, our forefathers, and our current Pastor, Rev.
Charles R. Tyner. To God Be The
Glory!