Remembering Our Past
A History of Pearl Baptist Church In the summer of 1944 a group of Christians inspired by the Holy Spirit saw the need for a Baptist church in Iron Station. The people first started holding prayer meetings in the homes. Much prayer was offered on behalf of a Baptist church and with the assurance that this was God's will, a store building was rented from L.A. Larmon. The church was named Pearl, after Mrs. Larmon. On August 13, 1944 the church organized with the help of Mountain Side Baptist Church, Spencer Mountain, NC, Gaston County Association. The Rev. W.C. Weaver was the first pastor, and the first deacons elected were J.J. Homesley, Robert Ingle, Sr., and G.A. Bradshaw. On October 9, 1944 Pearl Baptist Church was presented to the South Fork Association for membership. The rented store building served as a place of worship for two years. Land was purchased on Highway 27 and a new church was completed in 1946. The building was used until 1967 when the present structure was completed. In 1969 a pastorium was completed on 2-1/2 acres of land adjoining the church property. The Fellowship Hall was completed in 1972. In 1977 a bus was purchased and a new sound system installed. The church Media Center was started in 1982 and a new addition to the education building was complete the same year. Four acres of land adjoining the church were purchased in 1983. A fenced-in ballfield was constructed and playground equipment was added. In 1987 a van was purchased. In October 2000 the church voted to add a new addition to the church. This included new Sunday School rooms, with new nurseries for the babies and toddlers. The church also voted to renovate the old nursery to be used as the Pastor's Study. The Media Center was moved to a larger room. Everything was complete and moved into the new addition in 2002. Our church means a great deal to us; our lives are deeply enriched and blessed by the worship, study, fellowship, and service we experience here. |
Pastors 1944-2011 During our 63-year history nine men have served as pasters: 1944-1949.....Rev. W.C. Weaver 1950-1951.....Rev. Glen Caldwell 1952-1953.....Rev. Belton Beal 1953-1955.....Rev. W.C. Weaver 1956.....Rev. Gordon Crump 1958-1963.....Rev. Belton Beal 1963-1968.....Rev. William Wease 1969-1974.....Rev. Glen Murphy 1975-1979.....Rev. James Calvin 1980-1983.....Rev. Ted Mace 1983-Rev. Robert Wensil |