Saturday, November 7, 1998

Elmcrest Baptist to celebrate 50th anniversary

By LORETTA FULTON

Senior Staff Writer

One of the most remarkable moments in the history of Elmcrest Baptist Church came on opening day.

After operating at South 14th and Oak since 1948, the church relocated in 1963 to its present location, 517 N. Pioneer, changed its name, and promptly doubled its size. On that first Sunday, 27 members opened their doors and their arms to their neighbors, 25 of whom joined on the spot.

"We had just about as many to join as we had members," said John Harris, co-chair along with Sam Gregory of the 50th anniversary celebration to be held Nov. 14-15.

Other remarkable moments have followed, including the fact that the church is debt-free even with four buildings representing about $7 million in construction.

"The Lord has enabled us to be debt-free -- we don't owe anybody," said Harris' wife, Barbara.

Hundreds of current and former members of the church are expected next weekend for the two-day celebration which will feature the church's longest tenured minister, the Rev. T.C. Melton, as guest preacher for the 10:30 a.m. service on Nov. 15.

Activities begin with registration and fellowship from 2-5 p.m. Nov. 14, a light meal at 5 p.m. and a memory video presentation at 6. From 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 14 music and memories will be shared.

On Nov. 15 a praise and worship service will be held at 9 a.m., followed by a break at 10:15 and the memorial and worship service at 10:30. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by music and testimonies until 3 p.m.

Guests won't lack for anything to talk about during the two-day celebration. The church's history has taken it from an organizational meeting on Dec. 10, 1948, to its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention in 1975 to its present location with an expansive campus and 1,200-seat auditorium, built in 1982.

The church was begun as a mission by the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas, with the Rev. J.B. Pruitt serving as first pastor. The church originally met at South 14th and Oak as Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, then changed its name to Oak Street Baptist in 1959.

In 1963 the church moved to the present location and immediately enjoyed an enthusiastic response from residents of the new Elmcrest addition in northwest Abilene.

"This area was a fast growing area at that time," John Harris said. The church's new neighbors were so excited about the church relocating that they put up with a little adversity to attend that first service.

"We didn't even have sidewalks," Harris recalled. We had to put down plywood, and it rained."

Still the neighbors came, and they've been coming ever since, although the growth area in Abilene has shifted to the southwest.

No history of Elmcrest Baptist Church would be complete without the mention of Melton, whose name is still synonymous with the church. Melton served as pastor from 1958-61 and again from 1965-1991. The church currently is served by the Rev. Jack Ridlehoover, interim pastor.

Ridlehoover, who was pastor at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, just down the street, for 29 years, noted that Elmcrest has always been in the forefront of saving souls.

"Elmcrest consistently in its history has led the Abilene Baptist Association in baptisms," Ridlehoover said. "There were very few years that others baptized more."

Melton cited the church's growth from the original 27 members and its debt-free structures as memories he will always cherish.

"Being able to see that happen was a very rewarding thing," Melton said.

He also noted that hundreds of university students have come through the church doors and then gone out "to the four corners of the world" in various vocations.

"I always felt like this gave the church a ministry that touched the world," Melton said.

He also noted that the church has the reputation for a "bread and butter ministry" and from the beginning set its sights on reaching troubled people from non-churched backgrounds.

Melton had his sights set in another direction when the call came to minister at Elmcrest. After growing up in Merkel and earning bachelor's and master's degrees from Hardin-Simmons University and a doctorate from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Fla., Melton was on the road to foreign mission service.

"My wife and I had planned to be missionaries and teachers," Melton said. "But we got hung up here at Elmcrest."

Not that he's complaining. Melton served the church admirably for 29 years and still is spoken of with reverance by those who were associated with him. With Melton at the helm, Elmcrest grew from its original 27 members to 700 in Sunday School.

Church members are hoping to hire a full-time minister within a few months. In the meantime the church is served admirably by Ridlehoover, staff members, and Keith Bevill, youth minister.

"Keith fills the role of senior master sergeant here," Ridlehoover joked.

Bevill has been with the church three years, after serving in the military at Dyess AFB.

"Keith held things together for us," said Barbara Harris, while the church has been without a full-time pastor.

Serving along with the Harrises on the anniversary committee were Jerry and Betty McCutcheon, Rich and Doris Kinney, Marion and Glenda Simpson, and Sam and Doris Gregory.

People formerly associated with the church who will be take part in the activities next weekend besides Melton are Ray Johnson, Burtis Williams, Mike Reed, Jim Hardwicke, and Bob Griffin.

Although next weekend will be a time for remembering, church members will get back to the business of building for the future as soon as the festivities end.

''The real theme of this is what the future holds for us," Harris said.