Saturday, September 5, 1998

Church remembers 'back yonder'

By LORETTA FULTON

Senior Staff Writer

At Macedonia Baptist Church, they're still quoting an elderly gentleman who used to walk about the church praying loudly, up until his death in the '70s.

He couldn't read or write, but he had a saying that rang true, one that stuck.

"If there wasn't any 'back yonder,' there wouldn't be a 'right now,' " the man, who lived into his 90s, often remarked.

Folks who are members of the church right now are going to celebrate the "back yonder" with a 100th anniversary gathering on Sept. 13. Actually, they haven't waited until right now. The celebration began with a new member dinner on Aug. 14 and carries on with special events through Oct. 4.

The Rev. K.R. White, pastor, will lead a revival Monday through Wednesday. But the big event will be the 13th. Worship will be at 10:45 a.m., followed by dinner. From 3-6 p.m. people will visit and share their memories of the church.

The Rev. J.W. Hanson of Odessa will preach, and his choir will perform special music.

"It will be a time of sharing about the history and just a celebration," White said. "We're asking people to bring everything they can remember."

Organized in 1898, Macedonia Baptist Church stands on the original site at 608 N. 7th. The current building was constructed in 1989-90.

Even at 100, Macedonia isn't the oldest black church in town. That distinction belongs to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, which was organized in 1885 on the south side of town but later moved.

"That's why (Macedonia) was established," said Janey Williams, a lifelong member. "We didn't have a church on the north side of town."

From the beginning, Macedonia Baptist Church has served as a place of worship, a "home away from home" and a meeting place for people living in the community.

"A shelter" is what Mator Schells called it. "A landmark," added Bennie Bolton.

And, Williams noted, the church was established "because we didn't have anything else."

Before integration, the neighborhood church served as a sanctuary in more ways than one for the black community. Often unwelcomed in some parts of town, people tended to stay to themselves and congregate at the church.

Even after segregation officially ended, the church remained the focal point for the black community.

"It was something we identified with," Williams said. "Macedonia has always been the hub of the community."

And, it's always been a very active hub, with a bustling congregation.

"I've seen it rise, and I've seen it fall, and I've seen it rise again," said Schells, a member since 1951.

The church was the site of graduation ceremonies for youths who attended the "Abilene Colored High School." The oldest of those, Jewel Louise Blackmon, now lives in a nursing home.

The church's kitchen also doubled as a place to make homemade soup every day for the school children since their school didn't have a kitchen.

Although Macedonia serves a predominantly black neighborhood, Williams said at one time it was more mixed, with blacks, whites and Hispanics all living in the same area.

She recalled in particular a white woman who lived on the corner.

"You would hear her praying all over the neighborhood," Williams said.

Her most fervent prayer was that a proper use would be found for a vacant lot in the middle of the neighborhood.

"It was answered," Williams said, when Woodson school was built on it.

No history of Macedonia Baptist Church would be complete without mention of its longtime pastor the Rev. T.G. Oliphant, who died earlier this year at age 83.

Oliphant originally joined Macedonia in 1941, serving as a Sunday School teacher, choir president and deacon. He returned in 1965, after pastoring in several cities, to become minister at Macedonia. He retired in 1996 after 31 years at the church.

On June 1, 1997, White, the current pastor, was installed. Since then he has been guiding Macedonia as it lives up to its motto: "A Going Church for a Coming Christ."

On Sept. 13 current and former members of Macedonia will gather in their landmark church to celebrate a remarkable 100-year history that weathered segregation and discrimination, always serving as a "shelter."