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Our History...a church with a mission
In the early 1890's, under the leadership of W.J. Goggin,
the Vinton Baptist Church was organized with 18 members.
They called the Rev. W.W. Hamilton as their first pastor.
They met in vacant stores and lodge halls until a frame building was
erected on the northwest corner of our present property on January 15,
1894.
Other early pastors were the Rev. J.A. Barnhardt, the Rev. E. E. Lamb, the
Rev. T.R. Morris, the Rev. O.P. Lloyd, the Rev. J.A. McKaughan, the Rev.
F.G. Wood and the Rev. J.W. Johnson and the Rev. G.H. Payne.
Because the first sanctuary was too small, a temporary structure, seating
600, was built in 1918.
The rev. H.B. Johnson came as pastor in 1922 and soon a new sanctuary was
begun which served well until 1986 when it was removed for the erection of
the present ministries building.
In 1931 Dr. Edward A. McDowell came as pastor, followed by Dr. Lucious
Polhill, Rev. Josef Nordenhaug, Dr. Dotson M. Nelson, Dr. J. Roy
Robertson, Rev. George Dewey Stevens and Rev. Lewis E. Bates, who was here
for 23 years. During this time the present three story education building
was completed and the church acquired all of the properties within the
entire block.
On August 1, 1962, the church moved into the new air conditioned sanctuary
with a seating capacity of 875, but on occasion seated over 1,000.
Also during this time our church supported the building of our sister
church, Lynn Haven and our new office-library complex was dedicated.
In 1977, Rev. Jim Brackett accepted the call to our church. During this
time our sanctuary was paid in full. Later, Dr. Will P. Warnock became our
pastor and the new ministries building was completed.
Dr. William (Bill) Ross became our pastor in December of 1988. During 1998
all church properties, including the Respite Center building (now the
Disciple Center) was purchased in 1994 and were all paid in full.
In January of 2003, Dr. William (Bill) R. Booth accepted the call to be
our pastor.
From small beginnings of 18 members to almost 2,000 members, our church
continues to work together in service to God and in love to one another.
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