The History of NPG

              In 1870, the  Piney Grove Primitive Baptist Church, broke from the white branch of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Howard Chapel (Lamar Road today), Fambro Chapel (Thomaston Road today), Union Bibb Primitive Baptist (Zebulon Road today), and other Afro-American churches.  Later, several churches constructed their own buildings.  Piney Grove was built on land given located on Bass plantation in Bibb Co.  Mr. Robert Bowman donated the land promising to deed it to the church upon his death.  However, at his death his son-in-law forced the congregation to leave the land.  In the years before 1908, it is not clear what occurred.  However, it is recorded that Rev. Barney Gaston organized and built New Piney Grove Baptist Church as it was recognized at the turn of the century.  Reverend Gaston served as the pastor of New Piney Grove Baptist Church from 1908 until 1939.  After his departure, several pastors served, including C. J. Brown, C. W. Williams and P. R. Binn.

In April of 1952 Rev. B. W. Chambers became pastor.  Under Rev. Chambers leadership, a larger building was constructed at on VC & L Road (Northside Dr).  In 1967 property was purchased at 258 Straight Street and the present church was erected.  The first service was held upstairs in 1968, with the sanctuary opening for worship in 1969.  The back of the church and the upstairs’ wing were used for Happy Haven Day Care Center, opening in 1970.  The center  served 158 children, ages 6 weeks to school age, Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM until 6:00 PM with a paid staff of 18 persons, whose business was to teach and train the children.  Under Rev. Chambers administration, the church moved from 2nd and 4th Sunday worship to every Sunday worship.  Rev. Chambers resigned May 31, 1981.

         Afterward Rev. David R. Tharpe was called as interim pastor, and in 1981 ordained by the officials to become the third recorded pastor of the New Piney Grove Baptist Church.  He served for eleven years.  His desire to do what “thus saith the Lord” was instrumental in many souls being saved.  Rev. Tharpe established an Outreach Ministry to feed the hungry and cloth the needy.  An average of 900-1000 people were fed monthly.  Rev. Tharpe resigned October 8, 1992.

            In November, 1992 Pastor Dave A. Wilcoxson was sent to shepherd the flock of New Piney Grove Baptist Church.  Under his leadership in 1995, additions were made, a sound room,  bathrooms to the front entrance and  closets in the fellowship hall. The church sanctuary was recarpeted and the pews were  padded.

Due to continued growth, the church purchased some adjacent property to provide additional parking.  The entire lot was resurfaced and stripped to accommodate the growing church body.  The choir loft and pulpit were also adjusted to house the Mass Choir, a choir who officially became a “recording choir” in April, 1997. Our kitchen was totally renovated in 1998 and new air conditioning added to the fellowship hall.

The land bought in 1997 under a five year payoff plan was paid off in two years.  A second loan was made to resurface and was paid off early also. Under the leadership of Pastor Dave, God called from the flock of New Piney Grove an anointed man who was already ministering through music, to minister through His Word also.  Minister David Arnold, Sr. received his license to preach God’s Word on March 2, 1997.  In 2001, Minister Arnold was ordained as the first recorded Youth Pastor of New Piney Grove Baptist Church.

In March 2001, Alfonso Taylor and James Graham were ordained as deacons. Our fellowship hall was renamed  (Deacon) Johnnie B. Smith Fellowship Hall and rededicated to his memory.  Deacon Smith spent over forty years working in the vineyard at New Piney Grove (many of those were as Chairman of Deacons). A plaque was hung in 2001 in honor of the memory of Deacon Sandy Montford, Deacon Joseph  Redding and Deacon Johnnie B. Smith.  These men all played important and key roles in NPG’s history.

During our Church Anniversary in May 2002 many members made pledges to secure the payoff of the church’s third vehicle, a mini bus.  The mini bus was paid off in January 2003.  Minister James Owens, Sr.  was placed in training December 15, 2002 and licensed to preach the gospel June 15, 2003. Minister Kenneth McMillan was put in ministerial training on July 13, 2003. Marvin Morris was set aside for ministerial training in 2003.

In March 2003, Robert McElroy and Robert Grier were ordained as Deacons.  A second  set of AFCs (Ambassadors For Christ) were also established. Also the front posts on the building were replaced.  Negotiations begin to purchase land that would be a part of our Pastor’s Vision given by God. The church also received another face lift through painting, tiling and replacing carpet in the sanctuary and selected other areas.

On March 15, 2004 the church bought the final piece of property needed to make the vision a reality. In January 2004 a TWB (Together We Build) Program began; this is a way for membership to give to the building of God’s House.  TWB will last for three years. All the loans were combined; projecting to pay off the entire loan in three years. A Building Project Committee was established in July to assist the pastor. Rights were obtained  to the alley easement separating our property.  The Mentors Ministry and the U-Turn Ministry were established in 2004.

The Financial Planning and Hospitality Ministries were established in 2004. Kenneth McMillan was licensed to preach the gospel on January 11, 2004 and ordained to co-pastor the Link on June 27, 2004. Marvin Morris was licensed to preach on his 17th birthday, August 8, 2004 and on December 12, 2004 Jeff Evans was licensed to preach. Minister David Arnold, Sr. resigned as Minister of Music in March, 2005.  Minister Victor Grubbs was named as Director of Music Ministry April 1, 2005 and resigned in December 2006 to start a new ministry.  Minister Kalaya Dollison was named Music Ministry Director in 2007.

              On September 11, 2005 Treyon Woolfolk was licensed to preach the gospel. On December 11, 2005 AFCs Jackie Jones and Alvin Cearnal were set aside as candidates for training in the Deacons Ministry.   February 12, 2005, two other men were added to our Ambassador for Christ Ministry. Deacon Al Taylor resigned from the Deacon’s Ministry in 2006.

December 3, 2006  AFCs Jones and Cearnal were ordained as Deacons.  On August 8, 2006 God called our Church Mother, Ethel Nash, home; January 1, 2007 Mother Beatrice Montford was appointed Church Mother.  Our TWB Program ended December 31, 2006. 

May 13, 2007 Guss Bodison, Jr. and Joseph Brothers, Jr. were placed in Ministerial training. December 30, 2007 Joseph Brothers, Jr. and Kenneth Young were licensed to preach the Gospel.  Alvin Hutchieson was placed in ministerial training the same day.

In 2008 the front men’s restroom updated and our security system updated after being invaded by intruders in March.  July 13, 2008 Brandon Lee placed in Ministerial training. December 14, 2008 James Monroe ordained as Deacon and on December 28, 2008 Joseph Brothers, Jr. ordained as Minister to our Youth.

January 2009 the Financial Advisory Board dissolved due to effectiveness and replaced with the Leadership Advisory Board.  LAC  consists of Pastor, Deacon Ministry and three church representatives (Rose McElroy, Brandon Lee & Al Grant.) A handicap ramp added at the front entrance of the church in April 2009. In May 2008 NPG was in the path of a Storm, from which the full effects were not known until August 2009.  We were forced to go on a Wilderness experience as our Sanctuary was found to be unsafe.  We moved back into our church on October 31, 2009 with a new face life.  The inside sanctuary was renovated and updated with new lighting.

As the vision unfolded for our new sanctuary, existing apartments had to be demolished and a house had to be sold and moved. In June of 2008 due to storm damage a new roof had been installed.  However, in 2009 during the installation of a projector and screen it was discovered that the storm did more damage that originally accessed and the entire roof had to be taken off, rafters replaced and then recovered again with another new roof. During this process the sanctuary was deemed unsafe and the church went into a “wilderness experience.”  From July 15th to October 31st  all sanctuary meetings had to be held elsewhere. God provided a meeting place at Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church and Bethany Seventh-Day Adventist Churches. Although the church had to deal with a little inconvenience, God’s hand could be seen in the process.  The storm actually picked up the roof and for over a year the rafters had been shifting and could have easily fallen in but God…

Alvin Hutchieson was licensed in June 2009 and Brandon Lee in December.  Leroy Smith and Joseph McElroy, Jr. were ordained deacons in December 2009.  Stevie McNeil was added to the AFC Ministry in January 2010.

One Monday in January the phone rang.  The caller offered the church a piece of property that the owners had in the past decided not to sell.  Praise be to God that on January 22, 2010 NPG became the owners of that property.  February 28, 2010 was truly a grand celebration.  In addition to our Old Fashioned Day Celebration, a Ground Breaking Ceremony was held.  The dirt was tossed on Sunday and the bulldozers rolled in on Monday.  This project of the building of our next sanctuary is expected to be finished within 12 month.  It is anticipated that our 141st Church Anniversary will be held in our new building in 2011.

Pastor Dave has pursued an excellence in all church endeavors which includes renovating the church, updating and computerizing the church files, and reaching out to the community’s souls and spirits with the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior.  His efforts as a teacher has set many on the path to God and enlightened those who searched for the knowledge of God.

As we approach another year, we remember many accomplishments God has allowed thus far as we prepare for our future successes.  The congregation of New Piney Grove Baptist Church constant prayer is  that the Lord will continue to bless us with Pastor Dave and his family’s presence. Our desire is that NPG Church Family will continually exemplify the Love of Jesus Christ as we do God’s

Work In The Ministry

 

 

 

    

 

 

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