Union Missionary Baptist Church

Church History

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On December 7, 1932 the St. John Baptist Church, Rev. P.B. Knox, pastor, brothers C.T. Thompson,

Issac Aaron, Jesse Butts, Billy Williams, John Hale, Alex Hale and Wesley Dickerson, all deacons,

along with the members of said church, met in joint session with the White’s Chapel Baptist Church

Rev. G.B. Knox, pastor, Rev. I.H. Hays, Assistant Pastor, and brothers Stephen Thorps, W.A. Lindsay,

Albert Zinnamon, Fred Jones, Newt Guiden and Robert Walker, all deacons, along with the members

of that church.

 

After reviewing the work that the pastors and deacons had done along with some laymen and

laywomen who had been formed into a joint committee to work with them, the joint meeting accepted

their recommendation to merge or consolidate into one church. They agreed to go back to their

respective churches and discuss and vote on them again in the privacy of their own business meeting.

They set a goal to finalize everything within 90 days.

 

They came together on January 10, 1933 with good tidings of confirmation from both churches and the pastors, deacons and the committee was authorized to proceed with the business of finalization.

 

Their final joint meeting was on March 18, 1933 when Atty. Ruby Robins presented them the new deeds and legal papers which are now recorded at the Faulkner County Courthouse. The next item of business was to call a pastor and Rev. P.B. Knox nominated his brother Rev. G.B. Knox and on acceptance by the church, Rev. G.B. Knox became the first pastor of the Union Baptist Church.

 

The third Sunday in March was the first day of service for the new church. They had 310 members at that time. Many had gone on to their reward, others had moved away to find better jobs. But they rejoiced that some had remained and stood by the church and honored the heritage left them by their fathers.

At the first business meeting of the Union Baptist Church, bro. Ezekiel Hill, bro. Frank Madlock and bro. Odell Embry were recommended and put on trial as deacons. They were ordained the first Sunday in October, 1933.

 

Others who had served the church as deacons were brothers Charley Williams, Esque Black, George Knox, Albert Wooten, John McCollough, Joe Harrison, Herby Perkins, Levi Howard, Milton Woods and Carl McFarlin.

 

Rev. G.B. Knox, Rev. J.W. Cassey, Rev. Roy A. Reed, under whose leadership the present building was erected. Rev. Robert Dickerson, under whose leadership the present building was brick-veneered and beautified. Rev. S. King, who lead them to pay off their indebtedness and burn the mortgage in 1953. Rev. S.J. Martin, who led them in acquiring the parsonage property and paying for it. Rev. C.W. Sims, a great pastor and preacher and Rev. Robert Crawford Jr., who led them in the remodeling of their parsonage and the interior of the church building was beautified along with the acquisition of the educational building and remodeling of the same. In 1969 the improvement mortgage was paid off.

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Rev. Crawford served from 1958-1989. Rev. Melvin Williams was voted in as the next pastor on November 10, 1989 and served until May 2011. Our present pastor, Rev. Rick L. Garner was installed on December 11, 2011. By the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, our church remains as a beacon of light and hope for all who seek salvation. We continue to tell men, women, boys and girls: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.