(Presented at Pleasant View Baptist Church during the 1999 anniversary service, much of this text contains direct quotations from church records and may contain certain spelling or grammatical irregularities)

Pleasant View Baptist Church

Taylors, South Carolina

1934-1999

Brief History of Pleasant View Prior to Organization

 Cottage prayer meetings were held for quite a while before any meeting house was built. On March 9, 1933, J. D. Steadman deeded a triangular lot of land on south side of Old Rutherford Road for a chapel site for a meeting house. By donations of labor and lumber by the interested community people, a framed wooden meeting house was soon erected. The community prayer meetings were continued, holding their meetings in this new meeting house as soon as it was ready and a Sunday School was organized soon after. The Sunday School was organized under the direction of Rev. J. Earl Freeman, who soon after was elected as General Advisor to these religious services, and preached one Sunday afternoon in each month for those who assembled.

Organization on September 23, 1934

Creek, Taylors, Double Springs and Fairview Churches had previously been invited to be under the direction of Rev. J. Earl Freeman, twenty-four Baptist men and women with letters from their Churches were organized into a Baptist Church. The pastors of Mt. present to constitute a council in the presence of which the Church was to organize. Deacons were present from all these Churches except Double Springs. The pastors of Double Springs and Mt. Creek could not attend. Rev. M. O. Owens, pastor of Taylors and Fairview Churches, was present. Also Rev. W. H. Gibson of Sacramento, California and Rev. J. L. Freeman, a retired minister of the Taylors Church, were present and assisted in the organization.

appointed to examine Church letters. The moderator read Matthew 16:13-20 as the Professor H. J. Howard, superintendent of the public schools of Taylors, was appointed clerk. A committee of three deacons, of which Alfred G. Taylor was chairman, was Scripture lesson, and after brief comments called on Deacon J. F. Freeman of the Taylors Church to lead in prayer. Hymn, "How Firm A Foundation" was sung.

Orrietta Center, Woodrow Center, Mrs. Allie Center Coward, Mrs. Vera Center Meece;The committee on Church letters reported twenty-four letters from Baptist Churches, written in regular form as follows: from Taylors Baptist Church, Mrs. W. A. Center, from Mt. Creek, Mrs. Ester Bryant, Cleveland Bryant, EdBryant, Estell Bryant, Mrs. Lyda Hall, Mrs. Lillie Singleton, H. G. Brookshire, Mrs. H. G. Brookshire, T. J. Meece, Mrs. Alma Moon; from Double Springs, John Moore, Hattie Moore, James Moore, Ada E. Lockaby, Benjamin Singleton; from Morgan Memorial, R. R. Cowart, Mrs. R. R. Cowart, Roy Taylor; from Marietta Baptist Church, Oscar Lockaby.

Articles of Faith was presented by Rev. M. O. Owens and adopted by proposed new church group as their confession of faith. Rev. Warren H. Gibson of Sacramento, California next read the Church Covenant and members pledged themselves by rising vote to abide by the covenant, and were lead in prayer by Bro. Gibson.

The moderator opened door of the Church and the following were received: Mrs. Maud Farrow, Elmer Cowart, W. W. Jarrell, Willis Center, Myrtle Bryant and Virginia Bryant. (P. L. Farrow was once a Baptist but had joined Methodists, agreed to go back to Fairview Baptist Church and be restored and get a letter and come in regular order.)

Motion was made that next Sunday be set aside for the purpose of electing officers. Declaration as to Sunday School, prayer meetings, and auxiliaries yet to be, was made by vote of the Church. Salutatory remarks to the newly organized Church were made by Rev. J. L. Freeman.

(Signed) Rev. J. Earl Freeman, moderator
(Signed) H. G. Howard, Clerk

Pleasant View's Declaration as to the Sunday School,

Prayer Meetings and Other Activities

September 23, 1934

We the members of the Pleasant View Baptist Church, being duly organized, have voted the following declaration relative to Sunday School, prayer meetings and other activities which may yet come into being:

I.)       We hereby adopt the Sunday School under its present management as our teaching agency, and hereby make the following declarations concerning it.

1.) Since the first Sunday in October is recognized by the Sunday School world as the beginning of the new Sunday School year, we hereby set forth the wishes of this Church that on a suitable day in September each year, this September excluded, the Sunday School shall reorganize, electing officers and teachers and observing promotion day, this organization being submitted to the Church for approval. In making this requirement of Church approval, we have in mind the Standard of Excellence of our Baptist Sunday School Board of the South, which makes this requirement.

2.) This Church asks that at the end of each quarter the superintendent, or someone delegated to do so, make a quarterly report to the Church for her approval.

3.) We further believe that it would be duly in keeping with the idea of Church control that any surplus money not needed for the operating expenses of the Sunday School at the end of each quarter, be turned over to the Church treasurer for general Church expenses.

II.)      We hereby make the following declaration as to prayer meetings and other auxiliaries that may hereafter be organized.

1.) That we adopt the prayer meetings as now operating on Thursday and Saturday nights, as the Church's seasons for prayer and exhortation.

2.) That these meetings, through someone delegated to do so, shall make quarterly reports to the Church.

3.) That any other organization hereafter to be set up shall be under Church control.

III.)     As to members of other denominations: That it shall be the policy of this Church to welcome people of all faiths to seats in our meetings for worship, to the privileges of our Sunday School classes, and to full enjoyment of our meetings for prayer, and declare it to be our desire to live in peace and harmony with all peoples.

Further, we express it as our wish that these declarations be entered into our minutes book as a part of our records.

Highlights and Humor

July 4, 1948

The church met in conference today with Pastor Snedden as moderator. Several things claimed our attention. Brother Snedden asked the church if the church wanted to build. There was a motion with a second that we build. The matter of a building fund was also brought before the church. There was a motion with a second that we have a continual building fund. The plans that had been drawn up by the deacons and pastor, for an addition to the auditorium and Sunday school rooms, was presented to the congregation. The congregation voted unanimously in approval.

July 11, 1948 (One week later)

The church met in conference today with the moderator, Brother Snedden presiding. The matter of mortgaging our present church property to the Taylors Lumber Company for material to be used in building an addition to the church claimed our attention. Brother Snedden stated the matter fully to the congregation. When discussion was called for, Brother Jack Hall explained that this was the usual procedure of churches that were building. The moderator called for a motion that we mortgage the property. A motion was made with a second. Then the congregation made the vote unanimous. The conference adjourned.

January 1949 (Six months later)

The owner of the Taylors Lumber Company, Mr. Alewine, graciously consented not to take a note of any kind over the church building and to let us pay on our building as the Lord blessed. We're thanking Him whose name is above every name that our building has been completed. (Cornerstone: Rebuilt in May 1955)

March 11, 1953 (Humor)

We had a wonderful service tonight. Five came on profession of faith in Christ and as candidates for baptism. They were Mr. A.P. Rollins, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Crocker, Hazel Arms and Gayle Arms. (A line is drawn through the names of Mr. and Mrs. Crocker with the following notation beside their names: "did not come back".)

August 25, 1957

The church voted to stand against the new RSV Bible.

September 22, 1957

The church was called into conference Sunday night. The church voted to discontinue the use of the Sunday School literature because of the presence of the RSV in some of it. The church also voted to quit sending money to the cooperative program and to adopt some missionaries and send the money directly to them.

May 16. 1965

The church voted to build a building at the Greer Baptist Campground. 

January 24, 1971

Rev. Larry Raynes called as pastor from Tampa Florida.

May 16, 1971

On this Sunday morning Rev. Larry Raynes told the church that he felt led to go on the radio on WCKI for a 30 minute broadcast from 7:30 to 8:00 AM on Sunday mornings. On this Sunday night the church voted to support the broadcast financially, which is $26.00 a week. It was put to a vote by the church and passed.

October 4, 1972 (Humor - tough times)

Mrs. Norma Raynes was approved as the pianist.

Brother Ed Childs and Brother P.J. Smith were approved as janitors.

(Brother P.J. Smith was promoted to song leader two years later.)

January 8, 1975 (Humor)

Brother Raynes requested someone else to keep the thermostat since it is impossible to please everyone. Brother Gary Williams made a motion to buy a box to cover the thermostat. Brother Ed Childs seconded the motion. The church voted and the motion carried.

Highlights and Humor

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

May 9, 1971 - A PA system was brought up in business meeting tonight, and the Church decided to pray about it first.

Four years and 2 days later:
May 11, 1975 - The church voted and approved to have a sound system installed in the church by Rev. Ed Day.

February 11, 1976 - The church first discussed building a fellowship hall.

Three years and three months later:

May 9, 1979 - Church voted to borrow $31,000 and use $26,000 of it to build the fellowship hall.

September 19, 1979 - Church fed preachers here for the Piedmont Preacher's Fellowship in the new fellowship hall.

July 14, 1976 church voted to build a garage at the parsonage.

May 9, 1979 church voted to use money left over from funds borrowed to build fellowship hall to build garage at parsonage.

August 4, 1982 church voted to build a garage or shelter at the parsonage. In this business meeting it was noted that this had already been voted on.

A FIRST STEP IN MISSIONS

July 9, 1975 - Church took on the Don Stowe family for support. This was one of our first missionary families. . God used this family and the Ronnie Starr family to prepare our hearts for the greater missions emphasis to come in 1977.

October 13, 1976: It was suggested in business meeting that the church family go to Lenore, NC to revival at Buddy Smith's church to hear the McKamey Family. In the same business meeting "the boys wanted to know when they could go camping. Lewis Floyd (now with Lord [Pastor helped in funeral last year]) and Carl Moore [Bro. Danny's father] suggested that they take them fishing. Danny Moore then seconded a motion to carry them. Church voted and approved.

April 6, 1977: In the prior week, Pastor left suitcase here when church was leaving for a trip to the campmeeting in Florida. Carl Moore made motion in business meeting that the church pay for the clothes the Pastor had to buy in Florida. Motion was seconded, voted and approved. In this same business meeting, it was voted on by the church to buy a pitcher and glass for the pulpit before the next revival.

On December 8, 1982, Pastor suggested that grass be sown at the parsonage. Motion was made, seconded, and the church voted and approved.

On August 31, 1983, Bill Howard (now in AZ) made motion to purchase a push-button telephone for parsonage so rates would be cheaper.

On November 9, 1983 the church voted to buy its first neck-mic.

BUS BLUNDERS

On January 23, 1977, the Pastor told the church we could get a bus in Florida for $600. Church voted and approved to buy it.

August 10, 1977 Pastor suggested that we sell the church bus since there was no one to drive it. Church voted and approved.

October 28, 1979 Pastor suggested that the church buy the youth choir a bus for $610 in West Virginia.

Familiar Names

February 24. 1952

Ten came uniting with our church today, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Anders from Southside and their daughters Jean and Norma, Mrs. Frances Spake from New Friendship, Mr. George Spake by statement, Mr. and Mrs. Q. C. Rollins and son Kenny from Brandon and Mrs. Bertie Epps came as a candidate for baptism. (Brother Rollins was elected as the Sunday School Superintendent and the assistant adult men's Sunday School class teacher on August 17, 1952. And on August 23, 1953 he was elected as the teacher of
the adult men's Sunday School class.)

June 24, 1956

The ordination of Brother Q. C. Rollins took place on this day. There was a call for all ordained Baptist preachers of who were Rev. Harold Handley, Rev. Ed Corn, Rev. Jesse D. Stephens, Rev. Odell Good, Rev. Cash and Rev. Jenkins. All of these preachers gathered together with "Mutt" Rollins in a Sunday School room. Rev. Jack Jenkins was elected clerk. Rev. Good was moderator and Rev. Handley was the questioner. Brother Rollins was questioned and found very satisfactory as a Baptist Preacher. A motion was presented and accepted before the church ordaining Brother Rollins to the ministry of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Harold Handley
brought the ordination message and Brother Jesse Stephens brought the charge. They then laid their hands on Brother Rollins. Ordination was completed.

February 1, 1953

We had a wonderful service tonight. Mr. Shelby Joines came as a candidate for baptism.

June 14, 1953

Two came uniting with our church as candidates for baptism. Baptismal services were held at the river today and ten were baptized, Mr. A. P. Rollins, Mr. Carl Moore and daughter Carol, Mr. Henry Brown, Gayle and Hazel Arms, Furman Good, Michael Hall, Mr. Shelby Joines and daughter Joan.

August 29, 1954

Mr. and Mrs. Dean Owens and son Harold came under the watch care of the church until their letters can be secured from Weaver Memorial Baptist.

July 3.1960

On this date the records show Mr. and Mrs. Wilton Perry (Sis Perry) and son Kent uniting with the church.

April 23. 1962

On this date the records show the Massengale family uniting with the church.

November 30, 1969

The church voted to provide catering service at homes in the community where a death occurs. Mrs. W. E. Perry was elected to serve as director of same. A collection of $25.oo was taken up this day.

Familiar Names

March 10, 1976 - The church heard missionary Ronnie Starr to Alaska for the first time and took him on for support. We still support him, and he visited the church in the past year.

June 16, 1976: Church took on Bro. Roque Bustos for support to Argentina.

(Bro. Bustos served the Lord faithfully, and went to be with him in July, 1998.)

On October 13, 1976 Wilt Perry said that in exchange for the oil tank he had gotten from the parsonage (due to HVAC remodeling) he would give $100 for a fish supper. Church voted to accept his offer.

On April 17, 1977, Bro. And Mrs. Robert Smith joined the church.

January 25, 1977, Bro. And Sis. Fox on deputation for the Azores, came to the church. They still labor there today, and drop by the church from time to time.

February 19, 1978: David Eden presented his work here for the first time; we still support him.

May 24, 1978: Church took on the support of Bro. Randall Jordan to Italy. He and his wife were here this past spring on a brief furlough.

October 18, 1981 - Bro. Billy Kelly preached the Sunday morning and Sunday evening services at the church.

May 15, 1983 Dale and Debbie Massengale joined the church.

March 10, 1984 - Bro. Wesley Grant from Asheville, NC preached youth meeting.

April 13, 1985 Pastor Raynes preached at youth meeting for first and last time. His message: "I'm just about mad enough to fight" from the story of David and Goliath.

July 3, 1988 Joe and Lisa Edge joined the church.

February 22, 1993, full-time evangelist Bro. Jack Tripp and family joined the church.

Special Meetings

August 12, 1945

Revival services began today with our pastor, Brother Sargent, bringing the messages. The Tuesday night service on August 14, 1945 was a service long to be remembered. The Second World War ended today. Pastor Sargent led in the service of prayer and thanksgiving for victory.

August 18, 1947

Brother Harold Sightler was the visiting minister who helped our pastor in our revival. He brought some wonderful messages. There were eight who made professions of faith in Christ and were baptized two weeks later. (Brother Sightler also preached a revival meeting the week of January 12, 1953).

October 16. 1950

Revival services began today with Brother Maze Jackson of Greenwood bringing the messages nightly. Our church was greatly revived and a number of souls were saved.

November 29, 1953

One of our greatest revivals ended this week. Dr. Percy Ray brought the messages each night. Our souls were really blessed. Many souls were saved and ten joined our church today.

February 21, 1954

Our revival began tonight with Brother Maze Jackson doing the preaching. Two souls were saved and four came back to the Lord.

January 16, 1955

(Regularly scheduled service) We had one of the greatest services tonight that I have ever witnessed. Thirty-one people came before the church as candidates for baptism.

November5. 1973

Revival services began with Brother Clyde Billingsley of Tenn. We had several saved and two to join the church.

February 2, 1975

Church in revival with Rev. Jimmy Robbins from Cowpens, SC. There were twenty-five professions of faith with nine joining the church.

Special Meetings

June 9-14, 1975: Junior boys and girls and Pastor and Mrs. Raynes attended Venture of Faith Camp in Valdosta, GA. (Our trio won first in music competition, and junior choir won second.)

April 24-30, 1977 Church held missions conference. At the end of the conference, the church pledged $11,274 for the coming year to faith-promise missions. Bro. Robert Smith also surrendered to go to the mission field during this week. (Three weeks later, the church took on 3 more missionaries, three more during May and June, and an additional 4 during July and August.) By the end of 1978, the church had 46 missionaries.

In the fall and winter of 77-78, the devil worked overtime in the church, and we lost several families, including officers and teachers. Nevertheless, God was faithful. In the spring of '78 He began a work in the young people of the church.

On February 26, 1978 Bro. Danny Quinn preached and was used of God. Then the campmeeting in Tampa was particularly influential in the youth that March. The
ground-work had been laid and then in May, Bro. Ed McAbee preached from May 1 through May 13. Many lives were touched during this period and a large number of those are still serving the Lord today.

Then in the fall of 1978, God used Bro. Jack Thompson from Ocilla, GA in a meeting at the church. It was in this meeting that Bro. Danny Moore surrendered to preach the gospel.

July 1, 1979 the church left for Camp Zion in Myrtle, Mississippi. On the way home, three souls were saved.

June 23 - June 29 (7 DAYS!!) 1980 - Church held first annual campmeeting. Over $800 was raised for the meeting during the week's offerings.

August 18-20, 1980 - The youth choir went to W.Va. To sing.

February 14, 1981 - Church held first Youth Meeting on second Saturday of the month. Bro. Danny Moore and Ron Kruger preached.

Pastor preached revival at Victory Baptist in Rosman, NC and Stanley Adcock surrendered to preach. Bro. Adcock now pastors in Hendersonville.

Special Messages

Some of the messages that were preached in the early years were recorded in the minutes.

March 11, 1945

The Pastor brought a message today in Hebrews 12 beginning at verse 25. His subject was found in verse 27, "Things That Cannot Be Shaken". He gave us some very good points in his message. He gave us first some things that have been shaken. 1.) Opinions of man. 2.) Kingdoms of the world have been shaken. 3.) The physical bodies will be shaken. 4.) The graves will be shaken. He then gave us, some things that cannot be shaken. 1.) The Word of God. 2.) The Throne of God will last. 3.) The Church of the
Living God will never fail. 4.) The foundation will never fail. 5.) A child of God cannot be shaken.

January 26, 1947

The message was from Genesis 37, Going back to Bethel. 1.) Back to God  2.) Back to the Bible, 3.) Back to the family alter and being loyal to our church. We need to go the cross and the blood. The pastor stated that he didn't think we needed to go back to the horse and buggy days for ways of transportation, but that we did not need a modern religion.

July 27, 1947

Pastor Sargent brought a wonderful message today, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life". His main thought was "Sin and the Savior". The sinner is blind. He does not see spiritually. The sinner's case is hopeless unless he turns to Jesus. The sinner is helpless. He has no one to turn to for salvation other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

January 11, 1948

Pastor Sargent brought a fine message today. His topic was "Looking to Jesus". His three points were, 1.) The Backward Look. We need to look back on our old sinful lives, and see how we were before Jesus saved us. Looking to Jesus who lived and died for us. 2.) The Upward Look. Looking up to heaven where Jesus is at the right hand of the Father. 3.) The Forward Look. Looking forward to Jesus coming again.

A GIVING CHURCH

September 7, 1977: Pastor suggested giving $250 to Brooklyn Baptist in Chesnee to rebuild after a fire destroyed their sanctuary. Later that month the church sent $250 to a missionary in Grand Bahama to help with a building project.

In January 1979, the church sent $250 to the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Tampa, FL to help with campmeeting expenses. Then in April of that year, the church took that campmeeting on as a missions project.

August 1979 - Church gave $200 to Greenville Ind. Baptist Campmeeting in Travelers Rest.

On March 16, 1983 church voted to raise Bro. Jack Manley's support from $25 to $50 per month. On his next visit to the church, Bro. Manley shared that on his report from the mission board that very month, another church had dropped his support by $25 that same month and that God had used our church to meet his needs.

Church voted on February 12, 1986 to give the church van to Bro. Jeff Griffith and the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Pickens County.

In December 1988, the Pastor and another man from the church took two truck loads of food and clothing to a children's home in Indiana for Christmas.

EXPANSION

The church purchased the 5 acres on which the current sanctuary, school, and parking lot are now located in November 1983 for $10,000.

October 7, 1987, church voted to build the current sanctuary as a "tabernacle" for campmeetings. In June of 1988 first campmeeting was held in the new building, and on June 29 the church voted to move services into this-building.

On July 25, 1993 the church voted to organize a Christian school and hire Doug Raynes as principal. The first school year opened on August 30 of that year with 30 students.

Bro. Bill Howard was ordained on June 13, 1993, and he left for Arizona on June 23, 1993.

From the fall of '98 until mid-99 Bro. Stewart Jordan worked at a mission in eastern KY. Bro. Jordan was ordained into the gospel ministry on February 28, 1999.

The Joe Edge family left in July 1999 to go to the Amazon region of Brazil.

Bro. Jack Tripp accepted the pastorate of the Pine Grove Baptist Church in Archdale, NC in July 1999.

Presently, the Rodney Waycaster family is on full-time deputation to go to Australia.