History of Elkdale Baptist Church

Cottage prayer meetings met faithfully on Thursday night for God’s leadership in Selma, called Elkdale Prayer Group (taking their name from Elkdale Park where they started meeting). They met in the home of Mrs. J. C. Elder at 610 6th Avenue and found a need for a church in North Selma. This need was formed in the heart and mind of Miss Lillie Falkenberry (City Missionary for First Baptist Church), along with some of her friends and co-workers from First Baptist Church. Also, with the help of Dr. John Davidson (Pastor of First Baptist Church) Elkdale Baptist Church became a reality. Dr. Fred Pearson helped make the vision come true through hard work and dedication. On November 17, 1950 a Sunday school was organized and met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Osborn on 608 7th Avenue. This Sunday school continued to have increased enrolment, until it became necessary to rent a vacant house next door to provide meeting space.

On November 30, 1952, the Elkdale Baptist Church was constituted in the First Baptist Church with 63 charter members, and a budget of $7,350.00. An interim pastor, Reverend Parks Redwine, was called and served until August 1, 1953, when the Reverend Harry E. Kirkley was called as pastor. The Sunday school enrolment then numbered 200. A Training Union and a Woman’s Missionary Union also had been added. Vacation Bible School had also been held.

A larger building became necessary, so plans were made to look for a site to build Elkdale Baptist Church. In 1953, ten lots located on Elkdale Street, were purchased for $11,000.00. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 6, 1953, and the congregation moved in on November 29, 1953. The finished building was dedicated on May 2, 1954. A dedicated and energetic congregation continued to grow and build until the church had a membership of over 1,000 by April, 1982.

The church continued to add to the original building. Under the leadership of Reverend Larry Bray, the church launched $160,000.00 bond issue to construct the present sanctuary, which was dedicated in 1958. During Reverend Bob Posey’s pastorate (1962-1964) Elkdale’s missionary zeal was indicated through the establishing of Westwood Mission on Highway 80 West. That mission now is Westwood Baptist Church. During the ten year tenure of Reverend Bob Atkins, the church continued to grow with more education space constructed and the indebtedness of the church was eliminated. Dr. Mel Deason encouraged the church to continue to purchase adjacent property as it became available. Also during his tenure, Sunday school was held in many houses near the church. During the pastorate of Dr. Gary Fagan, church consultants evaluated Elkdale Baptist Church and made many recommendations. A task force was formed and a master plan created to proceed with new development and growth of Elkdale. Phase I was completed in 1986, at a cost of $500,000.00. The construction consisted of a youth building, addition of educational and office space and construction of colonnades to beautify and bring the campus together.

 

Under the leadership of Dr. Jerry H. Henry, Phase II was implemented and completed in 1993 at a cost of $500,000.00. This new construction consisted of a children’s building adjoining the youth building.
Phase III started at the cost of $700,000.00 to add a new senior adult education building and a colonnade across the entire north side of the church. Over the period of all three phases the church has purchased more property, totaling ten adjoining lots to the ten original lots purchased in 1953.

 

November 3, 2002 was the 50th anniversary of Elkdale Baptist Church. Elkdale Baptist Church started a preschool under Interim pastor Rev. Al Finch called Elkdale Baptist Church Weekday Preschool on September 2003, with first class graduating on May, 2004.

Elkdale Baptist Church has a 50 year history of ministers, missionaries, musicians, and hundreds of lay Christians having gone out to continue spreading the vision nurtured at Elkdale Baptist Church.
Elkdale Baptist Church has plans to renovate all existing educational space, the nursery, conversion of the present sanctuary to a fellowship hall, and construction of a new sanctuary adjacent to Highland Avenue. Elkdale Baptist Church has been in a perpetual expansion program since its conception, due to the aspirations and vitality of its members combined with a commitment to grow to be a place where God and His abounding mercy and grace are found as to allow all to seek and find His Kingdom through Jesus Christ.




"If you are willing and obedient you shall eat of the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:10