They used to worship in the same building, back before the Civil War — but they didn’t worship together.
Members of Concord Baptist Church, Salem, in Russell Baptist Association, would hold their service in the mornings, and in the afternoons slaves would gather to have their own worship service in the basement.
“But their record shows that they (the slave congregation) grew weary of that,” said Bud Passmore, pastor of Concord Baptist. So it wasn’t long before members of Concord Missionary Baptist Church got a piece of land just down the road and built their own building.
They share a heritage but the two congregations have gone their own ways for the better part of two centuries.
But 175 years after they both started, members of both congregations gathered together Nov. 20 to worship at the same time in the same building.
“It was a great time of fellowship,” Passmore said. “We really got to know each other and had a great time.”
Joint worship was led by Brent Nowell, worship leader at Concord Baptist, and special music was provided by Johnnie Mae Jackson and her backup choir from Concord Missionary Baptist.
Deacon Nicholas Roberson brought greetings from the missionary church, and Neil Koon shared a little of what he has seen in his 80-plus years as a member of Concord Baptist. Judge Calvin Milford, Alabama Baptist Historical Commission representative, was on hand to present framed certificates commemorating the anniversaries to both churches. Following the service everyone gathered in the family life center to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast.
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