Much has changed in the last 100 years for Sweet Water Baptist Church but the one thing that has remained the same is the kindness of the church members, according to former pastors who spoke during the church’s centennial celebration Oct. 9.
Among those who returned to their former pastorate to share that morning were Jack House, Howard L. “Chip” Smith Jr., Randall Tucker, C.J. Townsend and Aaron Ray. A special feature of the service came when Margaret Lewis, the church’s oldest member, was honored. Jerrol Hare, Alabama Baptist Historical Commission representative, also made a historical presentation during the service.
As participants fellowshipped during lunch they viewed old bulletins, books and pictures from the church’s past along with a special find — the original minutes and notes from Sweet Water Baptist’s inaugural meeting, which were found in a forgotten file cabinet in a crawl space beneath the baptistry.
“When we found that file cabinet and discovered all the documents inside, it was like finding a treasure chest,” said Pastor Robert Baker. (Compiled by the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission and TAB)
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