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A Need Arises
Around 1932-1933, the need of Randolph County for
an association grew out of the fact that in the county there
were 28 Baptist churches and these churches were divided up
among four associations: Piedmont
Baptist Association, Sandy Creek
Baptist Association, Liberty
Baptist Association,
and Montgomery
Baptist Association. Because of
this situation, there was very little Baptist unity or
fellowship among the churches in the county. Many of the
churches in Randolph County felt they were in the "twilight
zone" and it was almost impossible to develop the churches as
they should be.
For months, several leaders in Randolph County
worked hard to enlighten the churches of the need for an
association of the Randolph churches. For one reason or
another, the idea of an association had not been accomplished.
But in the "fullness of time," at the right moment, pastors
began to lead the churches to consider an association in
Randolph County.
An Idea Takes Shape
On April 30, 1934, the following pastors of the
county met in the home of Herman T. Stevens, Pastor of Asheboro
Baptist Church: H.M. Stroup of Franklinville, R.E. Heath
of Center Cross and Deep River, J.C. Edwards of Sandy Creek and
Mt Lebanon, O.P. Dix of Balfour, and J.C. Kidd of Union Grove.
Also present at the meeting were Rev. J.M. Page, J.C. Pearce,
and E.E. Morgan.
After prayer and full discussion of the matter, a
motion was made by O.P. Dix and seconded by J.C. Kidd that we
seek the organization of an association within the
boundary of Randolph County. Rev. J.M. Page of Piedmont
Association suggested that when sixteen churches voted to unite
with the new association, that the Randolph Association be
formed. This suggestion was accepted by the group.
An Association is Born
Immediately after the closing of the Piedmont
Baptist Association, which met at Franklinville Baptist Church
according to previous understanding on Thursday afternoon, the
messengers from the Randolph county churches gathered in a
nearby school auditorium and proceeded to organize this new
association. There were thirty Baptist churches in
Randolph County present. Seventeen of the churches voted
in favor of organization.
The Founding Member Churches:
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Asheboro First Baptist Church
Balfour Baptist Church
Beulah Baptist Church
Center Cross Baptist Church
Central Falls Baptist Church
Glenola Baptist Church
Gravel Hill Baptist Church
Franklinville Baptist Church
Huldah Baptist Church |
Liberty First Baptist Church
Macedonia Baptist Church
Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church
Ramseur First Baptist Church
Randleman First Baptist Church
Sandy Creek Baptist Church
Shady Grove Baptist Church
Worthville Baptist Church |
Within 5 years the RBA had grown to thirty
member churches. Our constitution was developed to promote relations among the churches and objectives and
purpose were promoted within the association.
Growing Pains and Construction
In the summer of 1944 Miss Daphne Boone was
employed as a part time Associational Missionary. By
the fall there was need of a full time Associational Missionary.
In
1945 Rev. J.T. Briddle was called to the position. In 1946 funding for an
associational parsonage was underway. Rev. John Briddle and
family occupied the new home on South Elm Street in
Asheboro, North Carolina in May of 1948. Rev. Briddle
retired do to his wife's health.
In August 1950 Barron E. Honeycutt was called
as the new Associational Missionary. He would leave
the position to become the pastor of Greystone Baptist
Church in late 1951.
Rev. R.T. Smith was called to be the
Associational Missionary in 1952.
Remembering our Heritage
 From 1953-1954 the association worked to
increase Sunday School enrollment within its member churches.
By the end of this period the RBA saw an 18% increase in
enrollment. This would coincide with the 200th
Anniversary of Sandy Creek Baptist Church and the erection
of a monument to Rev. Shubal Stearns the founder of the
Baptist movement throughout the south. The marker
pictured
to the left was one part of several improvements to the cite and surrounding
cemetery. The improvements were funded by the Baptist State
Convention,
Sandy Creek Association and the Randolph Association.
A New Home
In May of 1975 a committee was appointed to
look into the possibility of securing an office for the
association separate and apart from the Associational
Missionary's home. In August 1976 the committee
recommended that the associational purchase the West
Side Methodist Church building. The purchase was
approved and the building was placed in use after some minor
remodeling by April 1977. An open house was held on
May 29, 1977 at which Rev. Smith was presented with a plaque
in recognition for his 25 years of service to the association.
In October 1980 the building was remodeled to include
new rooms for the Director of Missions, Conference Room and
a Resources Center.
In October 1976 the association decided to
sell the Associational Missionary's home. Rev. Smith
planned to retire in May of 1977. The association sold
the home to Rev. Smith and used the sale's price to set up a
trust to pay future Directors a housing allowance.
In September 1977 Rev. Judson Rotan was
called as the next Associational Missionary.
50 Years in Service 1984
The 50th Anniversary Celebration of the
association was held at Balfour Baptist Church on
October 22, 1984. The celebration included drama,
music and slides. It was an hour of reliving the
history of the association. Around 500 members were
in attended.
60
Years in Service 1994 The
60th Anniversary was celebrated with the publication of "Reliving Our
History" a historical book on the RBA. Included in this book is an
expanded version of the history you see above along with a brief history
of each member church at that time. A copy of the publication can be
obtained at the association's office or viewed at the Randolph
County Public Library. In
November 2003 Rev. Frank White was
called as the next Associational Missionary. 75
Years 2009
In 2009 Dr. Steve Sells was
called as the next Associational Missionary. What
is to come!?
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