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The humble beginnings of Berea took
place in the early 1920's when several Christian men and women from the
Pembroke area began meeting to organize a church. It was in 1925 that
this group approached the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, an
organization established in 1878 to "educate and Christianize the Indian
people of Robeson and adjoining counties in North Carolina", for
membership. Berea was extended the right hand of fellowship and was
admitted as a member of the Association the same year.
In addition, that same year the
forty-seventh annual session of the Association was held at Berea in
Pembroke. The church's delegate for the session was Ashley Oxendine, a
charter member of Berea Baptist. Other charter members included the
following; Mr. J.C. "Sonny" Oxendine and Mrs. Dorcas Oxendine, Mr. E.B.
Sampson and Mrs. Nora Sampson, Mr. and Mrs. Evander Hunt, Mr. Bennie
Chavis, Mr. Jodie Oxendine, Mrs. Charity Oxendine, Miss Bessie Oxendine,
Mrs. Annie Lizzie Locklear, and Rev. L.W. Jacobs.
The congregation called Rev. L.W.
Jacobs to serve as the first pastor. He served on a quarter-time basis,
and it was during his leadership that Berea grew and developed a
three-phase program; Sunday School, Worship, and Training Union.
Mr. J.C. Oxendine was elected as the Sunday School Superintendent.
According to the minutes of the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, by 1926
Berea had a total enrollment of 121 in its Sunday School program.
Following is a list of pastors at
Berea in order of service; Rev. L.W. Jacobs, Rev. P.M. Dorr, Rev.
Richard Bailey, Rev. C.M. Cummings, Rev. James L. Bardin, Rev. Lawrence
P. Hardy, Rev. Jimmy Fox, Rev. Sidney Oxendine, Rev. Lawrence P. Hardy
(2nd term), Rev. Ron Anderson, Rev. John Mullinax, Rev. Bruce Swett, and
our current pastor Rev. Chris Hunt.
From its beginnings, the members of
Berea acknoledged the importance of its Church youth. The Church knew
the youth were the future Church and religious leaders. Berea has always
implemented a myriad of programs focusing on ministering to the
youth. The Church, located east of the campus of UNC-P, also recognized
and opportunity to minister to the spiritual needs of the faculty,
staff, and especially to the student body of UNCP. They developed a
unique ministerial relationship with the University, and that
relationship continues to flourish today.
Other new programs and ministry
approaches are helping to tear down barriers and build stronger
believers. The Church has continued to reach out and build on the firm
foundations of its forefathers. Church members will never forget the
vision of those original charter members as well as their vitality to
erect the first walls of this church; Berea Baptist. |
