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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 Thirty Years History: First Baptist Church Book (Pg. 2)after he was 21. He enrolled in Buie's Creek Academy, North Carolina, in the fail of 1907. During [his time he was not only busy with his studies, but also in Y. M. C. A. work, taught a large class of junior boys, preached his first sermon and looked after all the gasoline vapor lights for the Academy and both society halls. He was active in his literary society, receiving the gold medal for being the best debater in his society and represented his society as orator at the commencement program in the spring of 1911. It was during the spring revival at Buie's Creek Academy in 1911 that Mr. Brown made the greatest decision of his entire life. He had to decide whether he was willing to completely turn his life over to the Master and let Him take over and direct his plans and program. After a conference and prayer with the visiting evangelist, Mr. Brown realized that Jesus had to go to Gethsemane alone and that He, alone, said "Not my will but Thine be done." It was during the morning in his room alone, that he finally said, "Thy will be done." Ill go where You want me to go." That fall, 1911, and after finishing the Academy, he entered Wake Forest College, Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he spent four busy years. During his first year his work was confined largely to his college work, teaching the men's Bible class in the local Negro Baptist Church and bringing missionary messages in the nearby Baptist churches for the local foreign mission volunteer group. During the late summer of 1912 he was recommended by Rev. Jack Ellis, who was leaving for the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, to his field of churches. That fall found him carrying a full college course, waiting on tables at a local club for his board, and serving four once -a -month Baptist churches, Clement, Lambeth Memorial, New Bethel and Wilson Mills. He was ordained to the Baptist ministry at the spring meeting of the Robertson County Baptist Association held with the Back Swamp Baptist Church the last weekend in June of 1913. He spent the summer working with his churches and holding revival meetings. He largely followed the same program during his junior year, with the exception that he managed and supervised the student club boarding house. During the spring of 1914 many things happened and several changes were made. He changed his field of churches, which now included New Bethel, Mount Vernon, Bay Leaf and Neuse Falls. These churches were all located new Wake Forest and were close enough that thea congregations overlapped. It was during a meeting of all the churches around Wake Forest, fora of which he served, that Rev. Brown was asked on a moment's notice to bring the Saturday morning sermon. Lunch was served by the churches at the noon hour. It was timing the noon hour that Mr. Brown met Miss Belle Mitchell, a sister of his dearest friend and former roommate at B.C.A. This began five years of correspondence and personal contacts with this charming young lady which culminated in their marriage on July 2, 1919. five years of correspondence and personal contacts with this charming young lady which culminated in their marriage on July 2, 1919. Rev. Brown's senior year was the busiest and most challenging of all his college years. He continued serving his held of churches and helping with the denominational program of his Association. He attended the International Student Volunteer Program in Kansas City, Missouri during the Christmas period and also the "Y" program at Blue Ridge, North Carolina during the summer. His literary society demanded much tune and work. Ile was awarded the orator's medal in the spring. Other duties included being president of the ministerial claaa, society day orator, chief marshal at commence- ment, member of the honor committee, and commencement orator. At the time Rev. Brown graduated, the young men who were serving churches were urged to continue with their churches rather than enlisting in military sservicc', therefore, he continued with his church program. In addition to this work, he accepted the superintendancy of one of the state high schools located at Bayleaf, North Carolina which was near the center of his field of churches. In preparation for the opening of school, he directed the enlargement of the school building which meant the securing of two additional teachers. When school began, he found that he was pastor of four rural churches, director and teacher for a high school, business manager of a dormitory for teachers and boarding students, and responsible for the 14 -year old niece whose father and mother had died some years earlier. In addition to this, he kept up Iris correspondence with the lovely young lady he had met at the church gathering and who was continuing her work in the Univer- sity of North Carolina at Greensboro. He felt that his work was most successful and rewarding but he must continue his training for the ministry. He entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky in the fall of 1910 and remained there one year. During this seminary year he helped his roommate, Rev. 0. P. Campbell, with [us church program in New Albany, Indiana and supplied nearby churches when called upon. During the following summer he served as associa- tional missionary for the Wake County Baptist Association. This was the association in which the Bay Leaf High School was located. His former field of churches was located in this association and also the home of Miss Belle Mitchell. This was a busy and most rewarding summer. The fall of 1917 found him enrolled in Crozet Theological Seminary and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School. The second Sunday at the seminary he was asked by the Calvary Baptist Church, Reading Pennsylvania, to supply their church. He accepted the call to serve that church and remained with them until the spring of 1919 when he accepted the call to the Ridley Park First Baptist Church where he remained until he and his wife decided to come to Colllege Station.