Altamahaw Baptist Church History

Altamahaw Baptist Church was organized on June 2, 1935 following a revival meeting held by Reverend H.P. Gauldin, in an old garage building owned and later donated by Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Satterfield. With the help of Reverend G.W. Swinney, paster of Glen Hope Baptist Church, Altamahaw Baptist church was organized with 22 charter members.

The first church building was built around the old garage. It was a wooden structure with a steeple and a bell tower and was heated with a large coal stove, as there were no modern conveniences. In 1952 the church was renovated into a brick building with a baptistry and an educational building. A church bus was bought to take members to and from church. In 1971 a new church sanctuary was built with a seating capacity of 500. The new building was paid for in five years. A basement was added for Sunday School rooms and a Children's Church. A fellowship hall, parsonage, and day care center has been added along with additional land used for a cemetery and a parking lot across the road. The sanctuary was remodeled in 1996 and a balcony was added.

Over the years many organizations have been organized including a Bus ministry, WMU, BYW, GA's, RA's, Acteens, and Mission Friends. Today we have Men in Ministry, Women's Ministry, Children and Youth Ministry, Center Stage, TeamKid, Youth Drama, Puppet Ministry, Senior Citizen Ministry and Children and Adult Choirs. The Day Care Director is Sherry Pyrant and they have about 50 children in their program.

The following pastors have served: beginning with the late Rev. H.P. Gauldin from June 1935 to February 1938, the late Rev. Clyde H. Stanfield, February 1938 to December 1955, the late Rev. Howard Smith from 1955 to 1961. The late Rev. Frank E. Haith, Jr. from February to September 1961 as Interim and from then till his death in April 1988. The Reverend Clarence Vaughn served as Interim from May to November 1988. Dr. Dan Christopher served from December 1988 till September 1998.

The Reverend Felton Massey served as assistant pastor from August 1976 till February 1977. The late Rev. Ronald Coleman served as associate pastor from October 1978 to February 1981. The Rev. John Garner served as Youth and Music Director from March 1987 to November 1990. Randy Bower served as Youth and Children Director from January 1992 till July 1994. Joel Tucker then served as Youth and Children Director from August 1995 until May 2004. The Rev. Kenneth Wilson served as Interim Pastor from December 1998. We were then blessed with Reverend Walter Jones, Jr., who has been in ministry for 25 years came in February 1999. He served as Pastor for seven years from February 1999 to March 2006. Reverend Curtis Oakley is currently our Interim Pastor.

Several men have been called into the ministry out of the membership of Altamahaw Baptist Church. The late Rev. Jack Smithey, Rev. Norman Fargis, Rev. Bobby Fann, Ralph Wilson into the deaf ministry, Rev. Felton Massey, Rev. Jim Hall, Rev. James Baughn, Rev. Chris Hazlip the late Rev. Coy Thompson, the late Rev. Jack Clark, and the late Rev. Frank E. Haith, Jr.