Below is a copy and paste of pixs taken of our Church on May 2, 2017:

OUTSIDE CHURCH PIXS

WADESBORO CHURCH OF GOD HISTORY

The information below, I am retyping from one of our Church bulletins circa. June 1996 when Rev. Robbin Taylor was our Pastor.  I would have done a scan of the document to convert it to a digital file format, but my combination printer, fax and scanner is acting crazy on the scanning feature and the document is faded badly.

Originally registered in the Anson County Courthouse Register of Deeds as the Independent Holiness Church on the 22nd day of February 1926.  The parcel of land was referred to as the Sheppard Field.  On the 9th of February, 1936, it was set in order as the Church of God with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee.  It was organized by twenty-nine (29) charter members listed below:

CHARTER MEMBERS

Sister Grace Burr is the only Charter Member remaining to enter into the newly re-modeled sanctuary.  It is with great honor that we recognize her for her loyalty throughout the years to this church.  We have been truly blessed over the years to have such a faithful servant of the Lord among us. 

From the lone ago days when this parcel of land was called the Sheppard Field, and used for such things as a place for circus to set-up, until now when these lots have been dignified with a church for worship, a fellowship hall for our enjoyment and a parking lot with a paved drive, we can truthfully say: "Surely the Lord is in this place."

*The Sheppard Field has been turned into the "SHEPPERD'S FIELD."

DEED AND PLAT HISTORY FOR CHURCH LOT

NOTE:  On the original Plat Book 1, Page 55 on Dec. 1927, the spelling was Shepherd Field, however on the Revision of the plat, Plat Book 3, Page 24 done in May, 1937, the spelling was Sheperd Field.  Also, on at least one deed, the spelling is Shepperd Field.  Above plat information copied from the Register of Deeds on June 5, 2017 by Bill aka Mickey Porter.  I did not edit the sentence* above my NOTE section, but typed it as was placed in the Church bulletin June 1996.

Deed Book 66 Pages 85 and 86 is the property transfer from J. W. Odom & Wife to Independent Holiness Church By Trustees dated February 22, 1926 and Deed Book 80 Pages 534 and 535 is the property transfer from the Trustees of the Independent Holiness Church to Trustees of the Church of God dated June 7, 1937 with the documents hyperlinked here in .PDF file format.  Steve Bailey, our resident expert Genealogist located the second property transfer for me, of which the earlier property transfer was referenced.

Since the original purchase of the aforementioned property, the Church of God has purchased adjoining properties totaling over five (5) acres of land.

Below a list of the Pastors from February 16, 1936 until today being June 4, 2017

LIST OF PASTORS

My memory will only go back as far as Rev. R. P. Fields and definitely remember Rev. Reeder, of which I believe he was instrumental in enlarging the sanctuary, adding rooms to the rear of the Church with the help of those good with hammers, nails and saws.  I can still see in my mind's eye, Rev. Ray Ted Lewis singing one of my favorite songs, Unclouded Day.  When Rev. Lewis was getting ready "to let the spiritual clutch out" while preaching, he would say, "Get ready, hold on and fasten your seat belts" because he wasn't holding anything back and going to take you for "A spiritual ride!"

CHURCH OF GOD

DECLARATION OF FAITH

We Believe:

In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.

In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.

That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.

That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.

Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.

In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.

In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.

In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.

In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.

In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.

2ND CHANCE MINISTRIES

The 2nd Chance Ministries based in Florence, SC was invited to perform during our morning devotional service and sang some beautiful spirit filled songs.  They also gave heart filled testimonies about our Lord and Savior and what He meant to them and was an asset to our annual Homecoming celebration day.  We worshipped with them in song and God's Holy Spirit certainly did manifest Himself!  

Below from left to right are:  Ricky Malley, Todd Amerson and Billy Joe Miles

Ricky Malley gave a wonderful Spirit filled testimony as did Todd Amerson and did some preaching to us as well!

Billy Joe Miles, singer and bass player is also fired up for the Lord!

Randy aka "Booger" Stubbs was the sound man behind the scene, but I got a pix or two of him while getting pixs of the congregation.

CONGREGATIONAL PIXS

I cruised about and took pixs of the congregation and hope I did not bypass anyone and my bad if I did.  Click on the thumbnail pixs below for a larger screen view:

2ND CHANCE MINISTRIES SALES DISPLAY

At the conclusion of the 2nd Chance Ministries service, they had a display set up in the back of the Church leading to the fellowship hall with display of their CDs, T-Shirts, Coffee mugs, etc. and Randy "Booger" Stubbs was in the line of fire of my camera, with pix below.  The sale of these items help defray some of their expenses and pray that God will continue to bless and use them in their ministry:

Below items purchased and my bride and myself will certainly enjoy those Cds, etc.:

I had to grin at my semantics above, the business card was free!

FELLOWSHIP HALL PIXS

We headed for the fellowship hall to enjoy some good home style food and the fellowship of one another.  As I like to say at every opportunity, "Two of the Greatest Ships that ever Sailed, Friendship and Fellowship" and today, we certainly did manifest both!

I normally take a good many pictures, but sometimes there is a time when the ole trusty Canon DSLR camera has to play second fiddle when it comes to getting some "beautimous" vittles on my plate.....grin if you must!   Today was no day to be counting calories or carbs and I certainly did not fall victim to such.  Click on the thumbnail pixs below for a larger screen view:

A FEW FOOD PIXS

GETTING THOSE PLATES LOADED UP

After everyone got their plates filled and seated, there was standing room only!  Pastor Sam Abee led everyone in a Happy Birthday song for Sister Alie.

In closing, this was a wonderful 81st annual homecoming and a special Thank You to 2nd Chance Ministries for their outstanding ministry to us via their songs and personal testimonies and our Pastor Sam Abee for inviting them back.   All of the original Wadesboro Church of God charter members have gone on to be with our Lord and Savior and I still remember many of them, even though I was a young lad back then.  I elaborated a little more in detail in my Pastor Appreciation Day short story.  Those original charter members set the example for us along with our God fearing parents and it is our duty to do the same for the next generation.  We should lead by example and live each day to the best of our ability, keeping God in the center of all things that we do.  Yes, I have failed Him many, many times and have fallen short, but God is longsuffering and his Grace and Mercy is so good to us.  "Time waits for no one" and it is imperative that each of us accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior for He will return again in power and glory!  We can have the promise of eternal life, if we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and live daily by His Holy Word, keeping Christ and the cross in our "Spiritual Crosshairs" in other words, the center of our lives.

It is my personal desire and goal to give God, the Praise, Glory and Honor in all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior whenever I can, via whatever means.  I am preaching to myself here!  Actions speak louder than words and our personal lives should and will manifest what we believe, what we say, what we do, all with humility and kindness with our faith firmly anchored in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on the cross to bring about our salvation, where we no longer live under the law, but by Grace!

I love what James said about the tongue of man in James 3:11 KJV Bible.

Web published by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 06-04-17.

CHURCH MEMBERS FROM THE PAST

While continuing to go through slides taken back in the middle to late 1970s, I decided to post pixs of our Church members who have gone on to be with our Lord and Savior and give tribute to them.  I don't have any specific order of posting them in mind and will post them in a more or less random fashion and order.  I will copy and paste some pixs that I already have web published in some of my short stories.  Those pixs bring back a lot of wonderful memories and the Lord tarries long enough, we too will become a memory from the past.

Brother and Sister Reeder at our Homecoming in the early 1980s; not sure of the date though.

Above pix of Bud and Emma Stancil who lived in Mt. Croghan, SC.  We visited with Emma at her home and she had a pile of antiques.

I can't put a name to the Gentleman, but to the left of him is Sally Clark, Ruby Lee Shaver sitting and Melba Paul is standing who is still alive.  We usually referred to the Ladies as Sister, but I am going to leave that prefix off unless I can't recall their first name!

Eugene Paul on the left.  Eugene spent a lot of quality time with the Youth of our Church and made a lasting impression on our Son Billy above.

Grandma Coley aka "Della" was one of the original Charter members and passed away in 1974.  I still Love and miss her very much.  Read my short story titled:  Memories From The Past.

Sister Bessie Shavers 1981.

Sitting at the table to the rear is Bessie Shaver and I believe that is Ollie Rivers on the right side of the table, Armon Burr is standing.  There are several in the back ground that are deceased as well and hopefully will have some pixs of them closer in to the camera lens.  Ruby Lee Shaver is sitting to the right of Bessie Shaver who has the blue dress on.

A closer pix of Mrs. Bessie Shaver on the left, circa. June 1979 and my lovely bride to her left and Bill, Jr. up front.

The above pix taken during vacation Bible school in 1977.  Slides dated the month of September, but that was when they were developed; pixs probably taken between June and August.  From left to right;  Armon Burr, Glendale Shaver, Louise Belcher and Mary Jane Martin, all deceased.

Louise and Walden Stalvey.  Brother Stalvey with his signature grin aka smile!

On the left is Henrietta Phillips and to her left in the background is Grace Burr.

Becky Belcher, Oct. 1978.

Ray Ted Lewis front and center.  Carolyn Griffin to the left of Brother Lewis and is still alive and well.

Mary Fanny Hinson on the left, deceased.

Henrietta Phillips to the left and Bud Stancil in the foreground left and Willie Kelly on the far right of the pix.  I see my Pop, Bill Porter in the far background and to his right is a gentlemen I can't put a name to. 

Grace Burr with her back to the camera and Louise Belcher to the right back ground and a side profile of Elmina Pegram to the far right.  That is a beautiful picture of Wanda Belcher in the red dress who is still alive.  Rachel Myers in background still "kicking."

Elmira Funderburke on left and Danette Belcher fourth from left; both deceased.

Second from the left is George McCaskill, Louise McKenzie about center of the pix and Robert Williams in the back ground with the young lad in front of him with the white and red shirt on.

Clyde McKenzie spent many hours with our young boys and was a hard worker around the Church.

Ray Newton, Glendale Shaver and Eulalah Shaver all deceased.  Pix taken around Nov. 1977.

Melba Paul far left still alive, Eulalah Shaver deceased, Rachel Myers still alive and Elmira Funderburke deceased.  Pix taken in 1977.

Left to right; Henry Adcock, Bill and Ann Porter at our old home place on White Store Road.

Clyde McKenzie and Leonard Kelly.

Ray Newton on the left, Louise Belcher in the center and Ann Porter on the far right.  Rachel Myers still alive and doing some serious thinking in this pix.

Ray Newton was a hard working man and did most of the construction of our fellowship hall.  Ray Newton's first wife Nezzie died on April 3, 2018 and was 91 years old.

Sister Ella Talent on the left and don't recognize the other Lady.

Glennie and Willie Kelly in the center of pix.  Willie Kelly was our choir director for decades.

Jessie Mack Coley, center in pix, deceased.  Eloise Coley passed away on April 4, 2018 at the age of 93.

Elmira Funderburke and Brother Allen, both deceased.

Herbert and Sister Minnie Shankle; pix from 2009.  Both deceased.

Nezzie (Williams) Newton passed away on April 3, 2018.

Bennie Newton (left in pix above) passed away on June 20, 2018.

Nellie Adcock passed away in 1974.  I couldn't hope for a better Mother-in-Law than Sister Adcock.  When Joyce and myself told Sister Adcock (her Momma) that we had eloped and were married; this was her reply to me, "Of all the boys she has ever brought home, I would rather she have you than any of them."  I have heard many refer to Sister Adcock as a Saint and it certainly applies to her.  I have more comments about Sister Adcock at this hyperlink.

Curley and Lilly Kelly.  Photo courtesy of Wayne and Linda Kelly.

R.P. Fields on the left and Ray Newton; pix taken at homecoming in 1979 or 1980?, both deceased.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 06-30-17, updated on 04-23-18, 06-15-18 and 07-23-18.