Laughter Resigns ) Concord PastordlM

Jt was one of the moat difftmiddot cult decisions weve ever bad lo make Rev Harvey Lauampbter atd bullIts tha beat place wele ever been

ftJV UAR E lAlCIITIR bull bull Cumpletcs ra~lo1ate Jlcu

Re~ Laughter was speaking of his rHigMtion as pastor of the Concord BaQfr 9_urch in eut Rurneffo unij-~- Hia resipa tlon is effective Auguat u and he wtll become pater of the Icard Baptist Church at Jeard

He a1ao raiped a the first President of the Concmd Cammu-mty Water System and has sub-mitted bis resignation to the Countv Board of Commissioners as member and Chairman of the Rutherford County Planning Board

lhe Laughter family will move lo their new church field on Sep-tember 2 The oldest aon Mike however will stay behind to eom-plete his aeruor year and ampndumiddot ate from East Rutherford Hip

We gave a lot of tboupt bull middot bout leaving Forest City the Concord pastor said It bas beell a 1middotPil home to our family ailKe comrng here in 1980

I aughter u originally from Ktn Mo11n1atn and eame here 1n 1000 from a Bapfut Church 1D York S C

middot-- --r CiJL Coariu

raaaampPiia ~

lrollloliton Pmt lltquoy lipnnc- lndopndel c ui Catbull Co lnde1 Glb-Yille -Cr Kawbull Cra1tlte rUa Praa cbo Danocrbullt bull -------AUG 21 1969

Spindale Minister Leaving For Icard SPINDALE - The Rev

Harvey La~hter has resign~d as pastor of Concord Bap_lsl Church He has accepted a pastorate at Icard

l1le Rev Mr Laughter has served as chairman of the llutbford County Planning Board ana prcsldent of the Concord Communlly Water System He came to Ruthirford County in 1969 from York S C

ewu_ -r w arou~HNa Chtrkott ~ a~ CCnl Tr i OunnRocaro Durha1n llcr11d Orm Sun CUborn Ciry Adc J-tJWltbullvU ()l~rWr Cntan1a Cu t t COltlllboro NowobullAlfI C-JOR5boN Daily New c -~boro Ratoord ~4 - Eod

AUG 3t ~9 ( ~

A Kingbull Mount11ln oaUve th Rev Harvey Laughter (above) usumed the duuea or pastor of the Icard Baptlet church Sep 7

Rev Laughter came to Tear lrom Ute Concord Bapuat cnurct at Bostic ln Rulheiford County ~ where he wa1 also active la county and civic affaini He u rved u president nf the Conbull cotiI Community Ware System chairman of the Rutherford County Planning Board and on be Ruthrrlord County Board o Commlsaloneni

Re graduatrd trom lltlni-t Mountain High CbOltgtI and abort middot ly afterwards Joined the U s Navy 1ermiddotfn1t in the South Pamiddot clflc during World War II

Following h~ da(barge he at bull tended Lenoir Rhyne College the Un11enlty ot North Caro llna and Qurena Col111g11 He en lered the mlnillU-Y In 1911 he lnlf ordained at the Fint BaPt tut church ln ~ewton and 1lni that Ume hu held four pasta ate

He and blbull wile Marie ha four children Diana vmiddotllo married and llvea In Slaten I hind N Y MiehaPI li My U and Amelia four

I

I i c-~11v111 rm _ UrJory D11) Record

oe n 011 mm t11t0p1a J1lt luionvU Duly liew Kanl)Olu lndeprndmt Kinnon r Pruo lhwr NtbullwabullTllpic IA1lt1nit-an 01Jipatch L41mbertt lwbetloniAn Mirnton J__llorald 11w Bern Sw-1 R11~~h Nbullwo amp Ohscrv Nkip Tubull1 Rr1thvillae R-vin ~I Jtidtm(ampDd C ]OWnlJ

SEP l 91968

Evangelist

Icard Pastor

ll i~~-r~~tur V pastor of 1-middot1rst Baptist Church of Icard will conddct revival services al 7 oclock nightly Sunday through Friday at Springs Roarl Baptist Church

Inspirational singing will be led by the Spnngs Road churchs minister or music Ray Hurley The Encounters a youth group of the First Bap-tist Church of Granite Falls will be featured Thursday and a youth fellowship will follow the service

Each evening a prayer ser-vice will begin at 7 oclock A 111lSe1LW omvitlM

iJcllM~ M f~~~CtJ

~ 11

1 ~ 147(

50 t h A IVERSARY 1905-1955 AMITY BAPTIST CHURCH (NCCF)

S FORK BIA

The Pastor a-nd His Family

The P11rtors MeSJr1ge

How grateful I am fo r the privileg e o f se rving as your pastor during a part of Amity s Fifty Years fo r Christ How grateful I am for the spirit of coo peration which has prevoi led among our pe ople How grateful I om for the tasks well done of those who hove labored in the post to make this day a glorious triumph for our Lord

The post is behind us That port of the race is completed God hos wonderfully blessed it but the achievements of the post present larger opportuni-ties and impose increased obligations upon our present and future membership In humble grati-tude to God and in deep appreciation to th ose who hove labored in the post let us dedicate oursel ves to the tasks of today an d be strong in the Lord a nd in the power o f his m ig ht -E pf esi ons 6 10

I middot1

I l I l

Rev W B McClure ond R4lv W F Hulobullns were foithful to supply 1hn p1pmiddott durinq these dork doys At lhe reque~t of deocon W M Miller and Chorley Crouse In 1926 G B Helton orronged for Rev Ezra Chronister

o loymon lo preach He ierved to ycors ond hpoundgt1d two rcvivol sand Sunday School wos reorganized In 1929 Rev H B Jones for many veors pastor of Boger City Boptst Church come to serve Amity Church but the tenure of his postorote is uncertoin With the corning of Rev M G Chapmon In I 932 the church began 10 give evidence of new fife ond her reports to the Association -ere more encouroclng Thcn in 1937 Rev L A McClure (son of Rev W B McClure ) come to the postorote for five years ond laid o gcod foundation for Amitys comc-L-ock

The expansion pet1od of Amitys new l1fo blaquo-gon to bullhow ifq)lf in the postorote of Rev Haskell L Sides who become pastor on 1942 o young man with on evongelistlc fervor During the nine and one-half years of his postorote the church got o vision of o new and forger housl Very much ofter the manner of butlding the first house o new house was erected with members contributing money materials and lobar It was completed In 1946 at a cost of approximately $20000 A mem-orial service for lhe old houlto was held Jun 20 1947

_p In 1950 Rev R G Blackburn becomc pastor and during tho two yeors of his labors the church continued to provide for her growing membershlp In 1952 Rev Harvey R Louphtor took up the present postorote Mr Laughter wos not ordained when he wos called so by request of Amity Church the rirst Church of Newton ordained him February l 0 1952

The church began to expand In the f cld of stewordshlo the classrooms In the basement were finished and the sonc-luary wos remodeled In 1952 In the som yor matching pews ond pulpit furniture were placed in the sanctuary a new piano was purchased and on oil burning furnace was inslolled Thi ollowlng yeor the church adapted the envelope system of contributions and a budget was set up of $100 o week Imposing as this seemed offerings increased one hundred percent The budget for 1954-55 come to a total of $6094 90

It Is interesting to observe that Amity Church gave a tot al of $3420 to oll loco and missionary causes for the year of 1932 and paid her pastor for thal year $22 38 In 1933 the budqet commiltee recommended a salary of $100 for the pastor $25 for the Cooperative Program and $10 for Sundoy School This was a very ~mall budget but it set a trend for it wos a great increase over the previous year on a percentage basis On the committee were John Miller ond E L Ballard It is said that the pastor Rev M G Chapman was largely responsible for getting the Cooperative Program In the budget This too was a significant step The value of the church property In 1932 was $1000 today it is $40000 At one time in 1905 lhe membership wos only eight It has now rcachpoundgtd a totol of 186

In 1952 a Womans Missionary Society was oroonlzcd in the home of Mrs James Perkins and Wrs W W Reel be-come the fil st president A Boy Scout troop was orqonized In 1954 and W S Whisnant become the first scout master Out or a youth movement known os The Young Life Club a Ttolnlng Union was organized In 1955 with Solomon Rudisill as director Amitys first Vocation Bible School wos held In 1950 with 111 enrolled She has held very fine healthy Biqle Schools ever since

Reverend H L Sides served nine and one half years os pastor more than any other pastor Alvin Coldwell gave ten yeors lo the Sunday School as superintendent the longe t term any su11crintendent hos served ot Amity Church For twenty-four years E L Bollard served faithfully as church clerk and his PltCollent records hove been most helpful in compiling this hi~tory In 1953 the church sent her pastor to the Southern Baptist Convntion at Houston Texas the first time she ho~ don this The first hymnals were contributed by Mrs Blaine Sigmon and W1hon Grohom In 1948 Once the church hos tmtertained the South Fork As-ociation October 8 1954 Thi s WOgt lhe second day of the meeting On the day before the church -os honored to hove her pastor Rev Harvey R LoughtN bring the annual ser mon to the Association which met that day at Mountain View Church whose postor in 1905 founded Amity Church Sidewalks adding to the beauty of the exterior were laid in 1955

it mighl be said in conclusion to quote the words of Pagtlor Laughter Amily Church is a mighty monument to all the saints of God who ho11e labored the~e fifty years in the ~ervice of our Lord

A Kingbull Mount11ln oaUve th Rev Harvey Laughter (above) usumed the duuea or pastor of the Icard Baptlet church Sep 7

Rev Laughter came to Tear lrom Ute Concord Bapuat cnurct at Bostic ln Rulheiford County ~ where he wa1 also active la county and civic affaini He u rved u president nf the Conbull cotiI Community Ware System chairman of the Rutherford County Planning Board and on be Ruthrrlord County Board o Commlsaloneni

Re graduatrd trom lltlni-t Mountain High CbOltgtI and abort middot ly afterwards Joined the U s Navy 1ermiddotfn1t in the South Pamiddot clflc during World War II

Following h~ da(barge he at bull tended Lenoir Rhyne College the Un11enlty ot North Caro llna and Qurena Col111g11 He en lered the mlnillU-Y In 1911 he lnlf ordained at the Fint BaPt tut church ln ~ewton and 1lni that Ume hu held four pasta ate

He and blbull wile Marie ha four children Diana vmiddotllo married and llvea In Slaten I hind N Y MiehaPI li My U and Amelia four

I

I i c-~11v111 rm _ UrJory D11) Record

oe n 011 mm t11t0p1a J1lt luionvU Duly liew Kanl)Olu lndeprndmt Kinnon r Pruo lhwr NtbullwabullTllpic IA1lt1nit-an 01Jipatch L41mbertt lwbetloniAn Mirnton J__llorald 11w Bern Sw-1 R11~~h Nbullwo amp Ohscrv Nkip Tubull1 Rr1thvillae R-vin ~I Jtidtm(ampDd C ]OWnlJ

SEP l 91968

Evangelist

Icard Pastor

ll i~~-r~~tur V pastor of 1-middot1rst Baptist Church of Icard will conddct revival services al 7 oclock nightly Sunday through Friday at Springs Roarl Baptist Church

Inspirational singing will be led by the Spnngs Road churchs minister or music Ray Hurley The Encounters a youth group of the First Bap-tist Church of Granite Falls will be featured Thursday and a youth fellowship will follow the service

Each evening a prayer ser-vice will begin at 7 oclock A 111lSe1LW omvitlM

iJcllM~ M f~~~CtJ

~ 11

1 ~ 147(

50 t h A IVERSARY 1905-1955 AMITY BAPTIST CHURCH (NCCF)

S FORK BIA

The Pastor a-nd His Family

The P11rtors MeSJr1ge

How grateful I am fo r the privileg e o f se rving as your pastor during a part of Amity s Fifty Years fo r Christ How grateful I am for the spirit of coo peration which has prevoi led among our pe ople How grateful I om for the tasks well done of those who hove labored in the post to make this day a glorious triumph for our Lord

The post is behind us That port of the race is completed God hos wonderfully blessed it but the achievements of the post present larger opportuni-ties and impose increased obligations upon our present and future membership In humble grati-tude to God and in deep appreciation to th ose who hove labored in the post let us dedicate oursel ves to the tasks of today an d be strong in the Lord a nd in the power o f his m ig ht -E pf esi ons 6 10

I middot1

I l I l

Rev W B McClure ond R4lv W F Hulobullns were foithful to supply 1hn p1pmiddott durinq these dork doys At lhe reque~t of deocon W M Miller and Chorley Crouse In 1926 G B Helton orronged for Rev Ezra Chronister

o loymon lo preach He ierved to ycors ond hpoundgt1d two rcvivol sand Sunday School wos reorganized In 1929 Rev H B Jones for many veors pastor of Boger City Boptst Church come to serve Amity Church but the tenure of his postorote is uncertoin With the corning of Rev M G Chapmon In I 932 the church began 10 give evidence of new fife ond her reports to the Association -ere more encouroclng Thcn in 1937 Rev L A McClure (son of Rev W B McClure ) come to the postorote for five years ond laid o gcod foundation for Amitys comc-L-ock

The expansion pet1od of Amitys new l1fo blaquo-gon to bullhow ifq)lf in the postorote of Rev Haskell L Sides who become pastor on 1942 o young man with on evongelistlc fervor During the nine and one-half years of his postorote the church got o vision of o new and forger housl Very much ofter the manner of butlding the first house o new house was erected with members contributing money materials and lobar It was completed In 1946 at a cost of approximately $20000 A mem-orial service for lhe old houlto was held Jun 20 1947

_p In 1950 Rev R G Blackburn becomc pastor and during tho two yeors of his labors the church continued to provide for her growing membershlp In 1952 Rev Harvey R Louphtor took up the present postorote Mr Laughter wos not ordained when he wos called so by request of Amity Church the rirst Church of Newton ordained him February l 0 1952

The church began to expand In the f cld of stewordshlo the classrooms In the basement were finished and the sonc-luary wos remodeled In 1952 In the som yor matching pews ond pulpit furniture were placed in the sanctuary a new piano was purchased and on oil burning furnace was inslolled Thi ollowlng yeor the church adapted the envelope system of contributions and a budget was set up of $100 o week Imposing as this seemed offerings increased one hundred percent The budget for 1954-55 come to a total of $6094 90

It Is interesting to observe that Amity Church gave a tot al of $3420 to oll loco and missionary causes for the year of 1932 and paid her pastor for thal year $22 38 In 1933 the budqet commiltee recommended a salary of $100 for the pastor $25 for the Cooperative Program and $10 for Sundoy School This was a very ~mall budget but it set a trend for it wos a great increase over the previous year on a percentage basis On the committee were John Miller ond E L Ballard It is said that the pastor Rev M G Chapman was largely responsible for getting the Cooperative Program In the budget This too was a significant step The value of the church property In 1932 was $1000 today it is $40000 At one time in 1905 lhe membership wos only eight It has now rcachpoundgtd a totol of 186

In 1952 a Womans Missionary Society was oroonlzcd in the home of Mrs James Perkins and Wrs W W Reel be-come the fil st president A Boy Scout troop was orqonized In 1954 and W S Whisnant become the first scout master Out or a youth movement known os The Young Life Club a Ttolnlng Union was organized In 1955 with Solomon Rudisill as director Amitys first Vocation Bible School wos held In 1950 with 111 enrolled She has held very fine healthy Biqle Schools ever since

Reverend H L Sides served nine and one half years os pastor more than any other pastor Alvin Coldwell gave ten yeors lo the Sunday School as superintendent the longe t term any su11crintendent hos served ot Amity Church For twenty-four years E L Bollard served faithfully as church clerk and his PltCollent records hove been most helpful in compiling this hi~tory In 1953 the church sent her pastor to the Southern Baptist Convntion at Houston Texas the first time she ho~ don this The first hymnals were contributed by Mrs Blaine Sigmon and W1hon Grohom In 1948 Once the church hos tmtertained the South Fork As-ociation October 8 1954 Thi s WOgt lhe second day of the meeting On the day before the church -os honored to hove her pastor Rev Harvey R LoughtN bring the annual ser mon to the Association which met that day at Mountain View Church whose postor in 1905 founded Amity Church Sidewalks adding to the beauty of the exterior were laid in 1955

it mighl be said in conclusion to quote the words of Pagtlor Laughter Amily Church is a mighty monument to all the saints of God who ho11e labored the~e fifty years in the ~ervice of our Lord

Evangelist

Icard Pastor

ll i~~-r~~tur V pastor of 1-middot1rst Baptist Church of Icard will conddct revival services al 7 oclock nightly Sunday through Friday at Springs Roarl Baptist Church

Inspirational singing will be led by the Spnngs Road churchs minister or music Ray Hurley The Encounters a youth group of the First Bap-tist Church of Granite Falls will be featured Thursday and a youth fellowship will follow the service

Each evening a prayer ser-vice will begin at 7 oclock A 111lSe1LW omvitlM

iJcllM~ M f~~~CtJ

~ 11

1 ~ 147(

50 t h A IVERSARY 1905-1955 AMITY BAPTIST CHURCH (NCCF)

S FORK BIA

The Pastor a-nd His Family

The P11rtors MeSJr1ge

How grateful I am fo r the privileg e o f se rving as your pastor during a part of Amity s Fifty Years fo r Christ How grateful I am for the spirit of coo peration which has prevoi led among our pe ople How grateful I om for the tasks well done of those who hove labored in the post to make this day a glorious triumph for our Lord

The post is behind us That port of the race is completed God hos wonderfully blessed it but the achievements of the post present larger opportuni-ties and impose increased obligations upon our present and future membership In humble grati-tude to God and in deep appreciation to th ose who hove labored in the post let us dedicate oursel ves to the tasks of today an d be strong in the Lord a nd in the power o f his m ig ht -E pf esi ons 6 10

I middot1

I l I l

Rev W B McClure ond R4lv W F Hulobullns were foithful to supply 1hn p1pmiddott durinq these dork doys At lhe reque~t of deocon W M Miller and Chorley Crouse In 1926 G B Helton orronged for Rev Ezra Chronister

o loymon lo preach He ierved to ycors ond hpoundgt1d two rcvivol sand Sunday School wos reorganized In 1929 Rev H B Jones for many veors pastor of Boger City Boptst Church come to serve Amity Church but the tenure of his postorote is uncertoin With the corning of Rev M G Chapmon In I 932 the church began 10 give evidence of new fife ond her reports to the Association -ere more encouroclng Thcn in 1937 Rev L A McClure (son of Rev W B McClure ) come to the postorote for five years ond laid o gcod foundation for Amitys comc-L-ock

The expansion pet1od of Amitys new l1fo blaquo-gon to bullhow ifq)lf in the postorote of Rev Haskell L Sides who become pastor on 1942 o young man with on evongelistlc fervor During the nine and one-half years of his postorote the church got o vision of o new and forger housl Very much ofter the manner of butlding the first house o new house was erected with members contributing money materials and lobar It was completed In 1946 at a cost of approximately $20000 A mem-orial service for lhe old houlto was held Jun 20 1947

_p In 1950 Rev R G Blackburn becomc pastor and during tho two yeors of his labors the church continued to provide for her growing membershlp In 1952 Rev Harvey R Louphtor took up the present postorote Mr Laughter wos not ordained when he wos called so by request of Amity Church the rirst Church of Newton ordained him February l 0 1952

The church began to expand In the f cld of stewordshlo the classrooms In the basement were finished and the sonc-luary wos remodeled In 1952 In the som yor matching pews ond pulpit furniture were placed in the sanctuary a new piano was purchased and on oil burning furnace was inslolled Thi ollowlng yeor the church adapted the envelope system of contributions and a budget was set up of $100 o week Imposing as this seemed offerings increased one hundred percent The budget for 1954-55 come to a total of $6094 90

It Is interesting to observe that Amity Church gave a tot al of $3420 to oll loco and missionary causes for the year of 1932 and paid her pastor for thal year $22 38 In 1933 the budqet commiltee recommended a salary of $100 for the pastor $25 for the Cooperative Program and $10 for Sundoy School This was a very ~mall budget but it set a trend for it wos a great increase over the previous year on a percentage basis On the committee were John Miller ond E L Ballard It is said that the pastor Rev M G Chapman was largely responsible for getting the Cooperative Program In the budget This too was a significant step The value of the church property In 1932 was $1000 today it is $40000 At one time in 1905 lhe membership wos only eight It has now rcachpoundgtd a totol of 186

In 1952 a Womans Missionary Society was oroonlzcd in the home of Mrs James Perkins and Wrs W W Reel be-come the fil st president A Boy Scout troop was orqonized In 1954 and W S Whisnant become the first scout master Out or a youth movement known os The Young Life Club a Ttolnlng Union was organized In 1955 with Solomon Rudisill as director Amitys first Vocation Bible School wos held In 1950 with 111 enrolled She has held very fine healthy Biqle Schools ever since

Reverend H L Sides served nine and one half years os pastor more than any other pastor Alvin Coldwell gave ten yeors lo the Sunday School as superintendent the longe t term any su11crintendent hos served ot Amity Church For twenty-four years E L Bollard served faithfully as church clerk and his PltCollent records hove been most helpful in compiling this hi~tory In 1953 the church sent her pastor to the Southern Baptist Convntion at Houston Texas the first time she ho~ don this The first hymnals were contributed by Mrs Blaine Sigmon and W1hon Grohom In 1948 Once the church hos tmtertained the South Fork As-ociation October 8 1954 Thi s WOgt lhe second day of the meeting On the day before the church -os honored to hove her pastor Rev Harvey R LoughtN bring the annual ser mon to the Association which met that day at Mountain View Church whose postor in 1905 founded Amity Church Sidewalks adding to the beauty of the exterior were laid in 1955

it mighl be said in conclusion to quote the words of Pagtlor Laughter Amily Church is a mighty monument to all the saints of God who ho11e labored the~e fifty years in the ~ervice of our Lord

50 t h A IVERSARY 1905-1955 AMITY BAPTIST CHURCH (NCCF)

S FORK BIA

The Pastor a-nd His Family

The P11rtors MeSJr1ge

How grateful I am fo r the privileg e o f se rving as your pastor during a part of Amity s Fifty Years fo r Christ How grateful I am for the spirit of coo peration which has prevoi led among our pe ople How grateful I om for the tasks well done of those who hove labored in the post to make this day a glorious triumph for our Lord

The post is behind us That port of the race is completed God hos wonderfully blessed it but the achievements of the post present larger opportuni-ties and impose increased obligations upon our present and future membership In humble grati-tude to God and in deep appreciation to th ose who hove labored in the post let us dedicate oursel ves to the tasks of today an d be strong in the Lord a nd in the power o f his m ig ht -E pf esi ons 6 10

I middot1

I l I l

Rev W B McClure ond R4lv W F Hulobullns were foithful to supply 1hn p1pmiddott durinq these dork doys At lhe reque~t of deocon W M Miller and Chorley Crouse In 1926 G B Helton orronged for Rev Ezra Chronister

o loymon lo preach He ierved to ycors ond hpoundgt1d two rcvivol sand Sunday School wos reorganized In 1929 Rev H B Jones for many veors pastor of Boger City Boptst Church come to serve Amity Church but the tenure of his postorote is uncertoin With the corning of Rev M G Chapmon In I 932 the church began 10 give evidence of new fife ond her reports to the Association -ere more encouroclng Thcn in 1937 Rev L A McClure (son of Rev W B McClure ) come to the postorote for five years ond laid o gcod foundation for Amitys comc-L-ock

The expansion pet1od of Amitys new l1fo blaquo-gon to bullhow ifq)lf in the postorote of Rev Haskell L Sides who become pastor on 1942 o young man with on evongelistlc fervor During the nine and one-half years of his postorote the church got o vision of o new and forger housl Very much ofter the manner of butlding the first house o new house was erected with members contributing money materials and lobar It was completed In 1946 at a cost of approximately $20000 A mem-orial service for lhe old houlto was held Jun 20 1947

_p In 1950 Rev R G Blackburn becomc pastor and during tho two yeors of his labors the church continued to provide for her growing membershlp In 1952 Rev Harvey R Louphtor took up the present postorote Mr Laughter wos not ordained when he wos called so by request of Amity Church the rirst Church of Newton ordained him February l 0 1952

The church began to expand In the f cld of stewordshlo the classrooms In the basement were finished and the sonc-luary wos remodeled In 1952 In the som yor matching pews ond pulpit furniture were placed in the sanctuary a new piano was purchased and on oil burning furnace was inslolled Thi ollowlng yeor the church adapted the envelope system of contributions and a budget was set up of $100 o week Imposing as this seemed offerings increased one hundred percent The budget for 1954-55 come to a total of $6094 90

It Is interesting to observe that Amity Church gave a tot al of $3420 to oll loco and missionary causes for the year of 1932 and paid her pastor for thal year $22 38 In 1933 the budqet commiltee recommended a salary of $100 for the pastor $25 for the Cooperative Program and $10 for Sundoy School This was a very ~mall budget but it set a trend for it wos a great increase over the previous year on a percentage basis On the committee were John Miller ond E L Ballard It is said that the pastor Rev M G Chapman was largely responsible for getting the Cooperative Program In the budget This too was a significant step The value of the church property In 1932 was $1000 today it is $40000 At one time in 1905 lhe membership wos only eight It has now rcachpoundgtd a totol of 186

In 1952 a Womans Missionary Society was oroonlzcd in the home of Mrs James Perkins and Wrs W W Reel be-come the fil st president A Boy Scout troop was orqonized In 1954 and W S Whisnant become the first scout master Out or a youth movement known os The Young Life Club a Ttolnlng Union was organized In 1955 with Solomon Rudisill as director Amitys first Vocation Bible School wos held In 1950 with 111 enrolled She has held very fine healthy Biqle Schools ever since

Reverend H L Sides served nine and one half years os pastor more than any other pastor Alvin Coldwell gave ten yeors lo the Sunday School as superintendent the longe t term any su11crintendent hos served ot Amity Church For twenty-four years E L Bollard served faithfully as church clerk and his PltCollent records hove been most helpful in compiling this hi~tory In 1953 the church sent her pastor to the Southern Baptist Convntion at Houston Texas the first time she ho~ don this The first hymnals were contributed by Mrs Blaine Sigmon and W1hon Grohom In 1948 Once the church hos tmtertained the South Fork As-ociation October 8 1954 Thi s WOgt lhe second day of the meeting On the day before the church -os honored to hove her pastor Rev Harvey R LoughtN bring the annual ser mon to the Association which met that day at Mountain View Church whose postor in 1905 founded Amity Church Sidewalks adding to the beauty of the exterior were laid in 1955

it mighl be said in conclusion to quote the words of Pagtlor Laughter Amily Church is a mighty monument to all the saints of God who ho11e labored the~e fifty years in the ~ervice of our Lord

Rev W B McClure ond R4lv W F Hulobullns were foithful to supply 1hn p1pmiddott durinq these dork doys At lhe reque~t of deocon W M Miller and Chorley Crouse In 1926 G B Helton orronged for Rev Ezra Chronister

o loymon lo preach He ierved to ycors ond hpoundgt1d two rcvivol sand Sunday School wos reorganized In 1929 Rev H B Jones for many veors pastor of Boger City Boptst Church come to serve Amity Church but the tenure of his postorote is uncertoin With the corning of Rev M G Chapmon In I 932 the church began 10 give evidence of new fife ond her reports to the Association -ere more encouroclng Thcn in 1937 Rev L A McClure (son of Rev W B McClure ) come to the postorote for five years ond laid o gcod foundation for Amitys comc-L-ock

The expansion pet1od of Amitys new l1fo blaquo-gon to bullhow ifq)lf in the postorote of Rev Haskell L Sides who become pastor on 1942 o young man with on evongelistlc fervor During the nine and one-half years of his postorote the church got o vision of o new and forger housl Very much ofter the manner of butlding the first house o new house was erected with members contributing money materials and lobar It was completed In 1946 at a cost of approximately $20000 A mem-orial service for lhe old houlto was held Jun 20 1947

_p In 1950 Rev R G Blackburn becomc pastor and during tho two yeors of his labors the church continued to provide for her growing membershlp In 1952 Rev Harvey R Louphtor took up the present postorote Mr Laughter wos not ordained when he wos called so by request of Amity Church the rirst Church of Newton ordained him February l 0 1952

The church began to expand In the f cld of stewordshlo the classrooms In the basement were finished and the sonc-luary wos remodeled In 1952 In the som yor matching pews ond pulpit furniture were placed in the sanctuary a new piano was purchased and on oil burning furnace was inslolled Thi ollowlng yeor the church adapted the envelope system of contributions and a budget was set up of $100 o week Imposing as this seemed offerings increased one hundred percent The budget for 1954-55 come to a total of $6094 90

It Is interesting to observe that Amity Church gave a tot al of $3420 to oll loco and missionary causes for the year of 1932 and paid her pastor for thal year $22 38 In 1933 the budqet commiltee recommended a salary of $100 for the pastor $25 for the Cooperative Program and $10 for Sundoy School This was a very ~mall budget but it set a trend for it wos a great increase over the previous year on a percentage basis On the committee were John Miller ond E L Ballard It is said that the pastor Rev M G Chapman was largely responsible for getting the Cooperative Program In the budget This too was a significant step The value of the church property In 1932 was $1000 today it is $40000 At one time in 1905 lhe membership wos only eight It has now rcachpoundgtd a totol of 186

In 1952 a Womans Missionary Society was oroonlzcd in the home of Mrs James Perkins and Wrs W W Reel be-come the fil st president A Boy Scout troop was orqonized In 1954 and W S Whisnant become the first scout master Out or a youth movement known os The Young Life Club a Ttolnlng Union was organized In 1955 with Solomon Rudisill as director Amitys first Vocation Bible School wos held In 1950 with 111 enrolled She has held very fine healthy Biqle Schools ever since

Reverend H L Sides served nine and one half years os pastor more than any other pastor Alvin Coldwell gave ten yeors lo the Sunday School as superintendent the longe t term any su11crintendent hos served ot Amity Church For twenty-four years E L Bollard served faithfully as church clerk and his PltCollent records hove been most helpful in compiling this hi~tory In 1953 the church sent her pastor to the Southern Baptist Convntion at Houston Texas the first time she ho~ don this The first hymnals were contributed by Mrs Blaine Sigmon and W1hon Grohom In 1948 Once the church hos tmtertained the South Fork As-ociation October 8 1954 Thi s WOgt lhe second day of the meeting On the day before the church -os honored to hove her pastor Rev Harvey R LoughtN bring the annual ser mon to the Association which met that day at Mountain View Church whose postor in 1905 founded Amity Church Sidewalks adding to the beauty of the exterior were laid in 1955

it mighl be said in conclusion to quote the words of Pagtlor Laughter Amily Church is a mighty monument to all the saints of God who ho11e labored the~e fifty years in the ~ervice of our Lord