Minister plays role o. for Baptist churches. Istorlc~. Impos er. Rev. Manuel Cunnup visits as Shubal Stearns

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1 ff';'" / Minister plays role o f h e : e } let Istorlc~. Impos er I ' for Baptist churches By CECILE HOLMES WHITE tists at Eller Memorial returned to their It.n.l... Wrltw roots. As he has done 12 times before, The door from the foyer into the audimany churches founded by their ances Cunnup told the worshipers about the t orium of Eller Memorial Baptist Church openeo"wltli a BhgTit squeak. A tor in the Baptist faith, Shubal Stearns, curious-looking visitor - a man dressed through a dramatic impersonation of the in 18th-century clothes and a tri-cornered hat - quietly slipped inside. Shubal Stearns (born 1706) was bap 18th-century minister. "Hey, fellow what're ya doin'?" the tized into the Christian faith in 1751 at layman leading t he Sunday evening Tolland, Conn. He was ordained the worship service called from the pulpit. same year, immersing himself in the ministry as other men of God had done The mysterious guest had a familiar during the religious revival that swept face. But, he did not answer the questhe American colonies in the first half of tion immediately. Cradling a leatherthe 18th century. bound Bible in his left hand, he stood halfway inside the door and waited paly and seven other families arrived at In November 1755, Stearns, his fami tiently, just like he always does. Sandy Creek in what is now Randolph "May I speak to this assembly?" he finally asked. County. In the rural area, about 23 miles south of Greensboro, Stearns "Sure. But, first will you tell us who founded Sandy Creek Baptist - a conyou are?" the layman replied impatient gregation credited with being the mothly. er church of today's Southern Baptist "I... " Convention. There was a pause. Their heads Stearns is considered such an importurned to see him, the 60 or so folks in tant person in the denomination's histothe congregation returned the visitor's ry that the Piedmont Baptist steady gaze. Association has a mission offering "I am Shubal Stearns," the visitor named for him. The offering supports said.,----- projects like a full-time chaplain at the I t was almost 30 minutes before he Guilford County Law Enforcement Cenconfessed the real truth - and took off ter with money collected over the sum his hat and wig to reveal his 20th-centuin the association. mer at the 50 Guilford County churches ry identity. The historic imposter actually is the Cunnup first impersonated Stearns at Rev. ~unnup - often guest a May stewardship banquet to promote preacher at loc~es and executive the summer offering. He didn't let his director of the Piedmont Baptist Asso lack of acting expertise stop him even ciation. for a moment. So it happened that - with Cunnup's "I said almost immediately that I'd do help - on a hot, muggy Sunday night in it because I'd spent much time studying Greensboro 20th century Southern Bap-_ the history of the Sandy Creek Associ~- Rev. Manuel Cunnup visits as Shubal Stearns tion," says Cunnup, former Sandy changing pitch. It was said people even Creek director of missions. were converted under his gaze." That first night, the gray-haired, re The power and vigor of the Gospel served minister didn't feel a twinge of preached more than 200 years ago is stage fright. "It didn't seem unnatural still alive today, Cunnup told his audiat all," he says. ence when he played Stearns at Eller The reviews were good and Cunnup, Memorial. '62, was on his way to repeat perfor "Why did God come and bless so ances. many people - I know the answer," he The job is a healthy mix of one part boomed. "They believed and they acted!fun, two parts work. Cunnup enjoys the upon their belief in a great way." wide-eyed stares his costume incites in He thanked Southern Baptists for youthful faces. Even his wife, Ruth, no naming an offering in his honor. longer does a double-take when greeted "Somehow," he said, "it's giving me the with "Hello, Mrs. Stearns" by fellow feeling that God, over 200 years later, is Baptists. using my ministry right here in Greensboro and Guilford County." Often, Cunnup's act is a surprise to all except the pastor who has invited him. A few minutes later, Stearns was e local appearances have been so pop- gone and Manuel Cunnup was back to ~ar that he will do Stearns for a state deal with with the only problem of going ide gathering of mission directors at from preacher to actor. aleigh in the fall. Since he shuns his glasses when play Cunnup has written a script for his ing Stearns, he sighed with pleasure afrole, but he likes to work from memory ter he took off his hat and wig at Eller and adapt his style to each audience. Memorial. "I try to imagine how Shubal Stearns As he put his glasses back on, Cunnup himself would've spoken," he said. "He grinned. "Oh, you are there!" he said to was known for his voice - deep tones, the congregation.

2 Reporting for duty CHATHAM NEWS PHOTO Rev. M. E. Cunnup, pastor of the Sandy Branch ~ Church, reports for duty at The Chatham Hospital as "Chaplain of the Week." Shown with him is Mrs. Herbert Hall, a member of the hospital's nursing staff. The program has just been initiated and a selected list of ministers has been assigned to ~inis er to hospital patients. Eacb minister will serve one week.. ~ Sh..."lfotte: Hrunswicl<. Eeacon Shelby: Cleveland Times, Siler City: o.atham News SmJ thf leld Herald Snow Hill: Gr eene Co. Ledg'Qr Southern Pines Pilot Southport: State Port Pilot. 1967

3 CLIPPING SERVIC _ 1115 HILLSBORo ~RALEIGH, Nt 2764» JEL (919) PUBLIC ledger OXFORD, N. C JAN-27"86 ~Ic litll tr 377 Attend Flat River Men,Women's Annual Fete A total of m people attended the annual Baptist Men-Baptist Women banquet at the J. F. Webb High School cafeteria Friday night. The Rev. MaDuei ewlo.." director of millions for the Piedmont Association of Greensboro, portraying 9lubal Steams and dressed like him, was the guest speaker. \ t Mrs. Kathleen Davis, Baptiat Women director for the Flat River" Association, presided over the program. J. B.. Clay of Oxford Baptist gave tbewelcome, and Mrs. Mertie Davis of Bullock ChlU"Ch gave the invocation. After a meal served by Acteens, two hymns were sung, and Doug Colquitt Jr., Baptist Men director for the association, gave the devotion., Special music was given by the Rev. Robby Phillips, pastor of West Oxford Church, and his wife. The ~v. Steve Lewis, pastor of Corinth Church, introduced the speaker, and Mrs. Danny Wilkerson of Dexter Church gave the benediction. The Rev. Robert H. Rhoden, paltor of Providence Church, was the music director, and Mrs. Frank R. Daniel of Enon Church was the panist. Richard L. Logan of Hester ChlD'ch provided the public address system, and Baptist Women of Oxford ChlD'ch did the decorations. Rev. ManDel Cannap..as Shubal Steams 1/

4 CLIPPING SERVIC 1115 "ILUiBIijIO RALEIGH. NO TE.L - (919) ~ SKYLAND POST WES'T JEffERSON, N. C. JUl -30"-86 ~J.. u.lit:. 11. Lilt: e~~ \:uul\ery all types, SlIe :,cl1u. l}!j'7. {. -';-' J.? ~ ~ Baptist leaders to speak Two Baptist leaders, Rev. George Shore and Rev. Manuel E. Cunnup will speak to local Southern Baptists during their two-day, one-hundredth an nual session on August 1 at the Trinity Baptist Church beginn ing at 2 p.m. Rev. Cunnull serves as DirectOf'o( Missions to the Piedmont Association in Greensobro. He will do a monologue on Shubal Steams who was the founder of the first Baptist Association in North Carolina and the third in the nation. Rev. Cunnup will speak to the messengers about -4:55 at the Trintity church. Rev. George Shore of the Baptist State Convention will speak to the messengers at 7:25 p.m. following the even ing meal. He served as Direc tor of Missions to the Cabarrus Baptist Association until 1979 when he became Director of SHORE Associational Development for the Baptist State Convention. As of February 1, he became CUNNUP Administrative Associate for Program and Budget Planning with the convention. /1

5 SANDY CREEK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, MINUTES OF THE /M66sa JOHN SMITH was born and reared in Duplin County, where he 'finished high school. He is married to the former Christine Smith,' also a native of Duplin. They have four children, John, Jr., Michael, Mary Pat, and Henry. John was ordained in Swan 'Quarter Baptist Church w~re he served as pastor for 21 months before coming to New Salem Bapast Church in the fall of He holds a certificate in Theology from Southeastern Seminary. He and his family reside in Wake Forest. JIMMIE WILLINGHAM was called to the Gum Springs Baptist Church on Nov. 1, Ten years earlier he had been ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Mo. In Mo. he pastored 2 churches. He has attended Lincoln University (graduated in 1967), Morehead State University (graduated in 1971), work at the Univ. of S. C. and Columbia Univ. He is enrolled at Southeastern Seminary, working on his Master of Divinity. He lives in the Gum Springs pastorium with his wife, Rosemary, and their two children Lisa and Craig.. r ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONARY \ On October 12, 1972 at the annual session ot the Sandy Creek Association the messengers voted to call an associational missionary. On the second day of the annual meeting 'the moderator appointed a committee of 7 to seek a qualified person to fill this position. In Dec. at. a call meeting in Siler City the committee presented the name of Manuel Curinup, which was accepted by the members present. In February of 1973 Mr. Cunnup assumed his duties in this association as its missionary. MANUEL E. CUNNUP answered the call to the ministry in He is graduate of Campbell College, University of North Carolina, and Southeastern Baptist Seminary. While still studying he carne to Chatham County to pastor May's Chapel, New Salem, and Rock Spring. Later he pastored Sandy Branch for 1472 years. Mr. Cunnup has served in practically all offices of the association including promotional secretary "'-nd moderator, on General Board of the N. C. State Baptist Convention for 4 years, and served on the Convention's Missions Committee for 4 years. He is married to the former Ruth Painter of Charlotte, and they have three sons, Steve, David, and Tim.