1 Ogden Pastor Addresses First Ba tist Meeting The Rev. V. C. Potter Jr., pastor of the Ogden Baptist Church delivered a sermon in First Baptist Church Friday night on the "Heart and Spirit of a Church." The Ogden pastor was one of the area clergymen serving as guest preachers in a series of services commemorating the 157th anniversary of First Baptist Church. Potter told the congregation. that an active program of a church must include teaching evangelism, training, music and finance, and that these factors were dependent upon the underlying element of love. Ogden minister represented a "grandchild" church of First Baptist Church in its missionary efforts in the area. The anniversary events will conclude with Sunday services and a dinner. Sunday. WILMINGTO!'I 5T"R WILMINGTON NEWS WILSON DAILY TIMES W!NSTON-SALEM JOURNAL WINST0,..._5ALEM SENTINEL WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL-SENTINEL
Potter New Pastor Of Seventh Ave. Beginning his duties Wednesday at Seventh Avenue Bapti< Church will be the Rev. V.. Potter Jr., who succeeds the Rev. Leonard Quick. The 31 - year - old clergyman comes to Gastonia from Ogden Baptist Church. He formerly served two years in the Brunswick Baptist Association. Mr. Potter attended public schools in Duplin and New Hanover Counties, Wilmington College, the University of North Carolina, Bowman Gray School of Medicine's School of Pastoral Care, and Fruitland Baptist Bible Istitute. The minister and his wife, the former Carol Lee Skipper of Wilmington, have three children: Dale, 11; Greg, eight; and Lisa, four. They will make their home in the church pastorium, 111 Laurel Lane. Eliza cth City Advance Fayetteville Observer Gastonia Gazette Goldsboro News-Argus Greensboro Daily News Greensboro Record
The Rev. V.C. Potter Jr.. who left the Ogden 6 C h u r c h last.% spring, is planning to make the Middle East trip in December. scheduling his visit to in ~ 1 v d e a stay a' n,~,,. C?Yl 0.1 ji REV. POTTER C'irtstm as Day. I a The Rev.!\Ir Potter is pas- d tor of Seventh Avenue Baptist u Church, Gastonia. He is con- Ii ducting a revival at Friendship t: Baptist Church, Ash. A Wilmington Star Wilmington News Wilmington Star-News Wilson Daily Times Wins ton-salem Journal Wins ton-salem Sentinel Norfolk: Va. Pilot
t Cavel Baptist... - Rev. V. c. Potter, Jr. pastor of Seventh A venue Baptist Church of Gastonia, will be the guest speaker for a week of revival services at,cav.el Bapgg, Churcb.JJ~t.week. The services will begin Monday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 and continue through the Sunday services of Sept. 28. Special music will be featured by the adult and youth choirs of the church and also by individual singers. Rev. Potter has attended several schools in North Carolina including U.N.C. at Wilmington and Chapel Hill. He has recently been a part of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism held in New York City. Following the war in Israel in 1967, the Rev. Mr. Potter was a member of a tour of that country. He has some interestingmomentos from the trip that will be used with the youth after one of next week's services. Rev. K. M. Johnson, pastor of Cavel Baptist, joins the church in extending an invitation to the public. For the benefit of those who are not able to attend, the services Monday through Thursday nights Will be broadcast over WRXO-FM radio at 7:30. g 2 5 " Roxboro: Courier-Times "Rtt'theffordfon: Ractm!'ford Co. News Scotland Neck Commonwealth Selma: Johnstonian-Sun Shallotte: Brunswick Beacon Shelby: Cleveland Times Siler City: Chatham News Smithfield Herald Snow Hill: Greene Co. Ledger Southern Pines Pilot Southport: State Port Pilot
Town Creek Baptist Church Honors Pastor Of 1 0 Years Town Creek Missionary Baptist Church members recently marked their pastor's 10th anniversary with presentation of a plaque and a gift. Presented to the Rev. )jc. <Vic) Potter Jr. during the Nov. 11 mommg worship service, the plaque reads, "In grateful appreciation for ten years of faithful ministry to the people of Town Creek Missionary Baptist Church at Winnabow." Potter has been a minister for 32 years and five months, having been licensed to preach in January 1955 while still a high school senior. Town Creek is the fourth church he has served on a full-time basis. With approximately 475 members on record, it is the secondlargest church in the Brunswick Baptist Association in terms of total membership. In addition to the plaque, the church presented its pastor with a Canon word processor/electronic typewriter. Potter completed three years of coursework at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has received his advanced diploma from Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. He is also a graduate of the School of Pastoral Care at Bowman-Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University. During his tenure at Town Creek, the church has experienced growth in membership, budget and improvements to its physical plant, including a new library, new furniture for the sanctuary and a doubling of its educational space. The church recently paid off notes ahead of schedule for both the parsonage and the educational addition. Those notes were burned Sunday in a ceremony that coincided with an REV. V.C. POTTER JR. appreciation day for former pastors. "I've never worked with a congregation so loving and supportive of their pastor as Town Creek," said Potter.
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ELAH BAPTIST CHURCH, 1882-1982 (NCCF) "My father loved Elah Baptist Church, and even in his last illness in the hospital, he would express his desire to regain his health and return to his church and his people of Elah." WALTER GUYTON PHELPS 1945-51 The Reverend Walter Guyton Phelps was born on September 9, 1903. He was married to the former Thelma Hewett. They are the parents of Walter Kenneth and Ronald Guyton Phelps. Called home on April 29, 1964, the Reverend Phelps is buried in Oleander Memorial Gardens, Wilmington. Ordained in 1942, the Reverend Walter Guyton Phelps served the following known Baptist churches; Farmer's Chapel, Cool Run, Bolivia, Town Creek, Mount Olive, Prospect, Sabbath Home, Bowen Memorial and Elah Baptist Churches, all in the Brunswick Baptist Association. JOSEPH C. STANLEY 1952-56; 1976-79 -: :..... - : :. -: -.:.;. :_.-: :....... < ' The Reverend Joseph C. Stanley was born on April 7, 1920 in the Nakina area of Columbus County. His parents were the Reverend K.L. and M. Blanch Williams Stanley, the father being a Missionary Baptist minister. Married to Dorothy L. Register, the couple are the parents of Sandra S. Ward and Mark Stanley. The Reverend Stanley was licensed in February of 1948 and was ordained on July 15, 1950, both undertaken by Pleasant Plains Baptist Church, Columbus Baptist Association. He had at this time left a very thriving woodworking shop to accept God's call into the ministry. Churches pastored are Longwood and Goshen and then Goshen and Elah Baptist Churches on a half time basis in the Brunswick Baptist Association. In the Columbus Baptist Association were Clarendon, Oak Dale and Iron Hill Baptist Churches as half time fields. Then, on to Hickory Grove Baptist Church in the Bladen Baptist Association, after which the Reverend Stanley returned to Elah Baptist Church before moving to the West Lumberton Baptist Church, Robeson Baptist Association, where he is presently serving as pastor. VIC C. POTIER, JR. 1957 (Interim) The Reverend Vic C. Potter, Jr. is married to the former Carol Lee Skipper. Their three children are Dale, Greg, and Mrs. Lisa P. Caudill and one grandchild. Saved in April of 1953, the Reverend Potter was licensed on January 23, 1955 and was ordained into the Gospel Ministry on November 10, 1957. In the interim, he was ordained as a deacon on November 4, 1956. His education includes Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, the School of Pastoral Care and the School of Medicine respectively at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital and the Bowman Gray Medical School. Also state sponsored studies in alcohol abuse and a School of Evangelism in New York City. 34
' I CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ELAH BAPTIST CHURCH, 1882-1982 (NCCF) Church, and even in his last illness in the hospital, o regain his health and return to his church and GUYTON PHELPS 1945-51 uyton Phelps was born on September 9, 1903. r Thelma Hewett. They are the parents of Walter Phelps. Called home on April 29, 1964, the Revder Memorial Gardens, Wilmington. everend Walter Guyton Phelps served the follow Farmer's Chapel, Cool Run, Bolivia, Town Creek, ath Home, Bowen Memorial and Elah Baptist Baptist Association.. STANLEY 1952-56; 1976-79. Stanley was born on April 7, 1920 in the Nakina is parents were the Reverend K.L. and M. Blanch being a Missionary Baptist minister. Married to pie are the parents of Sandra S. Ward and Mark was licensed in February of 1948 and was orth undertaken by Pleasant Plains Baptist Church,. He had at this time left a very thriving woodcall into the ministry. Longwood and Goshen and then Goshen and half time basis in the Brunswick Baptist Associatist Association were Clarendon, Oak Dale and half time fields. Then, on to Hickory Grove Bapptist Association, after which the Reverend Stan Church before moving to the West Lumberton ptist Association, where he is presently serving OTTER, JR. 1957 (Interim) tter, Jr. is married to the former Carol Lee Skip Dale, Greg, and Mrs. Lisa P. Caudill and one grand- r the Reverend Potter was licensed on January 23, he Gospel Ministry on November 10, 1957. In the eacon on November 4, 1956. Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, the University gton, the School of Pastoral Care and the School e North Carolina Baptist Hospital and the Bowman ate sponsored studies in alcohol abuse and a School ity. ( L Pastorates of Missionary Baptist Churches include the following: Goshen and Farmer's Chapel as a half time field, Elah as Interim, all in the Brunswick Baptist Association; Ogden, Wilmington Baptist Association; Seventh Avenue in North Carolina and the Barbara Locklin Baptist Church in Florida. The Reverend Vic C. Potter, Jr. is presently serving as pastor of the Town Creek Baptist Church, Leland, North Carolina. W.T. LUNDY 1957-59; 1969-70 The Reverend W.T. Lundy was born on February 8, 1930 in Lee County, South Carolina, the son of the Reverend Moody and Maggie Brown Lundy. He died on July 19, 1979. Married to the former Mary Frances Murphy, they are the parents of Brenda L. Sanders and Dorcas Lundy. The Reverend Lundy's education included Coker College, Hartsville, South Carolina and Piedmont Bible College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was our first called full-time pastor. An earlier church history dated April 10, 1963 and written by John R. Sellars states, "It was also during this year that the church called their first full-time pastor, he being the Reverend W.T. Lundy of Hartsville, South Carolina. Once again under the Lord's leadership the church began to prosper and grow. The Sunday School and Training Union added to its numbers and the Lord continued to bless us in many ways." In 1959, the Reverend W.T. Lundy accepted the call to a new field with the Grant's Creek Baptist Church in Maysville, North Carolina. Other pastorates were at Catherine's Lake, Jacksonville and various Baptist churches in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Again in 1969, the Reverend Lundy returned to Elah as our pastor. BRUCE WILLIAM LANIER 1960-64 The Reverend Bruce William Lanier was born on July 24, 1930 in Horry County, South Carolina. His parents, D.L. and Maude Gore Lanier, raised one daughter and six sons. Bruce William, J.P. and J. Earl became ordained Baptist ministers. The Reverend Lanier was married on March 25, 1950 to Alma Perritt of Chadbourn. They were blessed in this union with two children, William David, who married Daphne Norris and Jeannie, who married Kenneth McDonald. Upon accepting Christ as his personal saviour during 1950,_ he was baptized and in October of 1957, was ordained into the ministry by l:lnion Chapel Baptist Church, Columbus Baptist Association. The Reverend Lanier has studied at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, Hendersonville, North Carolina and the American Bible College, Pineland, Florida. The Reverend Bruce William Lanier has pastored the following churches: New Hope in South Carolina and Union Chapel Baptist Church in North Carolina, 1957-59; Elah Baptist Church in the Brunswick Baptist Association, April, 1959-August 1965; and Pleasant Plains Baptist Church in the Columbus Baptist Association, August 1965-May 1969. After serving Hickory Grove and Galeed Baptist Churches on half time basis from June of 1967 until September of 1972, 34 -.... 35