FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

 

On December 6, 1985, thirty-three Christian individuals united in Christ to charter a church.  Bro. Coolidge Cummings read scripture from Third John at the first meeting of the newly formed church.  Bro. Dale Chavis led the congregation in prayer.  Bro. Coolidge Cummings was chosen as pastor of the congregation with Bro. Wolfheally Bullard as assistant pastor.  Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was chosen as the name for this congregation.  The congregation first met in a building located at the home place of Bro. Joe and Sis. Alice Chavis.  The Chavis’ used this facility for family gatherings.  The charter members were Vietta Chavis, Coolidge M. Cummings, Van Bethea, Alesia Jones, Denise Jones, Elmer R. Chavis, Wolfheally Bullard, Sharon Griffin, Geraldine Oxendine, Howard Jones, Alene Jones, Donald Lowery, Fannie Lowery, Vanice Cummings, Charles Jackson, Deric Woriax, Dale Chavis, Rodney Jackson, Frederic Woriax, Margie Chavis, Wanda Oxendine, Robin Locklear, Adriana Oxendine, Kathy K. Woriax, Carolyn C. Woriax, Velinda L. Woriax, Kent Chavis, Eric Woriax, Frank Woriax, Casondra Jones, Lucille Jackson, Connie Ree Locklear, and David Campbell.

 

Later, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church moved to a store on Highway 710

owned by Bro. Roscoe and Sis. Elma Lee Locklear.  The store was converted somewhat to meet the needs of the church until the Lord blessed the congregation with a new facility of its own in its current location.

 

Our first Easter Sunrise service and Easter program on March 30, 1986 was an especially joyous occasion because Bro. Bill R. Locklear was saved and became a member of the Church.  Bro. Bill is our Executive Board member to the Association, serving since 1992.

 

In April 1986 Friendship Church purchased an acre of land from Dr. and Mrs. Frank Woriax for the construction of a pine log building.  The groundbreaking ceremony was held June 29, 1986.  On August 7, 1986 the foundation was poured for a new educational building, which would serve also as a place of worship until such time as a sanctuary could be built.  On Thanksgiving morning November 27, 1986, the congregation met in the new building to give thanks to God for his many blessings and on February 1, 1987 celebrated building of the new church with an all day Sunday Praise service.

 

On April 25, 1987 the Church selected Sis. Eudell Lloyd as the Spiritual Mother of the Church.  Sis. Lloyd was the oldest female member and the first member to go to be with the Lord. Her funeral was held at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on April 29, 1987.

 

In August 1988 an additional .71 acre tract of land was purchased from Dr. and Mrs. Frank Woriax.  In November of 1990 the church purchased an approximate one-acre parcel of land from Mr. and Mrs. Alex Locklear, Jr. to be used as a future cemetery site.  On April 13, 1989 Friendship Missionary Baptist Church voted to join the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association of which we are proud to be a part.

 

On August 10, 1991 Pastor Coolidge Cummings celebrated 50 years in God’s ministry.  Friendship has been blessed to have the leadership of Pastor Coolidge Cummings as the Holy Spirit has led him for the past 13 years.   We have also been blessed with the following assistant pastors:  Bro. Wolfheally Bullard, Bro. James L. Locklear, Bro. Timmie Chavis and Bro. Harold Hunt.

 

The following young Christian men have answered the call to God’s ministry and have been ordained by Friendship Church:  Bro. Dale Chavis (Chaplain at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton, NC); Bro. Kent Chavis (Pastor of First Baptist Church, Pembroke, NC); Bro. Timmie Chavis (Pastor of Bear Swamp Baptist Church, Pembroke, NC); and Bro. James L. Locklear (Pastor of New Beginning Baptist Church, Hoke County, NC).

 

Bro. Frank Woriax was the first Deacon of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.  Bro. Robert Locklear, deceased, and Bro. James L. Locklear has also served as Deacons.  Friendship Missionary Baptist Church ordained Bro. Howard Jones in 1989 as Deacon and Bro. Gene M. Deese was ordained in 1993 as Deacon.

 

On June 12, 1995 the loan with First Union National Bank was paid in full and the Church was debt free.  On December 10, 1995, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church held a 10-Year Celebration and the Trustees burned the Note.

 

On July 23, 1996 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for our new sanctuary.  The beautiful new sanctuary was completed and a dedication service was held on Sunday, December 7, 1997.  The first baptism in the new sanctuary was held on July 12, 1998, and three new members were baptized on this day, Mrs. Dana Dial, Mr. Fred Locklear and wife, Katie Locklear. Several new projects for the Church are underway, of which one is mounting a bell donated to the Church by Mrs. Edna Buffaloe of Raleigh, NC.  The Lord has blessed Friendship Missionary Baptist Church both spiritually and physically.  A number of souls have been saved and added to the Church.  The present membership is 78.

 

Pastor Cummings has this to say:  “ I am proud to be Pastor of a Holy Spirit led and blessed Church which welcomes anyone at anytime to come and worship with us.”

 

The Church established the following scripture as its motto on March 19, 1987:  “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” Proverbs 17:17.  Through and by the help of the Lord we try to live up to our motto.