1946-1949 Founding History

Community begun in the summer of 1946 meeting in peoples home and the old community center that used to be right across the railroad tracks, with construction of the building beginning in 1947. 

Otis Joyner and his family had been in the Salvation Army for years working here in the community, especially gathering young people for services. The owner of Shuford Mills saw that there was a good work established among the youth and approached Otis about starting a church.

Their reasoning was that the ordinary mill workers did not attend the church, East Hickory Baptist Church, right down the road, because they did not think they were "good enough" to go there. Therefore, the owner of the mills told Otis that if he would be willing to lead this fledgling work, the mill would put up the money to build the building. Otis had sensed that the Lord was leading him from the Salvation Army responsibilities because he was being consumed more and more with the financial issues rather than preaching the Gospel and he maintained that this was his calling. So, Otis resigned from the Salvation Army and began to work at forming the church. 

A quote from Otis’s Daughter, Kathryn, “I do remember that he and the men of the village worked at actually constructing the church - my mom was in tears and almost hysterical when from our front yard in the apartments we could see my dad and others swinging the steeple onto the church.”

Otis and his family lived at the mill apartments that are no longer standing. The houses surrounding the church all were mill homes for the workers of the mill. As Kathryn recalls, “Several of those homes had ladies who quilted, and the big frames would be on the porches and mom and us children would spend time at those homes. I have vivid memories of moms nursing their babies in church. The only person's name that I recall is Mrs Queen who lived with one of the families - she was our babysitter - a dear lady who looked much like Corrie Ten Boom.” 

3 years later Otis and his family moved to Yanceyville in June of 1949, leaving the church in the hands of Pastor W.R. Walls.

Rev. Walls was the pastor until 1955 when he passed away in November due to a heart attack. The church voted Frank Gilbert to become the next pastor. Frank Glibert was the pastor for a total of one year. 

June of 1956, thanks to Frank Gilbert's recommendation, Gordon Taylor became the new pastor of Community. Rev Gordon Taylor had a heart for missions and evangelism. It was noted once in the church minutes that on November 4, 1956 the church unanimously "wished to give all of last months missionary offerings to Miss Clara Mae Robinson who will leave soon for Japan." The total amount given was $150. 

In June 1958 Gordon Taylor resigned and Pastor R L Balls was voted in shortly after.

One of our current members recounts being a child during Rev R.L.Ball's leadership. She remembers  the church would do several revivals and homecomings that would draw in the whole community. The church would line tables from the church building all the way down to the street, each stacked full of food. There would be singers come from all over and gather there. The church would sing and eat, and have revival service all day long. 

Between 1962 and 1979 The church had 3 pastors come and lead the congregation. Charles Webb was the pastor from 1962-1963, and Bill Shoffner was the pastor between January of 1964 to July of 1979, and in 1979 Bro Garry Ballard became the pastor for the following 32 years.

Pastor Gary Ballard and his family came to Community in the summer of 1979. The Ballard's saw many things happen during their ministry at  Community, from finishing the mud floor classrooms downstairs, adding an addition to the fellowship hall, to being active in the community. Mrs. Ballard,  who just celebrated her 89th birthday and still attends Community to this day, recounts that at one time they had over 80 kids in Sunday school.  Brother Ballard was the pastor for 32 years till his death in 2011. 

After Brother Ballard passed away the church reached out to missionary evangelist Greg Berkey to fill the pulpit while the church looked for a  new pastor. Brother Berkey had just come back with his family from being a missionary in Nova Scotia for 16 years. A year later, Greg Berkey was voted in as the new pastor of Community Baptist Church. Brother Greg still travels as an evangelist with Auto Outreach Ministries which ministers at NASCAR races and other racing events.