Sunday School................................................10:00 a.m.
Morning Worship……….…………………..11:00 a.m.
HISTORY OF WOLF POND BAPTIST CHURCH
“For where two or more are gathered together in my name there will I be also.” So began the concept of Wolf Pond Baptist church in 1896. Though small in number but strong in faith, the first group met in a brush arbor on Buffalo Creek. Buffalo School was built in place of the arbor soon after the church formed and the little congregation began to hold services in the new schoolhouse. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Blackburn now stands where the brush arbor and schoolhouse were once situated.
According to records found in the Chesterfield Baptist Association Office it was duly noted that the Reverend J. A. Rivers of Richardson Creek, North Carolina, was the first person selected by the congregation to serve as pastor. David Plyler of Hope, North Carolina was selected as the first Church Clerk. Other well known and faithful servants were selected to serve in the leadership positions of the newly formed church. Later, a church was built. It stood across the road from the existing church building. The wood frame structure, small in size but powerful in spirit was soon too small for the growing church family. An addition was added across the back of the building for three or four classrooms.
In 1946, an acre of land across the street from the first building was chosen as the site of the present church. The new building had a sanctuary and eleven classrooms. It took four years to complete. The two-story brick church was completed free of debt in 1950 under the leadership of W.E. Funderburk. The building was T-shaped, with an auditorium and classrooms behind the sanctuary on the upper level and a kitchen, fellowship hall and additional classrooms on the lower level. At that time, Mr. Hoyte Funderburk was Sunday School Director, Mr. Frank Doster, Church Clerk and Mr. Robert Carnes was the Church Treasurer.
Before long, the congregation realized it would need more classrooms to accommodate the growing membership. Construction began on the Wade F. Funderburk Education Building in 1965 and was completed two years later. The new structure was named in honor of Reverend Wade for his long and consecrated service to the church. The new facility hosted eleven classrooms, a fellowship hall, a kitchen and a pastoral study. In 1971, the music program of the church was inhanced by the addition of a new Wurlitzer Electronic Organ and a Wurlitzer Grand Piano. In 1972 the recreation program began to grow. Mr. “Doc” McCray donated playground equipment for the children’s play area.
In 1979 the A. Jack Roberts softball field was dedicated. With its highly utilized concession stand, the softball field has hosted numerous softball games and tournaments as well as youth and church wide activities.
Music being an important part of worship services made everyone realize our need for musical direction. The search began for a Music Director.
Mrs. Barbara Mullis came to us in 1981 with an outstanding music program…Christmas Cantatas, Easter Dramas, Thanksgiving Cantatas, July Fourth, and the list goes on. A new Sound system was soon added to replace our much out of date one. Mrs. Mullis left us in 1986 at which time Mr. John Hill led our music program. The short time he was with us, the choir learned many new techniques. Mr. Timothy Carpenter became the Director in 1986. The music program once again flourished. A newer up to date sound system was installed which enabled the choir to be more effective. Tim was with us for eight years. Mrs. Keitha P. Gaddy came to us in 1996. Under her guidance, an even better sound system was installed.
The church sanctuary was completely renovated in 1985 under the guidance of Mrs. Anne H. McCray. The sanctuary was restructured to enable the church to have more seating room in the foyer. At that time, the entrance was extended and new columns were added to the front porch. The interior was painted a light blue and draperies were made to cover the baptistery. Matching fabric was also used to cover and pad the seats. The Queen Anne furnishings in the foyer were donated by the McCray Family in memory and in honor of Mr. Doc and Mrs. Francis McCray.
Outside the new entrance as you approach the steps one will notice the medialuna stained glass. This piece of art was made in memory of Mr. Will and Mrs. Emma Rorie. The Rorie family chose the colors to reflect the time and lives of their loving parents. Along with the renovations a handicap accessible ramp was also added.
With all the renovations to the front of the church, the steeple was too small in appearance, so plans were made to erect a larger one. The original bell from the old church is still being used today. The parking lots were paved and personal donations allowed for completion of a debt free venture in 1991. In the fall of 1995 plans were made to replace the windows in the sanctuary with stained glass windows. The windows were replaced in 1996 using donations from members. Also in 1996 new carpet was added throughout. Repairs and painting to the walls and columns was also accomplished in 1996 and the steeple was again replaced.