Petersburg Baptist Association, which includes 57 churches in Southside and Tidewater Virginia, celebrates its centennial this year.
The celebration will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. at West End Baptist Church, Boydton Plank Road, U. S. 1, west of Petersburg.
The Petersburg Baptist Association was formed on Sept. 26, 1906, at Second Baptist Church of Petersburg. There were 21 founding churches. At its 100th anniversary the association now has 57 churches in seven counties of Southside and Tidewater and in the independent cities of Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and Emporia. Total membership of all the churches of the association is over 14,500.
The office of the Petersburg Baptist Association is at 1857 Fort Mahone Street in Petersburg. Rod Hale serves as interim director of missions. Alex Roberts, pastor of Unity Baptist Church of Prince George, is moderator.
The service on Sept. 10 will begin with a procession of the colorful banners of the churches of the association, marching in to the music of Purcell's “Trumpet Tunes.”
The centennial address will be delivered by the John “Jack” Patterson. Patterson is a child of the association, having been raised in Colonial Heights, his father at the time being pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. Patterson has served in many capacities of leadership among Baptists, including 11 years as a missionary-theological teacher in Cali, Colombia. He now serves as director of missions of Mid-Tidewater Baptist Association of Virginia. He has two earned doctorates, one from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and one from the University of Edinburgh.
Also bringing an address will be Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. Anderson will appear in costume as “Dr. Hatcher,” a prominent 19th century Virginia Baptist preacher who served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Petersburg from 1868 to 1875.
Louise Daniels, minister of music of First Baptist Church, Petersburg, has planned the music. It will include a concert at 2:40 p.m. by handbell choirs of First Baptist Church, Petersburg, West End Baptist Church, Petersburg, and High Hills Baptist Church, Jarratt. The special music also includes a mass choir with singers from all over the Petersburg Baptist Association area. The choir will sing two special numbers.
Representing the youth of the association will be Jeremy Slagle, a first year student at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond, a member of Main Street Baptist Church of Emporia, and Julie Owen, a junior at William and Mary, a member of High Hills Baptist of Jarratt. Also representing the youth will be the Praise Team of First Baptist Church of Hopewell.
Bringing greetings at the Celebration will be John Upton, executive director of the Virginia Baptist General Association. Also bringing greetings will be David Cornelius from the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Following the “Centennial Celebration” will be a reception sponsored by Woman's Missionary Union of the Petersburg Association. For more information you may call the association office at (804) 733-2010 or Robert P. Wyatt at 434-634-0122.
Special to the Herald