Dorrisville Baptist Church celebrates 100 years
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In the early 1900s, Dorrisville was its own small community apart from Harrisburg and there was no Baptist church for community members to worship.
That changed on the afternoon of Sunday, May 15, 1910, when a council from the area Baptist church gained the support of the first 22 members and constituted them as the First Missionary Baptist Church of Dorrisville.
LaVern Clayton, her daughter-in-law Elaine and Lodema Sisk have been organizing highlights of the church's history in preparation for Sunday's centennial celebration. The Centennial Committee also includes Stephanie Church, Robin Sowels and Sharon Hazeley.
The celebration begins 8:30 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts in the foyer of the multi-purpose building. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. is a time for reminiscing and sharing testimonies in the sanctuary. At 10:15 a.m. there is a worship service in the multi-purpose building. At noon is a meal. The Phelps Brothers perform 1:30 p.m. with a service and musical entertainment.
In 1911 the church needed a building and a building was available. It was the community building referred to as Munn's Chapel used by different churches for meetings. Apparently the community did not have the money to keep the building maintained and it was up for sale, according to long-time member LaVern Clayton.
Either the building could have continued to be used for worship or it could be sold for use as a feed store.
John Odum, an elder of the church, bought the property in 1911.
Many renovations happened over the years as the congregation grew and donations came.
By the time LaVern Clayton arrived from the Ledford Baptist Church in October of 1953, the church was thriving.
"It was larger, had more opportunities, it was just a friendly church. I loved it from the minute I started here," LaVern said.
Elaine Clayton came in 1976 and had much the same experience.
"It was a very friendly church. I didn't know anybody. I came from Missouri. I married Danny and the only ones I knew were Bill and LaVern, but everyone welcomed me with open arms," Elaine said.
One of those programs began in 1912 with the Women's Missionary Union Ladies Aid Society, a program that remains strong in the church. The society raised money for the church through ice cream socials and sewing bees.
The Baptist Men Brotherhood organized in 1940.
There are Sunday schools for all age groups and a kids choir. The church holds a school supply program annually and has supported missionaries to Africa for the past several years. The church has a Mercy Corner that provides clothing and household articles. The church provides an alternative to Halloween haunted houses with the Judgement House, a series of skits with spiritual consequences.
Shoe box gifts at Christmas is another ministry of the church. Church leaders hold services at the Saline County Detention Center. Video and CD copies of the Sunday morning service are available to those unable to attend. The church's Keenager program is a social group of the church's seniors that provides them breakfast trips, shopping trip and sightseeing trips.
"Our church reaches out to so many people. It's really unbelievable how many it helps in the community. It's a caring church with a wonderful pastor," LaVern said.
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DeNeal receives e-mail at http://bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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