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Our Heritage The Early History of the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene
(The following text denotes the history of the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene for the years 1935-1940 as recorded by Mrs. William Baxter, the first secretary of the church. This history is recorded in the original book which contains the minutes, financial ledgers and membership rolls from the organization of the church in 1935 through 1940. It has been reproduced as faithfully as possible with minor editing to aid readability.) In the spring of 1935 a prayer meeting was started by Rev. A. L. Lowrance and others in the home of William Baxter. These prayer meetings continued until late summer when a tent was purchased for $103.00 cash, with Mr. Baxter paying $90.00 of the cost. Seats were also purchased at an additional cost of $27.00 which was made up among the people. The total cost for the tent and seats was $130.00. Under this tent a revival meeting was held by Rev. A. L. Lowrance and other speakers. At the close of this meeting on September 15, 1935, the Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene was organized by P.P. Balew, District Superintendent of the Georgia District. As winter came on services were again held in the home of William Baxter. Sunday school, prayer meetings and regular preaching were held by Rev. A. L. Lowrance who served as the first pastor of the church. Regular offerings were taken for current expenses and toward the building of a church. On April 20, 1936, by order of the church board, William Baxter secured from H. M. Brown a lot on which to build a church house. The cost of this lot was $300.00 and of this price Mr. Brown donated $150.00. There being only $120.00 in the treasury, $30.00 was borrowed without interest and was paid as soon as the treasury was replenished. In May, 1936, the tent was again put up on the church lot and a revival was held by Rev. Tom Scruggs of Ooltewah. Rev. Scruggs was paid $28.35 for his services. The tent was demolished during the summer of 1936 by high winds. However, on July 3, work was begun on the foundation with the rock being hauled by William Baxter, with the help of some small boys. Mr. Baxter's time for himself and his team was valued at $30.00, which was donated (the time of the boys work was not counted). When the footing was done a stone mason was employed to build the foundation. The stone mason was paid $50.00 out of the treasury with another $50.00 of his time being donated. Total cost of the foundation was $100.00. In July, 1936, Rev. & Inez Collier turned over to Rev. A. L. Lowrance and William Baxter a truck for the church valued at $125.00, with Rev. Lowrance donating $25.00. William Baxter and six or eight boys donated many hours of time and labor hauling materials to and from the building site, clearing $40.00 in the process which was placed in the treasury. Quite a bit of lumber and also the shingles for the church were hauled on the truck, resulting in a great saving in cash. When the building was begun Rev. Lowrance quit his other job, which was the primary support for his family, and gave his time in helping to erect a church. This was a great sacrifice on his part as the church was only paying him $1.50 per week. I fear that many of our preachers are not that willing to sacrifice for God's cause. As the building progressed funds were needed and by consent of the majority of the church the truck was sold to William Baxter for $50.00 cash which was donated to the church treasury. During the summer of 1936 a cane crop was raised by William Baxter. Some of the church helped to prepare this for market. This was sold for $30.00, of which seven dollars was used to buy buckets. Some of the ladies also made and sold quilts and helped to pay expenses. During the fall of 1936 quite a few pledges were made to finance the completing of the building. Some of these pledges have been paid and some have not. We wish to thank all the friends who have helped us, especially Mr. Lillard Gilley for financial help. Also Marvin Howard who gave his time selling syrup for the church. Mr. Clarence Ellis who gave time and money to help with the building. The painting has been done by William Baxter with the help of some friends all donating their time. The cost of graveling of the driveway, valued at $12.00 was donated by William Baxter. In 1939 the church membership had grown to 44. During this year the auditorium was enlarged 15 feet in length. Two wings were added which were divided into four Sunday school rooms. New seats were also made with part of the cost being donated. William Baxter, Luther Howard, Clarence Ellis and others were responsible for hauling the rock for the foundation of the new expansion. Harvey Simpson built the foundation walls, his time being donated to the church. In the fall of 1939 Rev. A. L. Lowrance resigned as pastor and Rev. W. A. Layfield of the Florida District was called to pastor the church. Many gracious revivals have been held in the past four years (1936-1939) by Reverends Tidwell, Scruggs, Melton, Jensen, Jarvis, Bissey, Emmerson and others. We are starting the year of '39 and '40 with high hope with Rev. W. A. Layfield as pastor, Luther Howard as Sunday School Superintendent, Mrs. Edna Payne as W.F.M.S. president and Mr. Aaron Chambers as N.Y.P.S. president. We now have 41 church members and 82 on the Sunday school roll. Mrs. William Baxter, Secretary (circa 1939) Recent HistoryMuch has happened since Mrs. William Baxter penned her records in 1939. Our church has experienced periods of growth as well as periods of decline. We have seen several pastors come and go. All of the original charter members of our church have gone on to be with the Lord. These pioneers of the Church of the Nazarene in the Chattanooga Valley area started with nothing more than faith in the Lord. Through their hard work and dedication they have left behind a legacy to today's members.
The building of God's church continues. A fellowship hall/gymnasium was added to the original church site (shown in yellow above) in the 1960's and served the church and its youth program well through the years. As our Sunday school continued to grow available classrooms neared capacity. We were forced to use the parking areas of adjacent businesses during regular services since our tiny parking lot was filled beyond capacity on most Sundays. What wonderful problems to have had! In the late 1980's the church fervently began praying for a parcel of land in the Valley on which to build a new church. In 1989 God blessed us with the lucrative purchase of thirteen acres of prime real estate in the very heart of the Flintstone community. Since the purchase, the church has developed a quarter-mile walking track on the property which is open to the community and is heavily used. The site is also home to Valleyfest an annual community festival and craft show, sponsored by the church, that attracts thousands. The church next began praying that the debt on the new property could be retired so that a new building could be started. The Lord again answered prayer. In 1992, the United States Postal Service offered to purchase slightly less than one acre of the property for almost the exact amount of the payoff on the loan. The property is now debt-free. Praise the Lord! Plans were developed for a new sanctuary and educational building and site preparation was begun in the summer and fall of 1996. Construction was begun on the new sanctuary in the Spring of 1997 and was completed in the Fall of 1998. We are now worshiping in our new sanctuary! God is good! New Fellowship hall (left below) along with sanctuary.
At the same time work was proceeding on the new sanctuary construction was begun and completed on a new community picnic pavilion and utility/storage building. To complement our current sanctuary, we are currently constructing a family-life center with a gymnasium and additional classrooms. Future plans include an educational wing expansion to the sanctuary building. Although buildings and building programs are very important to a church, spiritual building and growth are even more important. Through the years Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene has built its spiritual foundation on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. In the forthcoming years our commitment to strive for spiritual growth will continue so that we, too, can build a legacy for future generations. CV Nazarene current property in Flintstone, GA shown within the yellow boundary
Pastors of Chattanooga Valley Church of the Nazarene
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