FALL FESTS

First Baptist Salisbury 

Sunday from 4-6 p.m., First Baptist Church-Salisbury will hold its annual Fall Festival at the First Ministry Center at 220 N. Fulton St. Themed “Three Rings of Fun,” the event includes inflatables, trunk or treat, antique fire truck rides, games and prizes, and food fund raisers. Costumes are encouraged for all ages. For game tickets, bring two canned food items for Rowan Helping Ministries. Extra tickets are $1.

Seventh Day Adventist

The Family Fall Festival at the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at 305 Rudolph Road. There will be giant inflatables, games, a health food sample booth and food. You can also buy a pie to throw at Pastor Ryan Hodgins.

Bethel Wesleyan Church

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24 from 4– 7 p.m. at 4036 Old Salisbury Concord Road, Kannapolis. Fun and games, face painting, Trunk and Treat, hayrides, live bluegrass music by Five And A Tub. Free hotdogs and desserts. Info at \ 704-787-6346

Rockwell Elementary

Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 4– 8 p.m. rain or shine, with vendors, bounce houses, Halloween kids’ night out event, face painting, character mascot visits. Food will be available for purchase

Franklin Baptist Church 

5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, with games, obstacle course blow up, bounce house, hayride, karaoke/singing, face painting, costume contest for babies through 5th grade judged on Most Biblical, Most Creative, and cutest. Also kiddie and adult cake walks, hot dogs, candy, tons of fun. Information: Sandi at flashofjoy@yahoo.com or church website franklinbaptistchurch.org

Rockwell Christian School

Saturday, Nov. 7, from 3 – 8 p.m. at 401 Depot St., Rockwell. Fun-filled family event with games, prizes, and shopping. Barbecue meal available for purchase. Proceeds benefit The operation of Rockwell Christian School.

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Gospel Explosion 2015 today 

CLEVELAND — Gospel Explosion 2015 wil be held at The Building in Cleveland this evening at 6 p.m. On program will be Sjuwana Byers and COG of Hamilton Ohio, Chosen Disciples of Asheboro, Nu Revelations and Unity of Praise both of Salisbury and Messengers for Christ of Cleveland.  Admission is $10, children 12 & under free. Doors open at 5 p.m.

 

Try Faith Gospel Singers 

Try Faith Gospel Singers will be celebrating their 42nd Anniversary on this evening starting at 7  p.m.  It will be held at Ardis Chapel AME Zion Church, 1940 Old Mocksville Road.

 

First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury

First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury will  host a special morning of worship and praise. During Sunday’s 8:50 a.m. (Lewis Hall) and 11   a.m. (sanctuary) worship services, First Presbyterian will celebrate the gift of children in a Children’s Sabbath Sunday. The First  Kids will sing during the 11 a.m. service.

 

Appreciation at Pine Ridge Baptist

CHINA GROVE — Pine Ridge Baptist, 880 Old Linn Road, will observe pastor appreciation day on Sunday at the 10 a.m. service at which time  Pastor and Mrs. George Bradshaw will be  honored with music, testimonies and a time of reflection. The morning message will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. J.B. Parker from Statesville. Lunch will be served following the service. There will be no Sunday school. Pastor Bradshaw has been Pine Ridge’s shepherd since March of 1996. For additional information call 704-857-3182

 

Sandy Ridge celebrates 45 years

LANDIS —  The historic Sandy Ridge AME Zion Church will observe  homecoming and Fall revival beginning Sunday, with the 10   a.m. service. The pastor, Rev. Clarence J. Shuford Jr., will deliver the homecoming message on the theme of “Come Home to The Lord,” with music by the Sandy Ridge Gospel Choir and FRESH, under the direction of C. Eugene Caldwell, Janet Murdock, with Ron Graham and Marcus Foard, percussionists. The dance ministry “Praise In Motion” will also be included.

Special guest for the 3 p.m. service will be the Rev. John Leazer, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Concord.

Revival services will run for three nights:

Monday, Dr. Debra J. Hall, pastor of New Hope AME Zion Church, Spencer;

Tuesday, the Rev. Herbert Hill, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church of Kannapolis;

Wednesday, the Rev. Reginald Keitt, pastor of Mt. Pleasant AME Zion Church, Statesville.

 

Homecoming at Central UMC

SPENCER — Central United Methodist Church will celebrate its annual homecoming on Sunday, at 10:30 a.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Jim Pyatt, former pastor of Central from 1992 to 1997.  A covered dish luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall. For more information, call 704-636-4101.

 

Franklin Presbyterian celebrates 186 years

Heritage Homecoming will be celebrated at Franklin Presbyterian Church, 208 Franklin Church Road, on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with pipers and drummers and dinner on the grounds. Host pastor is the Rev. John Elam.

 

Women’s Dday at Jerusalem Baptist

Jerusalem Baptist Church will celebrate Women’s Day on Sunday during the 11 a.m. service with  speaker Evangelist Towanda McNeil, associate minister at Fairview Heights Baptist Church. An employee in the RSSS, minister McNeil is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Music will be provided by an all female choir composed of the women of Jerusalem and other area churches. Highlights will include 2015 Women of the Year as well as acknowledging Pastor Appreciation month. All women in attendance are asked to wear white. Carolyn P. Holt is chair and Dr. David Bracken is senior pastor.

 

Homecoming at Immanuel Presbyterian

CHINA GROVE—Homecoming will be observed Sunday at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 365 Brown Road, to celebrate its 74th anniversary.

The Rev. Dr. Sandy Kern, former pastor of Thyatira Presbyterian Church,  will bring the 11 a.m. message.  She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, received her M.Div. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminar in Texas and her D.Min. from Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Ga.  She served Thyatira Presbyterian Church from 2001 until her retirement in 2013.

Dr. Bill Dailey and Eleanor Dailey will bring special music. There will be a covered-dish luncheon afterward.  For more information call 704-633-0724.

 

Woman’s Day at Trinity Presbyterian

Trinity Presbyterian Church celebrates Woman’s Day on Sunday at the 11 a.m. service with guest speaker Corita Younge Floyd, moderator of Presbyterian Women, Charlotte Presbytery. Mrs. Floyd’s roles over the years have included Spiritual Nurture Moderator, Moderator of Christian Education, nominating committee chairperson and she is an ordained elder of her church. She is a 1977 graduate of North Carolina Central University in Durham and is retired from Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system. The theme for this year is Woman’s Day Program is “Women of Courage; Ready to do God’s Will.”

 

Southern City Tabernacle

EAST SPENCER — The Missionary Dept. of Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 940 S. Long St.,  will observe Life Members’ Day during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday. Life Members are asked to wear their stoles. Marva McCain serves as the chairperson of the Life Members’ Council.

At 3   p.m. , the department will present the “Bad Girls of the Bible.” Participants from area churches will portray 10 biblical women. Elisa Jones serves as the Parent Body President.

 

Antioch Missionary celebrates 102 years

GRANITE QUARRY — Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 602 S. Salisbury Ave. will observe its 102nd church anniversary on Sunday. Speaking at the 11 a.m. service will br the Rev. Rickey Johnson. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.

The 3 p.m. service features Pastor Nasby Mills of Progressive Outreach Ministry.

Antioch was founded in  1913 under the leadership of the Rev. John Kerns, in an old house located near the railroad tracks. The first revival sessions were  held with Rev. Hoskins, Rev. Croons, Rev. Hawkins and Rev. Sloan as speakers. These ministers struggled along with Rev. Kerns to establish and build the first black  Baptist church in this community, and their struggle culminated in the first church building.

In 1945 trustees purchased land from the Harris Granite Quarry Co. for the cemetery, which has always been at its present location on Dunns Mountain Road. The second church was build under the leadership of Rev. N. M. Adams in 1954. Under the leadership of Rev. Rufus T. Wyatt the third church was built in 1974. On Oct. 25, 1981 the New Antioch Baptist Church was officially dedicated. In November of 1989 Antioch held a mortgage burning service.

In Feb. of 2004, Antioch installed its present pastor, the Rev. Rickey Johnson.

 

Laity Sunday at Cedar Grove 

CLEVELAND — Laity Sunday will be observed at Cedar Grove AME Zion Church on Sunday during the 11  a.m. service with  guest speaker the First Man of Cedar Grove, William (Bill) Pittman.

Pittman is the adult Sunday school teacher, a trustee and the political action chairperson.  He is also the Salisbury District men’s booster ministry president and on the Western North Carolina Conference he is on the board of trustees at Dorothy Walls Conference and Retreat Center, Black Mountain. The Laity theme is “Fortifying our Faith while Focusing on our Future through Discipleship.”  The president of the lay council, Margaret Ellis and lay officers of Cedar Grove will participate in the morning worship service.  The Rev. Dr. Bertha E. Pittman is  pastor.

 

New Creation Baptist

STATESVILLE  — New Creation Baptist Church, 792 Glover St., will host its annual women’s day program on Sunday at 11 a.m. Speakers will be the First Lady, Mary Robinson, and Robin Hamilton. The pastor is Rev. Joseph Robinson.

 

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1920 Shirley Ave.,  celebrates  the 23rd pastoral anniversary of the Rev.  Dr. Nilous M. Avery II on Sunday at the 11  a.m. service. The Rev.  James Isaac  III, pastor of New Hope Granville Missionary Baptist Church of Oxford, will be the guest speaker. Rev.  Isaac is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, with a BS degree in computer science and has furthered his studies at Southeastern Theological Seminary and Shaw University Divinity School.

The Rev.  Dr. Nilous M. Avery II is a graduate of Shaw University and Shaw Divinity School, Raleigh, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary. Rev.  Dr. Avery currently serves as the 32nd  president of the 500,000 member General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina which is comprised of over 1,600 churches and 60 associations.

 

Special speaker at Soldier’s Memorial 

Former Mecklenburg County Manager Harry L. Jones will deliver the  11   a.m. message at Soldier’s Memorial AME Zion Church, 306 N. Church St., on Sunday at the  annual Lay Council Day Celebration. He is the author of “How Cancer Cured My Soul.” Jones is a cancer survivor who speaks throughout North Carolina. He is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and has received numerous awards throughout his 40 year career. Dr. David A. McClean  is host pastor.

 

White Rock AME Zion

GRANITE QUARRY — White Rock AME Zion Church, 785 White Rock Ave., will celebrate its  54th   annual Women’s Day Sunday on the theme “Women Standing Firm for the Master, Continuing the Legacy of Our Past.”  The 11   a.m. speaker is Sister Donna Cuthbertson. Cuthbertson is a preacher at Sills Creek AME Zion Church in  Mooresville, where she serves under the direction of the Rev.  Morgan Glenn. She also serves as the director of christian education, adult Sunday School teacher, a member of the evangelism committee, new members class committee and a member of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society. Additionally, she serves as Chaplain for the Southeastern Region Christian Education Department and as Salisbury District Girl Scout Director. Cuthbertson is scheduled to be ordained as a Deacon of the AME Zion Church during the spring of 2016. Dr. Kimberly Kelsey is the Women’s Day chairperson. Karen Hicks is co-chair and the Rev.  Thomas D. Lee is pastor.

 

102 year-old to speak at Calvary Baptist 

Dr. M. O. Owens Jr., noted Baptist preacher in North Carolina and the Southern Baptist Convention, will speak  at Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday at 11 a.m.. Dr. Owens just celebrated his 102nd birthday and has served Southern Baptist Churches for more than 75 years. A native of South Carolina, Ownes is a graduate of Furman University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. NC Baptists honored Owens with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding years of service in NC and the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Owens was instrumental in the conservative resurgence among NC Baptists and the Southern Baptist Convention. Calvary Baptist Church is located on East Ridge Road, just beyond Ellis crossroads.

 

Miller’s Chapel celebrates 140 years

Miller’s Chapel African American Episcopal Zion Church, 920 Miller Chapel Road, will celebrate 140 years of service on Sunday at 3   p.m. .

Guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. David Alexander McLean of Soldier’s Memorial AME Zion Church. Dr. McLean received a BS degree in economics from North Carolina State University, master of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and doctor of ministry from United Theological Seminary. He has served congregations in Mt. Gilead, NC and Monroe, NC prior to being appointed pastor of the first church on the Salisbury District in the Western North Carolina Conference.

A fellowship meal will be served at 1   p.m. .

 

Anniversary at Holy Temple Church

Welcome Holy Temple Church invites congregations to come help celebrate the pastoral anniversary of overseer pastor Louise Geter Everhart, Sunday at 2 p.m., 853 Railroad Ave.,  near the old Cone Mills.

 

Youth Day Program

EAST SPENCER — The Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Association will observe Youth Sunday at the 3 p.m. Sunday service. It will be at The Guiding Light Convention Center, 308 Boundary St. Guest minister will be T.J. Bridges from Shady Grove Baptist Church, East Spencer. The Youth from Guiding Light and visiting churches will represent with talents. The Rev. John Jones will be moderator and Sis. Bessie Jones will serve as vice-moderator.

 

Pack the pews at Moore’s Chapel 

CLEVELAND — It’s time for the Pack-the Pew Rally at Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church, 5890 South River Church Road, at the corner of Cool Springs and South River Church Roads. The event is Sunday at 3   p.m. The Rev. Eddie L. Fortson is host pastor.

 

Rhema Praise and Worship homecoming/revival

SPENCER — Rhema Praise and Worship Church,117 Long Ferry Road, will observe homecoming on Sunday, at 3:30 p.m.  with the Rev. C.E. Forehand, pastor of First Baptist Church in Kannapolis,  as the speaker.

Revival services are Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly.

Monday’s speaker is Pastor Parnell Kelly of Shiloh Baptist Church in Badin;

Tuesday is the Rev. Dr. Charles Thompson of Shiloh Institutional Baptist Church in Charlotte;

Wednesday is Pastor Jerry Moore of United Presbyterian Church of Booneville.

 

Piano recital at New London UMC

NEW LONDON — New London United Methodist Church, 206 S. Main St., will host Daniel Dickens for a piano recital entitled “Songs of Hope and Healing” on Sunday at 4:30  p.m.

Dickens is a music educator in the Stanly County school system and serves at pianist at New London UMC.  For this concert he will be joined by several of his students for several of the pieces.  This concert is part of New London UMC’s Music in Mission Concert Series.  There is no admission fee but a love offering will be received to assist Steve Blalock with his medical expenses in his battle with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

 

Mt. Calvary Holy Church honors Rice

Mt. Calvary Holy Church, 1401 Standish St.,  will be honoring First Lady Sadie V. Rice on Sunday, at 5   p.m. Guest speaker will be Evangelist Cathye Marlin of Fairview Heights Baptist Church, pastor is Clarence Marlin.

 

Music at Prospect Presbyterian

MOORESVILLE — Southern gospel music will be celebrated at Prospect Church, 9425 WNC Highway 152, on Sunday  at 6 p.m.  by the Saint James Male Chorus with a fellowship meal following at 7 p.m .

The Chorus started in 1956 and the 30 members represent churches in the Charlotte area. The Church is located just beyond the intersection of Highways 150 and 152 on Hwy 152 heading toward China Grove.

 

United Ministerial Alliance

The United Ministerial Alliance will host its joint fellowship service at 7   p.m. on  Sunday  at Solid Rock Church of God, 1004 Locke St. The Rev. Samuel A. Washington is the host pastor and preacher for the occasion.

 

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Fall Revival

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1920 Shirley Ave.,   will celebrate Fall Revival 2015 on Tuesday and  Wednesday, Oct. 20 and 21, at 7   p.m.  each night. The Rev. Dr. Larry W. Whitley, pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Matthews, and First Lady Rev. Chris Whitley will be the evangelists.

The Rev. Dr. Nilous M. Avery II is host pastor.

Dr. Larry Whitley was employed with the N.C. Highway Patrol Department for 30 years where he managed ten of North Carolina’s one hundred counties.

Rev. Chris Whitley was employed by the NC Division of Motor Vehicles in Monroe and later served as a Victim and Justice Community Service Coordinator for the N.C. Crime Control and Public Safety Division for 24 years.

The revival theme is “Renew, Revive, Reset.”  Music will be rendered by area choirs and the music ministry of Mount Zion. For information or transportation, call 704-637-0954.

 

Crown In Glory celebrates homecoming

Crown In Glory Lutheran Church, 517 E. Bank St.,  will celebrate its 2015 Harvest Home Festival beginning with revival services Thursday and Friday, Oct. 22-23 with a praise service at 6:30 p.m. followed by the worship service at 7 p.m.

Thursday’s speaker is the Rev. Timothy Bates of Calvary and Cameron Presbyterian churches, Statesville;

Friday’s speaker is the Rev. Dr. Ethel Bamberg-Revis, associate minister at Soldiers AME  Zion Church.

A songfest will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

On Harvest Home Sunday, October 25, host pastor the Rev. Donald Anthony will deliver the 9 a.m. message  a nd lunch will be served at 1 p.m.

The afternoon praise service is  at 3   p.m. followed by the worship service at 3:30. The  Rev. James McDaniels, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in High Point and interim pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Conover, will speak. Music will be provided by the Crown In Glory choir and community guest singers and musicians. Phyllis Partee is director of music services.

 

Bethel UMC dinner

Bethel United Methodist Church,2380 Long Ferry Road, will hold its annual chicken pie supper on  Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The $8 meal includes chicken pie, green beans, yams, dessert and drink. Hot dogs are $1.50, extra desserts are $1.

 

How to submit  a Faith Brief  Free Faith Briefs are for special events and run in the Faith Section every Saturday.  Send submissions to: faith@salisburypost.com, subject line: Church News, deadline: 1 p.m. on Thursday. In order to make room for everyone, free Faith Briefs run once.