How it all started...
The “Roots” of the Elmwood tree run deep!
The roots or lineage of Elmwood Baptist Church can be traced back before 1776 when our nation was founded. Although there have always been Christians since the church began at Pentecost who held to “believer’s baptism,” it wasn’t until 1609 that the name “Baptist” was applied to them.
By 1639 the first Baptist arrived in the New World. Many of the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving were Baptists. Baptists first settled in the Virginia colonies in 1661. After the Great Spiritual Awakening of 1720-1740, Baptist churches began a great missionary effort to reach the mountain folk of the Appalachian region with the Gospel and to plant churches. Churches were called “Missionary Baptist” churches because this area of the country at the time was, and still is a mission field.
Charles A. Love (then a member of Bloomingdale Salem Baptist Church), after returning from a trip to Missouri, conceived the idea of a new church closer to the Dusenburg Dam area. The population had grown over the past 30 years near the Iron Bridge across the Guyandotte River, and it was close to 3 miles from there to Bloomingdale Baptist Church. Mr. Love asked Charles E. Morris to donate a piece of land for the purpose of building a church.
On October 26, 1889, letters of dismissal were given by Bloomingdale Baptist church to members for the purpose of organizing the new church. On November 2, 1889, Elmwood Missionary Baptist Church was established. There were 30 founding members at the first meeting held at the Swamp Branch Schoolhouse. They were: the Love family (9), the Shomaker family (6), the Davidson family (6), the Morris family (2), the Morrison family (2), Wilson Rogers, Mary Ross, Nancy Purnell, Nancy Meadows, and Nancy Dick. Mr. C. Shomaker was the moderator of the first meeting where officers were elected, the articles of faith and church covenant were adopted, and the name of Elmwood Baptist Church was chosen because of the Elm trees on the land.
The roots or lineage of Elmwood Baptist Church can be traced back before 1776 when our nation was founded. Although there have always been Christians since the church began at Pentecost who held to “believer’s baptism,” it wasn’t until 1609 that the name “Baptist” was applied to them.
By 1639 the first Baptist arrived in the New World. Many of the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving were Baptists. Baptists first settled in the Virginia colonies in 1661. After the Great Spiritual Awakening of 1720-1740, Baptist churches began a great missionary effort to reach the mountain folk of the Appalachian region with the Gospel and to plant churches. Churches were called “Missionary Baptist” churches because this area of the country at the time was, and still is a mission field.
Charles A. Love (then a member of Bloomingdale Salem Baptist Church), after returning from a trip to Missouri, conceived the idea of a new church closer to the Dusenburg Dam area. The population had grown over the past 30 years near the Iron Bridge across the Guyandotte River, and it was close to 3 miles from there to Bloomingdale Baptist Church. Mr. Love asked Charles E. Morris to donate a piece of land for the purpose of building a church.
On October 26, 1889, letters of dismissal were given by Bloomingdale Baptist church to members for the purpose of organizing the new church. On November 2, 1889, Elmwood Missionary Baptist Church was established. There were 30 founding members at the first meeting held at the Swamp Branch Schoolhouse. They were: the Love family (9), the Shomaker family (6), the Davidson family (6), the Morris family (2), the Morrison family (2), Wilson Rogers, Mary Ross, Nancy Purnell, Nancy Meadows, and Nancy Dick. Mr. C. Shomaker was the moderator of the first meeting where officers were elected, the articles of faith and church covenant were adopted, and the name of Elmwood Baptist Church was chosen because of the Elm trees on the land.
The following churches are part of Elmwood’s spiritual lineage, each planting the next:
- 1756 – Smith Creek Baptist
- 1757 – Lynville Creek Baptist
- 1768 – Mill Creek Baptist
- 1772 – Carter’s Mill Baptist
- 1781 – Old Greenbrier Baptist
- 1807 – Mud River Baptist
- 1855 – Bloomingdale Baptist
- 1889 – Elmwood Baptist
We thank God for the many faithful members of Elmwood Baptist Church, some of whom have been serving for 70+ years.
Expanding the vision...
In 1993 Elmwood Baptist, broke ground on a new church building that we occupy today. However, this building was not built by sweat alone, but through fervent prayer. Some of our most devout prayer warriors would often be seen going around the church asking God to bless this building and its people for the glory of His Kingdom. In the end, God not only built a building, He strengthened His people.
However, God's blessings did not stop there. In 2007 God gave us a vision to build a facility that could house our teen ministry and open up opportunities for further community outreach. God blessed us with an extension for our church that housed a gymnasium, classrooms, and dining and activities area. The building was completed and paid in full through generous love offerings within 2 years. Through this growth and God's vision, Elmwood renewed its focus on fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus which is to “Make disciples of all nations.” Today these facilities are used for our teen ministries, community day outreach, junior camp, mission conferences and many fund raising dinners for God's service.
However, God's blessings did not stop there. In 2007 God gave us a vision to build a facility that could house our teen ministry and open up opportunities for further community outreach. God blessed us with an extension for our church that housed a gymnasium, classrooms, and dining and activities area. The building was completed and paid in full through generous love offerings within 2 years. Through this growth and God's vision, Elmwood renewed its focus on fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus which is to “Make disciples of all nations.” Today these facilities are used for our teen ministries, community day outreach, junior camp, mission conferences and many fund raising dinners for God's service.
Where we are headed...
The future of Elmwood Baptist looks to be even brighter than our wonderful testimony in God’s past blessings! We are committed to looking ahead for even more effective ways to grow the kingdom, grow loving disciples of Christ, and teach them to serve Him with all their heart.
We trust that God will continue to draw others to Jesus Christ through our church at Elmwood and that He would find joy in using this body of believers to reach our community and the world with the good news of salvation. The challenges before us are great! If Jesus tarries in His return, ministry in this century could be challenging. However, if God's people at Elmwood continue to respond today, as they always have, with fervent prayer, sacrificial giving, faithful service, hard work, and unyielding faith, then God will prove again that He is beyond sufficient to meet every need and continue to grow His church for His glory until His triumphant return.
We trust that God will continue to draw others to Jesus Christ through our church at Elmwood and that He would find joy in using this body of believers to reach our community and the world with the good news of salvation. The challenges before us are great! If Jesus tarries in His return, ministry in this century could be challenging. However, if God's people at Elmwood continue to respond today, as they always have, with fervent prayer, sacrificial giving, faithful service, hard work, and unyielding faith, then God will prove again that He is beyond sufficient to meet every need and continue to grow His church for His glory until His triumphant return.
