Merle Monahan/Contributing Writer
merlemonah@aol.com

BURDETTE—Burdette Baptist Church will celebrate its 105th anniversary on Oct. 6, with a homecoming service at the church.

Organized in April 1907, the first frame church building was constructed in 1908, and held its first service that fall with about 30 members.

During an intensive thunderstorm in March 1974, however, lightning struck the church steeple and burned the church to the ground. Nothing could be saved.

But within a year, church members had replaced the small frame church on the same site. It remains there today.

“And what a wonderful church it is,” said Pastor Buck Bryant. “I am excited to see what God has done here.”

Bryant, who is pastor of the church, will observe his first year at the helm of Burdette Baptist on the same day of its anniversary. It will have special meaning for him, he says, adding that he is happy in his position.

He is also happy to say that the church is growing. “I just recently baptized five people, three adults and two young people, making a total of 21 additions to the church in the last 11 months,” he added.

“When I came here, the church had been without a pastor for a while and services were held irregularly,” he went on. “There was no choir, and no one could remember the last time a business meeting was held.

“So we have reinstated quite a few things, like the Lord’s Supper, a pre-teen youth camp and vacation bible school, involving 17 workers and 14 students.”

Bryant has also scheduled a fall revival, Sept. 22 through 25

“We will have a different pastor bring the message each night. And we’ll have special music, including some selections by our own choir.”

He said the church is planning a big day for its homecoming. All former members will be invited to a special service and afterwards, dinner on the grounds, like in years past.

One other “year’s past” tradition continues—baptisms are performed in the Blackwater River, which is located near the church.