FRBC of LaGrange, GA - Church History

EARLY DAYS

Franklin Road Baptist Church (FRBC) was planned in the home of Mr. W.C. Waugh on Wednesday, March 10, 1948 by a small group of interested Baptists. On May 30, 1948, the name became official as recommended by the committee of four ladies who had been appointed for that purpose. The church met in a tent for some three months in same general area where the church is located today.

FRBC began services in a building in September of 1948, in the present location of the Sanctuary at 1424 New Franklin Road, with an educational annex being added to the Sanctuary in 1956 and expanded again in 1963. The Church had also purchased property in 1953 on South Page for a Pastorium. The Church had twenty-two (22) Charter members, among whom six (6) Charter Deacons were elected/ordained.

SHEPHERDS

The Church has had a total of thirteen (13) called Pastors since is inception, including the currently-serving, as follows:

Name	Tenure	Name	Tenure


Rev. Heflin Daniel *	1948 - 1950	Rev. Edward Salter	1972 - 1973
Rev. Ross Beal	1950 - 1951	Rev. Ernest Clegg	1974 - 1975
Rev. Eugene Reese	1951 - 1952	Rev. H.T. Henderson	1975 - 1978
Rev. Chester Craft	1952 - 1954	Rev. Sam Self	1979 - 1981
Rev. Rufus Mormon	1955 - 1966	Rev. Frank Sledge**	1981 - 2001
Rev. Jimmie Willis	1966 - 1971	Rev. Bob Burnett	2002 - 2007

Comment: Current called Pastor is Rev. Andy Buchanan, 2008 - (Bro. Andy is a native of LaGrange)

NOTES:
* Reverend Heflin Daniel, the Church’s first called Pastor, later served as both interim and called Pastor of several other Baptist Churches in the surrounding area. He became known all over the local area as “Troup County’s Pastor”, because he visited and encouraged the sick almost daily in the Hospitals & Nursing Homes.
** Reverend Frank Sledge is the more recent historical precedent of FRBC's contribution to the Spiritual well-being of area citizens, since he served faithfully for several years in a dual role as FRBC Pastor and as the Chaplain at the West Georgia Medical Center.

RECENT HISTORY

The beautiful new Sanctuary, with a seating capacity of 628 was completed and occupied in time for the Easter Sunday Service of April 12, 1998. The Sanctuary was designed as a slightly smaller version of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA. A complete video suite for programming the Sunday Services for weekly airing on local television is an integral part of the Sanctuary loft. Also built in is a state-of-the art Sound System with the ability to produce high quality sound and recordings. With a forward look to its future, the new sanctuary was uniquely designed to provide for

growth with the minimum of expense. For example, the main sanctuary can be enlarged to seat another 100. In addition, there is some 3000 square feet of floor space on the second level for expansion. The Church also provides recreational facilities for the membership with two regulation size ball fields, one of which can be used for extensive parking overrun for major church events.

With its frontal facade displaying 3-Crosses on a rock-strewn hill (1 Cross in the middle slightly higher), it overlooks the busy N-S artery of New Franklin Road (US Hwy 27). The design and hilltop location of the building daily reminds us in passing of the original Hill of Hope - Mount Calvary. That hilltop, at the end of the Via De La Rosa... "The way of sorrows"...where Christ hung on the middle cross, bearing the sins of all mankind. Where God’s only Son was crucified, buried, and then resurrected, thereby providing Eternal Life to those who believe in Him. The 60+ year history of our beloved Franklin Road Baptist Church is but a “flyspeck” on the wall of time compared to the survival of this “Good News” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

BUILDING UPON THE "CORNERSTONE"

Serving LaGrange and Troup County for some 60 years, Franklin Road Baptist Church facilitates a warm, loving and caring congregation whose lives portray the longtime scriptural belief that “Love Never Fails”. This motto was persistently vitalized by our loving Pastor Emeritus (Rev Frank Sledge) during his long tenure and that motto became deeply ingrained in the very persona of our membership. NOW, with a forward look to the future with Pastor Andy, we face new and exciting challenges as we strive to reach out to people in our community for Christ.