Charter Members: Brethren Joel Lewis, W. L. Hancock, J. E. Harrelson, J. L. Harrelson,
Berrain Harrelson, and Sisters Mary Lewis, Hattie Lewis, Mary Harrelson Watson, and Annie
Prine Green, met at 11:00 am in Kathleen, Florida. Elder G. H. Norwood brought the sermon,
setting forth the Kingdom of Christ from prophetic as well as New Testament teachings. The
following church covenant, the New Hampshire Confession of Faith, was adopted: "Having been,
as we trust, brought by divine grace to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and to give ourselves
wholly to Him, we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other to walk together in
Him brotherly love to His glory as our common Lord..."
Deacons were chosen to attend the South Florida Baptist Association to present to that body
their petitionary letter. It was resolved to raise money for missions and the church was
named Kathleen Baptist Church.
So was our beginning as a lighthouse in Kathleen and beyond. Hebrews 12:1-2
says, "Since we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses...let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." We began
with a vision of a people of God and family, of missions and prayer. Those who have gone
before would tell us to continue the race until Jesus comes. They were a people with a vision
of a church that would bring honor and glory to God, a place where families could worship
together, where parents could raise their children in the ways of God.
Some of today's church family members have precious memories from days gone by. "I remember Sunday
morning worship with parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and the church
family. We shared dinner-on-the-grounds after worship, with tables set under the large, beautiful
old oaks which shaded the front churchyard. We had afternoons of food, gospel music, and times of
sharing. We saw roots of faith grow in young lives as strong and deep as the roots of the old oak
trees."
Another long-time member shares that "During the years of WWII, we prayed for our men who were serving
our country on the battlefield. We placed each of their names on the back of a pew in the church. A
member of their family always sat in the seat during the services and we offered prayers for the lives
of each one. Every one of those men who had been lifted up to God in prayer returned home to their
loved ones and church family."
Many saints remember the wonderful Sunday night songfests that were times of prayer, testimony, songs
and music shared by the entire church. During those informal evenings, many young people shared their
talents with the church family for the first time. Old and young gave testimonies of how God was
blessing their lives. Those evenings encouraged all who attended.
Today we still sing, "Count Your Many Blessings, name them one by one" and "Praise the Lord...Great
things He has done!"
