Our Story
How it all started...
Lincoln Avenue was established in what once was a thriving mill village community. where textile mills were located just a short walk from the church. Even to the 1960s, footpaths crisscrossed the area directly in front of our current location.
In 1910, First Baptist Church partnered with Riverview Baptist to sponsor a 'church planting' effort, with an invitation extended to Cleveland County native Rev. Christopher Francis Felmet of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to lead a series of revival meetings. These were held at a community building owned by textile businessman Daniel E. Rhyne.
The revival meetings were a success, and a number of people made decisions for Christ. On Sunday September 18, 1910, First Baptist pastor S. W. Bennett and several members of both sponsor churches met with interested neighborhood residents at the community building to formally organize a new church to be called Lincoln Avenue Baptist. Rev. Felmet, then pastor at Riverview, was called as first pastor, and held worship services on the third Sunday of each month.
On October 25, 1910, at the 32nd annual meeting of the South Fork Baptist Association at Mt. Zion in Alexis, Lincolnton Avenue Baptist was one of two churches that filed a Letter of Petition to become member churches with the Examination Committee. Our first annual letter to the association reported thirty-eight members by baptism, twenty-seven by letter and statement.
In 1910, First Baptist Church partnered with Riverview Baptist to sponsor a 'church planting' effort, with an invitation extended to Cleveland County native Rev. Christopher Francis Felmet of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to lead a series of revival meetings. These were held at a community building owned by textile businessman Daniel E. Rhyne.
The revival meetings were a success, and a number of people made decisions for Christ. On Sunday September 18, 1910, First Baptist pastor S. W. Bennett and several members of both sponsor churches met with interested neighborhood residents at the community building to formally organize a new church to be called Lincoln Avenue Baptist. Rev. Felmet, then pastor at Riverview, was called as first pastor, and held worship services on the third Sunday of each month.
On October 25, 1910, at the 32nd annual meeting of the South Fork Baptist Association at Mt. Zion in Alexis, Lincolnton Avenue Baptist was one of two churches that filed a Letter of Petition to become member churches with the Examination Committee. Our first annual letter to the association reported thirty-eight members by baptism, twenty-seven by letter and statement.
15 Charter Members
Mrs. M. E. Bridges Mrs. Mattie Wise
Jose Cloninger Zola Caldwell
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Wesley Caldwell (Nancy Emma McKenzie)
J. L. Caldwell A. C. Hull
Mrs. L. A. Hull Bertha Dellinger
Mr. & Mrs. Gerard A. Bolick (Mary Belle Massey)
Wm. Robert Lankford Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Bost
Where we are headed...
Lincoln Avenue continues to be about the Father's business fulfilling the Great Commission: Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Pastors who led the Lord's work at Lincoln Avenue:
C. F. Felmet (First) W. W. Rimmer S. A. Stroup J. J. Waldrop
B. H. Laughridge M. I. Harris (First fulltime) W. W. Abernathy
W. W. Marr A. A. Lockee J. M. Baker (1st) (Served two pastorates)
Roy Hinson J. M. Baker (2nd) A. L. Campbell (1st) (Served two pastorates)
A. F. Blackburn Ernest Sisk A. L. Campbell (2nd) C. H. Greene Earl Henry Albert Helms, Jr. Kenneth Simpson James D. Cool (Longest serving, 18+ years)
Ken Jones Eddie Yount (Current)
Ministers ordained at Lincoln Avenue:
Oscar Tucker Belton Columbus Beal, Sr. (father) Lewis Beal (son)
Varser Lockee J.D. Lynn Randal Helms Bob Wise Harold Cantrell
Daniel Dye Robert Scott Bradley Christopher Alvin Sanford
Ricky James Spake Monte Ervin Raby Larry Steven Turner
Rickie Helms, Jr. Bartley Bess
Pastors who led the Lord's work at Lincoln Avenue:
C. F. Felmet (First) W. W. Rimmer S. A. Stroup J. J. Waldrop
B. H. Laughridge M. I. Harris (First fulltime) W. W. Abernathy
W. W. Marr A. A. Lockee J. M. Baker (1st) (Served two pastorates)
Roy Hinson J. M. Baker (2nd) A. L. Campbell (1st) (Served two pastorates)
A. F. Blackburn Ernest Sisk A. L. Campbell (2nd) C. H. Greene Earl Henry Albert Helms, Jr. Kenneth Simpson James D. Cool (Longest serving, 18+ years)
Ken Jones Eddie Yount (Current)
Ministers ordained at Lincoln Avenue:
Oscar Tucker Belton Columbus Beal, Sr. (father) Lewis Beal (son)
Varser Lockee J.D. Lynn Randal Helms Bob Wise Harold Cantrell
Daniel Dye Robert Scott Bradley Christopher Alvin Sanford
Ricky James Spake Monte Ervin Raby Larry Steven Turner
Rickie Helms, Jr. Bartley Bess
