Ebenezer Baptist Church Still a Lighthouse to Community

Our history by Veta Goodwin

Ebenezer Baptist Church has been a Lighthouse to the Quitman community for over 163 years now. Located at 1430 North FM Hwy. 14, Ebenezer (as recorded in the minutes of a sister church Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church) was established in 1860. It has continued to provide a church home to those members and visitors who still attend this beautiful little church. Many who attend agree that it is reminiscent of churches they grew up in.

Over those 163 years, Ebenezer has seen some setbacks. Early church records were destroyed when the home of church clerk, Mr. Lon Cruce was struck by lightning which caused his home to burn. Then later on, Wood County records of the church were destroyed in a courthouse fire.

The first Ebenezer church building was a small box like log structure. The second church that was built to replace the one destroyed was a larger two-story structure. Church members met on the first floor, and the Woodmen of the World held meetings on the second floor. Unfortunately, a cyclone (tornado) that passed through Wood County, Oak Grove Community on April 19, 1919 destroyed the two-story church structure.

The third building was built and it was a larger one-story structure with a hip roof. This building included multiple pane glass windows on all sides. A double door entrance was added in the front, and various other doors were included. The rear part of the building was built with an angle area that projected in the center of the rear section for use by the church choir, piano and pulpit.

The seating in the church was wood-slat pews. There were three rows of pews in the front of the building for the congregation seating. Some shorter pews between the side doors and the back of the building were occupied during services by the “Older” women who chose pews on the south, and “Older” men sat on the pews on the north side. This was known as the “Amen” corner.

An elevated area at the back of the church was utilized by the choir, piano and pulpit.

A large wood burning heater was erected between the pulpit and the pews where the congregation seats were placed. The Pastors probably appreciated the heat in the winter.

Sunday school was held every Sunday morning, but church worship was only held one Saturday night, one Sunday morning, and one Sunday night per month.

The auditorium area was divided by curtains hung from wires fastened to the ceiling for younger classes. Adults met in the choir area.

The very first pastors on record for the church were H.Y. Lively and W.M.D. Wood.

Ebenezer Church was represented in the Harmony Association Meeting at Liberty in 1872.

In those early days, Pastors usually had other churches to oversee as well. When the Pastor lived a distance away from the church where he was to preach, he would spend Saturday night with different church members, and join them for lunch or dinner on Sunday.

Summer revivals usually lasted one or two weeks and included both morning and evening services. Many of those services were filled, thereby prompting people to sit in open windows or stand outside. What a joy it would be to fill this church again during Revival.

Church lighting was powered by a dynamo and a series of auto-like batteries. “Long winded” preachers and church goers would sometimes sit in the dark while someone refueled and re-started the dynamo.

The sanctuary of the present church building was a pier and beam frame structure constructed from lumber of the third building. One carpenter was hired as General Contractor. Other labor was donated by men of the church and the community. This third building had three Sunday school rooms in the back which now houses the heating and cooling unit, the Baptistry, and storage area.

The building was bricked later on from the proceeds of an estate willed to the church.

In the 1970’s a fellowship hall was built, and one of the builders was Darwin Blair whose son Tommy Blair still attends the church to this day.

Sometime during the 1980’s, the adjoining Sunday school rooms, restrooms, and water fountain was added.

Prior to 1983, new believers were baptized in Bryan Cornelius pond on Hwy. 14 near the church. The church Baptistry was installed sometime after 1983.

The northside edition was added during the 1990’s. At that time, bricks were added to the front of the sanctuary to more closely match the bricks on the fellowship hall which were used on the northside addition.

On November 5, 2005, and in celebration of their 145th anniversary, a dedication of the new metal roof was held. Speaker of ceremonies was Bro. Fred Morrow and a covered dish luncheon was provided. Music was provided then by Heart ‘N Strings of Canton.

The metal roof was added after several composition shingle roofs had been done and the church required repair of some roof leaks. The metal roof was paid for by individual, business donations, and sister church donations.

In 2024, this website was added in order for visitors looking for a church home to be able to check out the website first. Also, on September 21, 2024, the first known Homecoming Event was held at the church and was a huge success. Several family members from the Benedict family took part in the Homecoming program Event. John Benedict presented the worship message. His wife Becky, presented her testimony and sang a beautiful song. Then John’s sister, Linda Benedict Cates gave a very heartfelt Testimony about growing up in that church, as well as the Quitman area, and how her life had been so very blessed.

Over the years, the church went from holding services one week a month during World War II to two weeks a month and then to fulltime worship services. During those times, services evolved from Saturday night and Sunday to only on Wednesday night and Sunday morning and evening services.

Ebenezer is a country church which welcomes anyone and everyone to all church worship services. The church’s new pastor is Brother Richard Goodwin who brings a lot of energy into reviving this wonderful and beautiful church for this Quitman community. Along with his wife, Veta, who has researched the church’s history and is authoring this article, they’re working to revive and update this church.

Ebenezer provides support for its members in fellowship, growing their faith, help in times of crisis, tragedy, and loss. They provide an avenue for many to volunteer in serving their Lord Jesus Christ. Most everyone has a talent that could be doing God’s work whether it is preaching, singing, teaching Sunday School, serving as a Greeter for the church, doing some updating at the church or cleaning. There are so many needs in every church.

A few reasons why church membership for all is needed includes the following:

*There is no substitute for belonging to a church where members receive Christian fellowship.

*Most of us need the regular support and encouragement of Christian fellowship.

*While listening to sermons online is convenient and necessary for individuals who are sick or unable to travel to church, it is no substitute for actually receiving God’s words in the church.

*Everyone has a talent that can be utilized and welcomed in the local church.

At some point in life due to circumstances beyond our control, we will all need a church home. Ebenezer church provides members with support when they need help during difficult times. Ebenezer is a Bible preaching, teaching New Testament church. We have added Wednesday Bible Study services, a Grief Support Class for anyone who is coping with loss, and we are working to revamp all areas of the church. The church’s future plans will include prayer breakfasts, fellowship lunches, Fifth Sunday Singings for the Wood County Baptist Association Church members, various special activities and programs and a Revival.

Please join us on Sundays for Sunday School at 10:00 o’clock a.m., Worship services at 11:00 o’clock a.m., and Wednesday Bible Study at 6:00 o’clock p.m