A Brief History of A.R.B.F.

    The following represents a brief summary of the founding of Angels Rest Baptist Fellowship.

   In the month of April, 1995 a discussion was held between Jess Morris and Steve Vinson regarding worship services for a group of families who wished to stay together.  During that discussion a proposal to begin a new church was decided upon, following the suggestion of Reverend James Massey, father of Joy Smith.

   The first service was held on April 23, 1995 at the King Johnston Community Center.  Informal Sunday school classes were conducted followed by worship delivered by Dr. Charles Taylor.  During the ensuing Sundays, services were led by various ministers and a preliminary organizational meeting was held on May 21st followed by a fellowship luncheon.  At that time Sunday school teachers and members of various committees were chosen and the church adopted the name of Angels Rest Baptist Fellowship.  The church prepared and submitted an application to join the Highland Baptist Association. 

   The church is deeply grateful to numerous ministers who led the services in the early days.  It was evident early that members were interested in various forms of mission work and the church decided to support Kelley and Susan Mulheren in work they were doing in the Caucasus area of Russia.  That support turned into a regular monthly item in the budget and lasted until the Mulheren's return to the States.  Along with this mission friends children were being taught the value of missions by Ruth Blevins and Nora Bales and sent a Christmas in August package to a Baptist mission in Ohio.  Children in Mission and Mission Friends have continued until today.  The adult women were also involved in mission work and adopted the name Angels in Mission for their group.  This group which continually meets on a monthly basis, held their first banquet at the home of Nancy Farmer on December 6th, the winter banquet has now become an annual event at ARBF.  The church used many suppply ministers and lay people until late in 1995.  These individuals can be found listed in the churches archives in a document entitled, "An unofficial reconstruction of events leading to the organization of Angels Rest Baptist Fellowship." 

   On the 8th of October, 1995 Dr. Otis McClung was invited to become interim pastor.  He assumed the responsibility, and he and Mrs. McClung became two of the sixty-three charter members of the church.  Later that same year a committee composed of Ruth Blevins, Nancy Farmer, Bill Johnston, Steve Osborne, and Steve Vinson developed a church constitution which was adopted on November 12, 1995. 

   Interest soon began to grow in finding a permanent place for worship.  Since Dr. McClung had a somewhat similar experience in another community, he was instrumental in negotiating with the Pearisburg Seventh Day Adventist Church regarding the use of their building.  An agreement was soon reached and the first service of ARBF was held in the seventh day Adventist on February 18, 1996.  Unfortunately, Dr. McClung became ill and was only able to continue the position of interim through the month of February.  Due to Dr. McClung's illness, Dr. Bryan Bertholomey supplied for the entire month of March. 

   Building funds of $3,000 showed up in the offerings and the church was well on its way to providing a permanent site of residence.  An Easter worship service was to be held on the prospective building site on April 7, 1996 but it was cancelled due to cold weather.  Later that same morning the church was deeply saddened to learn of Dr. McClung's passing. 

   His diligence and support continued to further the growth of the church though and on April 12th a vesper service was held to view the property and discuss its possibilities.  At a business meeting on April 14th the church authorized the church trustees, Steve Hall, Leo Smith and Jean Yost, to provide a contract of intent to purchase the land to a Dr. Irma McGuire. 

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