The second silver service Vaughan Church used in observing the Lord's Supper has been preserved by the church.

"It is the interpretation of these events that helps us to understand and appreciate what has gone on before.

"Through the interpretation, we hopefully will see and learn from our past mistakes and look into the future with a renewed sense of mission.

"We of the Vaughan Baptist Church are called to 'lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes,'" he added.

The passage Lee quoted from Isaiah 54:2 was used as the theme of the celebration which climaxed on Oct. 26, the nearest Sunday to the actual founding of the congregation on Oct. 31, 1897.

Thirteen charter members launched the church located near the Virginia-North Carolina state line. Of the original members there were three married couples, a mother and daughter and five single persons.

According to Lee, records are vague or non-existent and little is known about the church's beginnings. However, Lee believes that many people in the community supported the church without joining it.

The first pastor of the new congregation was J.T. Edmundson (sometimes spelled Edmonson) who helped in the organization of the church and served as pastor for the first three years.

The first meeting place for the young church was the "old John Vaughan store."

Lee quips in his history, "Was John Vaughan old, or did that statement refer to the building?" The congregation had the dream of a church building, and soon land, lumber and money became available for construction of the first house of worship which served the congregation for about 55 years. The present sanctuary foundation was laid June 18, 1959.

The centennial celebration, which was also homecoming, was held on the last Sunday in October, a day in which a hard rain fell during the morning worship hour.

The sanctuary was filled with members, former members and friends. The noon meal was scheduled to be eaten "on the grounds," but it was moved into the fellowship hall because of the rain.

The crowd was so large it became necessary for the celebrants to eat in shifts - about 75 at a time. None of these difficulties dampened the enthusiasm and excitement of the day.

Pastor Robert L. Yates presided at the service and made appropriate recognitions. The call to worship in music - "Amazing Grace" - was done by the Enterprise Baptist Church Quintet. The pastor led in a response by the people.

Rich Lynch, chair of the deacons, welcomes the congregation to the centennial celebration.

Rick Lynch, chair of the deacons, welcomed the worshippers and paid tribute to the 13 charter members by reading all of their names.

Greetings from former pastors, Cullom Association and the Baptist State Convention (BSC) were presented. Wendy Minton Edwards, a member of the BSC General Board staff who also serves as representative for the area where Vaughan Church is located, spoke on behalf of the state convention.

The reading of the church covenant was followed by a hymn of devotion and reflection.

Larry Williams sang a solo -- "How Great Thou Art" -- immediately after the offering and doxology.

Virginia Lee, chair of the centennial committee, recognized members of her committee, and Rosamond West recognized former pastors.

Pastor Yates recognized the oldest members of the congregation before Lowell Lee presented a digest of the church's history.

R.G. Puckett, editor of the Biblical Recorder, delivered the Centennial Sermon. Sandra Shearin served as organist and Jean Edmonds was pianist for the service.

Lee developed the history of the church under four headings:

• Dreams
• Plans
• Struggles
• Celebrations

"Struggles in themselves are not necessarily bad or even harmful," Lee wrote, "but (they) can become a test for compassion and resolution.

"The struggles began early and continue to this day. The boom years of the '40s and '50s brought some relief with an increase in attendance and financial support, (but) as many churches experienced a decline in the '60s and '70s, so did Vaughan."

The records of the church indicate that the years of 1927-1932 were difficult, as they were for many Baptist congregations because of the Great Depression.

Other issues faced the church across the years but were finally resolved in some fashion. "This year (1997) has truly been one of celebration, and we have an occasion to commemorate...the fact we have come to the centennial...(through) the struggles we have faced..." wrote Lee near the conclusion of the history.

He paid tribute to the founders, those who had served as pastors and those who faithfully served the church to keep it alive.

Lee noted that often the church was served by pastors who were students at Wake Forest College and later Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Lee then commended the present pastor - Robert Yates - for the maturity he had brought to the church in leadership and pastoral ministry.