Sunset Lane Baptist Church began as a Mission sponsored by First Baptist Church of Bessemer City. On June 7, 1953 at 2:30 pm eighteen people sat under the trees on the lawn of Red Hatley’s home for the first services to see if the people of that section of town wanted a mission Sunday School. Reverend Fred Forester preached and announced that services would be conducted at the same place the next Sunday. There were 55 present and Reverend Pete Pierce preached. The congregation continued to meet under small oaks at the corner of West Boston and South 11^th Streets using seats borrowed from Gamble Hill Baptist Church. The lots were given by Osage Manufacturing Co. under the suggestion of Mr. S. W. Burts connected with the company for many years. Then the first Sunday in November, the group moved in an old store building rented by D.R. Carpenter. The Sunday School increased in attendance. Rev. Pete Pierce accepted a church in Lincolnton and Rev. R.C. Franks accepted the challenge to preach each Sunday and conduct mid-week prayer meetings. A building committee was appointed by the church. Early in December, $25.00 was spent to get the ground leveled and the last week in the year the footings were poured and the building started, 56 feet long by 30.5 feet wide. Much of the work and materials were donated by members and local businessmen. The chapel seated about 170 while the five Sunday School rooms open into the auditorium. The Congregation met in the gentle sunshine for a picture and for a brief dedication service as they entered the new building on February 7. 1954. For four months the Deacons of the First Church observed the good work of the Mission under the leadership of Reverend Franks and S.W. Metzger. The Sunday School roll had risen to 174 with a grand attendance to reach as high as 111 on the years hot day August 1^st. The name of the Church became Second Baptist Church and joined the Gaston Baptist Association.

Bill Hoffman became the pastor in 1966. In 1967 the Church purchased the church building on the corner of Thirteenth and Maryland Streets and remained there until 1979. Pastors during the next years were M. D. Hart, Marion Pierce, Michael Morrow, Larry Robbins, Johnnie Perry, and Gene Hale. Rev. Gene Ware served as an interim pastor until Dave Hardin was called in 1979.

Very little of the church's, history is recorded during the years 1968 - 1972. Rev. Marion Pierce served as pastor from 1968 until 1970 when he resigned. Rev. Michael Morrow served as pastor from 1970 until 1972 when he returned to school to further his education.

In 1972 the Church purchased a parsonage on Ohio Avenue in Bessemer City, for $17,500. With God's guidance and help it was paid for in two years. Rev. Larry Robbins had become our pastor during this time. In 1972 an organ was purchased and paid for within a year. With great expectations, we purchased 10.5 acres of land on North 12th Street to build a new building on. Upon the purchase of the land, we decided to put all receipts o£ the Fifth Sunday's in the Building Fund.

During the years of 1974 and 1977 Rev. Johnnie Perry served as pastor. It was during these years the church became mission minded. We voted to support the John Wagnor family who works with Wycliffe Bible Translators and also the Bright Brown Cottage at the Thomasville Children’s Home. We took on the task of canvassing the city in an effort to find the unchurched. We also participated in a city-wide crusade. It was evident from the growth of the church that we were growing in the knowledge of Gods will. Also, one of our members, Dennis Badger, accepted the call to the ministry.

In 1977, Rev. Gene Hale assumed pastorate of the church. Under his ministry, the church started new outreach programs such as a radio program and jail ministry. The church began to support more of the programs offered by the association. A study program for young ministers was established. Billy Barnette and Gene Ware, two of our members, surrendered to preach. The church purchased a 1973 van to be used for a bus ministry and other church functions. On December 1, 1978 the church became incorporated. There have been many changes that have taken place. Along with the good times, comes those times that aren't as easy to accept. We found ourselves without a pastor. But with much prayer and supplication, we found that the Lord had given us a man in our midst that would stand in the hedge and make up the gap. Brother Gene Ware was our interim pastor. Only is time to come, will he ever know how much his encouragement during this time meant to us.

We started out on February 24, 1980 with a new pastor, Brother Dave Hardin. He had just retired from the Air Force. The Church became in need of more space and better facilities. We saw the vision o£ a new building on our property that had sat empty for so long. At one time in the past, the church had voted on a particular building but it wasn't God's time then to build. With much prayer, we entered a building program on September 28, 1980. We chose to finance it through a bond program. We voted to sell our present building and before we could put it on the market, the Lord sent us a buyer. The buyer would take occupancy of the building on January 1, 1981. We rented the Central School for our Sunday services and used the Optimist building for Wednesday night services.

The church entered into a new building on Twelfth Street in 1981. The church changed its name to Sunset Lane Baptist Church. Rev. Hardin remained pastor until 1989. Rev. Amos Kiser was interim pastor.

Reverend Ronnie Hinson was called as pastor in 1990 and remained the pastor until May 20^th, 2001. Ronnie had to retire due to health.

Reverend Tom Hogan was called as interim pastor in Sept. 2001 and served until Dec. 2002.

The church called Reverend Dick Hannah as pastor beginning Dec. 1^st, 2002.

Sunset Lane Baptist Church began as a mission 50 years ago with the conviction to share Christ to anyone with a spiritual need. Our goal is to continue to touch lives and make a difference for the sake of Christ; just as He has done for us.

Pictured above is the, building that was purchased recently by members of the Second Baptist Church which they plan to use for worship services, starting in July. The church sanctuary pictured above was built by members who belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. When that church merged with the Western Conference of the Methodist Church, the building was sold to Mrs. Eva Matthews Ormand. Mrs. Ormand who had remodeled the first floor basement of the building into a residence. sold the building to Second Baptist An entrance located in the rear of the building leads into the first floor basement area. The sanctuary entrance faces onto 13^th Street. Rev. Mr. M.D. Hart, is pastor of Second Baptist Church.

Members of Sunset Lane Baptist Church held a groundbreaking ceremony Sunday afternoon. Nov. 23. 1980, for their proposed new $160,000 church edifice

The church that was organized in 1954 with 15 charter members as Second Baptist, is building the structure at 1001 North 12th Street on property the church purchased that is located between Bessemer City High School and Bessemer City Memorial Cemetery. •\ portion of the property extends outside of the northwest city limits.

Rev. David N. Hardin is minister of the church.

Rev. R.C. Franks was minister when the church's first meeting in 1954 took place under a large tree on South 12th Street. The church's first sanctuary was a cement block building on S. 12th St.

The congregation later in 1967 purchased the structure on the comer of 13th Street and Maryland Ave, where Res. Mr. Franks was pastor until he retired.

Different ministers have served the church prior to Rev. Mr. Hardin accepting the charge.

The present structure being used by Sunset Lane members has been sold to the New 'Testament Church that is currently meeting in the home of its pastor, the Rev. Leon Padaras on North 12th St.

Harold Robinson is contractor for the building that will consist of 6,000 square feel. The building will be of cement block with a rock exterior. Six members of the church took a 10-week course in rock laying at Gaston College and will do the rock work.

The building is expected to be completed in six months. As soon as the sanctuary section of

the building is completed, services will take place there while the remainder of the structure is completed.

Members say the rock structure when completed will enhance the area as well as providing a place of worship where there is no immediate church facility.

Harold Meadows is chairman of the building committee. Serving with him are Don Capps, Jessie Burnette and Rev. Mr. Hardin.

The church averages an attendance on One hundred for each service.

Terrill Franklin is Sunday School Superintendent; William Lynn, chairman of the Deacon Board; Mrs. Betty Meadows, choir director; Mr. Robbie Houser, pianist; and Mrs. Brenda Hardin, president of^- the Women's Missionary Union.

Page 6 Bessemer CITY Record - Wednesday. December 3. 1980

On Easter Sunday, April 1981, we held our first service in our new building. On June 7. 1981 a formal dedication service was held.

On April 4, 1982, we voted to build the shell of a building, which would contain six Sunday school classrooms and a fellowship hall. This building is to be erected in stages as money becomes available. The first stage was pouring the foundation and floor, and the laying of blocks for the walls. This was completed in September 1982. The trusses and roof were completed by the end of December. All work and materials were donated from within the membership.

Also, on April 4^th, 1982 voted to accept new by-laws.

Youth attended Camp at Fort Caswell in July 1982.

Built new parsonage from monies acquired from the sale of existing parsonage.