A brush arbor was constructed, just north across the alley from their present gymnasium. Old time fairground seats served as pews. This was their meeting place, to sing, pray, preach, and worship God.
Eventually, the brush was done away with and a big tent was stretched over the framework. A big coal heater was placed inside the tent with a pipe going out through the roof. Later boards were nailed on around the sides and ends of the tent to give added strength and warmth.
On July 13, 1919, in this old tent, a church was organized. There were thirteen charter members all from the First Baptist Church of Marion. Among them were: Brother and Sister Earnest and Bertha Singleton, Brother James and Sister Stella Henson, Brother F. M. and Sister Martha Holliday, Brother Ethel Duncan, Brothers Carl Duncan, John Campbell.
There were three trustees, and four deacons. Brother Julian Atwood, then pastor of the First Baptist church was the moderator at the meeting when the church was organized.
Brother C. C Allen was chosen as the first pastor, with the first church clerk Stella Henson. Brother Holliday served as the first deacon. On August 31, 1919, the following deacons were ordained: James N. Henson, Luther Penley, John Campbell, David McKnight, Vallie Hinckle.
The cornerstone of a new building was laid on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1919, by Homer Bearden.
Brother Allen served as pastor for a number of years. Next, Dr. W. P. Throgmorton came and served as pastor for quite a while without a penny for pay. Arthur Doerr, who was saved at the brush arbor revival, was then church treasurer and became the next pastor.
In 1937, Brother L. G. Hartley became pastor of the church. Years later he wrote in his book Leslie, “I preached my first sermon at the Third Baptist Church on January 1, 1938. We had 140 present. It was a nice-looking audience, though not quite as large as I had been accustomed to at Dorrisville. They did have a parsonage, the first one we had ever lived in. It had a good bathroom and cold water. During the war times, food was scarce. Many things were rationed. I did something that would seem foolish to lots of preachers. One Sunday after preaching, I asked the deacons to stay for a little conference.”
During the conference, Rev. Hartley asked that the garage be enlarged to allow him to keep a cow and a few chickens. This was approved and he carried out his plan. In later years he was made Pastor Emeritus of the church and got $1 a year salary.
In 1969, the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. On November 17, 1971, Burford Cobb was called to serve as pastor. In April, 1974, Rev. Frank Trotter called as pastor.
In 1982, the church received considerable damage from a tornado which killed 10 people, injured 100, and did some 90 million dollars in damages to Marion.
In October of 1987, Rev. Ron Cremeens was called to serve as pastor, and in 1988, Mark McPike became Minister of Youth.
Rev. Cremeens has been very active in the Marion Ministerial Alliance helping with the Christmas Basket Program and the Alliance’s shoe and coat program.
Down through the years, new deacons have been added and many fine musical talents. It is these new members that carry on the present ministry of the church including Baby Bib Ministry, Soup Kitchen, Jail Ministry, Meals-on-wheels, Good Pantry, Clothing Ministry, Transportation, Radio/TV, Thanksgiving baskets, Senior Adult Ministries, Care Unit Extension, Homebound, Outreach, Mission Ministries, Youth Ministries, Family Deacon Flock, and Local Ministries.”—By Violet Grisham 1989
In 2012, the staff are Scott Kallem, Senior Pastor; Larry Shacklee, Minister of Education and Administration; Josh Monda, Student Pastor; Paul Lemon, Minister of Worship and Media; Brett Cutsinger, Minister of Recreation; Carol Ashford, Secretary; Ted Scholes, Custodian; Sondra McKenzie, Custodian.
(This article was written by local historian Violet Grisham and published in the Homemaker, later reprinted in the Sesquicentennial History, some data from Third Baptist Website, historic photos from Sesquicentennial History, current photos by Sam Lattuca)