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Show THEIR CHURCHES by Lois S. Ray Although the first settlers in the Midvale area were primarily L.D.S. it was not long until people of other cultures and religions arrived to seek employment and high attendance of 32 professions of faith. In to make their homes. Adults and children alike learned to accept each other and live in harmony. Employment FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH evening of February 4, 1971, over 20 persons met at 25 North Main, Midvale, Utah, for the purpose of establishing a Southern Baptist mission. The building, a begin meeting was Anita Lemke held in was the Autrey accepted the call to pastor the Mid Chapel. He and his wife, Ailene, were on the field Easter Sunday, April 14, 1974. The Autreys came to Midvale from Pensacola, Florida. Dr. C. E. On Utah, were August 25, 1974, First Baptist Church, Midvale, was organized. This would not have been possible it not for Home missions and State Missions, and its influence has been widespread. Dr. C. E. Autrey continued as pastor of First Baptist until June 22, 1975. Following his Church of Midvale attendance. resignation, the church remained pastorless until January, 1976, when Harold Dilman was engaged as in terim pastor for a period of six months. The church did On March 5, 1972, the mission voted to have business meetings and elected Darwin Welsh as moderator. The budget was in the amount of $4,479.96, and was adopted April 27, 1972. The budget included 16% of un designated receipts going to the Cooperative Program. In the summer of 1972, with the help of Diana Rhodes and Sharon Phillips, a summer program was started. first not extend this period and the church has remained pastorless until this time. (Jan. 1978). On May 1, 1977, the First Baptist Church opened the Sandy Baptist Mission, meeting in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 8575 South 7th East in Sandy, Utah. Chris Kutin and August (Butch) Miller and his family came from Forst Worth, Texas, for ten weeks during that summer to help in the Sandy work. This was made possible by a joint venture of the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Forst Worth, Texas. on a pilot project sponsored by the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention. They were from the Gravel Ridge Baptist Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Diana, assisted by several summer missionaries and Midvale members, conducted the day Mission" Bible stories. Each program which included crafts and night, Sharon and summer missionary, worked at organizing the Agape Inn ministry. ThIS area. ministry was open to all teenagers in the Midvale On 1973, the mission held its first service All Wilcoxo, In September, 1977, the church purchased property in Sandy, and the name of the church was officially changed to Alta Canyon Baptist Church. The First Bap February 4, This ministry attending. vale sponsoring church, University Baptist, and other interested persons. area the missionary, Mayo message by Following Brown, Marie Mason, Vestah Turney, and Rosene a in Welsh Darwin pledge to establish a Nelson, joined ministry in Midvale. The ministry began with Bible study on' Sunday evenings) led by Robert Fuelling, Clyde Billingsley, Dr. Joe H. Music" and Darwin E. Welsh. On June 27, Sunday School was started with 12 in Spanish-speaking people. "Girls in Action." The first director. service included members from the tist Church of Midvale ceased to exist at that time. was established with the help of Lorenzo Silvas, Regional held Spanish Missionary. July 16-22, the Spanish A revival services with Santos Ramos as evangelist. March, 1973, the mission purchased a piano. December with six former restaurant, was rented for $125 a month. This was paid for from the new work fund of the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention. Those attending the first with the 12 Utaba. Two went to children's amp and two went to youth camp. On November 12, 1973, the mission voted to On the volunteers for the "Youth were summer of 1973 the summer program was again organized with Sharon Phillips returning as a summer missionary. The day program included a' Backyard Bible Club and weekday camp. The Agape Inn Ministry was operated by Sharon and summer missionary, Shu Okumura. Four of the young people reached through the summer program were sent by the mission to Camp nearby mines and the smelter showed that differences in background meant little compared with tolerance, cooperation and friendship. Each group established its church and kept its identity while contributing to the community's growth and progress. were achieved and there The in Diana and Sharon was Anita Lemke peopl 171 Carol Browning |
