ECBA 75th Annual Meeting
On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, the 75th Annual Meeting was held at East Side Baptist Church.  The Moderator was John Garrison.  Music was led by David Garrison.  As a tribute to the anniversary, pictures and memorabilia posters were on display in the lobby area, as well as a scrolling display of pics from the past on the monitors in the lobby area.  Randy Makemson, our Associational Missionary gave the “State of the Association” message.  Brother David Stancil, pastor of Enon Baptist Church preached the message.  Mary Ellen Holmes, ECBA Historian, delivered a message about the history of the ECBA.
 

Historical Information provided by Mary Ellen Holmes, Historian, at the ECBA 75th Annual Meeting

Today we celebrate the establishment of East Cullman Baptist Association seventy-five years ago and the faithfulness God instilled in His people throughout  those years. I was only three years old at the time, but later, I recall my parents being involved in the work of the Association. I knew two of the original officers: the director, Virgil Sizemore and the clerk, James Denney. I remember Bro.Sizemore and his wife, Rachel visiting at my home when I was a child. Bro. Denney was an in-law in my mother’s family.

To remind us of some of the history of our Association, a slide show has been prepared along with the display of pictures you saw when entering today. It is our hope that these will prompt us by the Holy Spirit to engage in activities to reach others for Christ.   
 
But first, a short summary of our history:

Cullman County Baptist Association, begun in 1883, had grown to 92 member churches in 1946. Therefore, it was decided that dividing into west and east associations could make the work of the association have greater impact on the people of the county. Seventy-five years ago on December 3, 1946, 176 delegates from forty-seven Baptist churches east of Highway 31 met at Simcoe Baptist Church to form the East Cullman Baptist Association.   The number of member churches today is 51.

There have been 6 Directors of Mission in the Association: Virgil Sizemore,

A. Braswell, A. F. Holden, C. L. Stover, Jack Joyner, and Randy Makemson. The first title for this position was Promotional Director, then Associational Missionary. The current title of Director of Missions was adopted later.

A home for the Associational Missionary and his family with attached office  was built in Holly Pond. It served the Association for many years. In 1997 an office was leased for the Association in the East Park Shopping Center. In 1998 the Associational Missionary home and office were offered for sale and the decision was made to purchase property on which to construct permanent office facilities. These facilities, located on Highway 157, were built in 1999.

Over the years, many directors have been secured to lead various programs  in the Association. The directors along with committee members have conducted activities to strengthen the churches and their members and provide circumstances conducive to the Holy Spirit’s leading of the lost to faith in Jesus Christ. The work of the Association exists to bring glory and honor to God the  Father.

Among the many programs of the Association are the Children’s Home, Disaster Relief, Construction Mission Work Trip, Evangelism, Historical, Mission Projects of Churches, Nursing Home, Music, Prime Time Singers, Senior Adult Ministry, VBS, WMU/Men’s Ministry, Youth, and Baptist Campus Ministry.Depicted in the slide show are pictures of Annual Meetings, Christmas in August events, Day Camps for children, Senior Adult activities, youth activities, Mission Work Trips, Disaster Relief work, tent revivals, Prime Time Singers, VBS, church mission projects, and a truckload of food for the Children’s Home. One noteworthy picture is of a long line waiting outside to register at an annual meeting held at Hanceville First Baptist Church. Good thing it wasn’t raining that  day!I hope you enjoy reliving happy times in the life of our Association as we view this show.

 

ECBA Open House Sunday
 
On Sunday, May 23, 2021, the East Cullman Baptist Association held an Open House at the ECBA Ministry Resource Center to allow guests to take tours throughout the newly renovated/ redecorated Ministry Resource Center. Associational Missionary, Randy Makemson and his wife, Brenda Makemson; Ministry Associate, Debbie Keaton, along with Mary Ellen Holmes, Historian, and Janet Ferrell, Assistant ECBA WMU Director served as hosts for the event. The Open House kicks off the celebration of being an Association for 75 years. The Cullman Baptist Association divided into two separate Associations in 1946, forming the East Cullman Baptist Association and the West Cullman Baptist Association. Currently, the East Cullman Baptist Association has 52 churches. We will have special remembrance and celebration time at our ECBA Annual Meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 12th at East Side Baptist Church. Time is to be announced at a later date.
A very special thank you goes out to all who have worked tirelessly to help remove wallpaper, old carpeting, replaced doors, replaced lighting, painted, cleaned up & cleaned out, pressure washed, and so much more! There have been way too many volunteers to name them all. However, we do want to give an extra special thank you to Bill Wilt, and ECBA Trustee, a local contractor and member of Lake Catoma Baptist Church. Bill’s knowledge and skills were valuable in so many ways to help the project be accomplished and to stay within budget.
Thank you also to those individuals and churches who contributed, financially, to make the renovations possible.