HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS OF GOD AT WORK

In the year 1898, while John W. Randolph of Jasper, Alabama was in Atlanta, Georgia, he heard a Methodist minister, Rev. Charlie Tillman, preaching on the doctrine of entire sanctification. Mr. Randolph became so interested in the doctrine of entire sanctification he inquired of Rev. Tillman if he knew of a minister that would come to Jasper, Alabama, to preach entire sanctification. Rev. Tillman recommended Rev. R. M. Guy of Meridian, Mississippi. Rev. Guy had been sanctified in 1896 under the powerful preach-ing of Rev. J. 0. Mc Clurkin, who had been conducting revivals in the south and teaching at a Texas holiness college.

On June 10, 1898, Rev. Guy preached the first sermon on entire sanctification in Walker County, Alabama under a brush arbor in Jasper. This first holiness revival was a great success! People were saved and sanctified accompanied by much rejoicing and praising the Lord. For the next few years revivals were held in various places around Walker County until Rev. C.B. Jernigan, a great holiness preacher in Texas and Oklahoma, came to Walker County in 1906 and organized a Holiness Church of Christ at Nauvoo. In the late summer of 1907, Rev. Guy organized a Holiness Church of Christ in Jasper.

The year 1908 was a very important year for the two Holiness Church of Christ congregations in Walker County. Rev. Guy of the Jasper church, and Rev. John Manasco, of the Nauvoo church, were sent by their congregations to Pilot Point, Texas to form a union with the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene. The merger of the Holiness Church of Christ in the south and the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene took place on Tuesday, October 13, 1908, at 10:40 a.m., amid great shouts of joy and holy enthusiasm. As reported in The Holiness Evangel, October 14, 1908, Rev. R. M. Guy of Jasper, Alabama was introduced and spoke to the General Council-Assembly at Pilot Point. During this same General Council-Assembly, a number of new districts were formed and their district superintendents were appointed. Rev. R. M. Guy was appointed district superintendent of the Alabama, Mississippi and West Florida District and served in this place of leadership until the first Alabama District Assembly was held on March 6-7, 1909 at Jasper. During this first assembly. Rev. C. H. Lancaster was elected district superintendent. The first Alabama District Assembly opened at 2:40 p.m. on March 6,1909 with the singing of "A Charge to Keep" followed by General Superintendent H. F. Reynolds leading in prayer that bombarded heaven. His message that followed was taken from Philippians 2:1-5. The elders to report at the first assembly were:

Rev. C. H. Lancaster, Jasper, Alabama
Rev. J. A. Manasco, Fayette, Alabama
Rev. W. R. Randolph, Haleyville, Alabama
Rev. R. M. Guy, Jasper, Alabama
Rev. P. M. Covington, Cascilla, Mississippi

Seven organized churches were listed on the district.

1. Mount Peniel, Thaxton, Mississippi
2. Cordova, Alabama (organized in 1915)
3. Friendship, Cascilla, Mississippi
4. Jasper, Alabama (organized in 1908)
5. Nauvoo, Alabama (organized in 1905)
6. Pineforest, Atmore, Alabama
7. Saragossa, Alabama (organized in 1908)

The district officers elected by the delegates were:

District Superintendent, Rev. C. H. Lancaster
District Secretary, John W. Randolph
District Advisory Board, Elders: John A. Manasco, W. R. Randolph

Laymen: W. G. Jackson and J. A. Romine

The delegates serving at the first district assembly in 1909 were W. G. Jackson, Jasper; Mrs. S. B. Day, Jasper; J. M. Martin, Nauvoo; John Romine, Nauvoo; S. W. Lane, Cordova; R. T. Hardin, Saragossa.

During April 1909, Rev. "Bud" Robinson held a ten day revival in Jasper which accomplished much and a significant number of believers being saved and sanctified. District Superintendent Lancaster wrote to General Superintendent Reynolds on April 30,1909 telling of Uncle "Bud" Robinson's revival and stating that finances were a real hindrance; however, he was asking God to "stir the people so the work can move on."

The district Camp meeting has had a strong spiritual impact on the Alabama District from the first one held under a tent at the Walker County Fairgrounds in 1919, to the Millport Bi-State Camp meeting Board organized in 1935.  , and the relocation on the district campground at Millport, to our present grounds at Rolling Hills Camp, Calera.  The 59th District Assembly, in session at Panama City, May 17, 1967, voted in favor of re-locating to the present facilities.

In the early days of Millport Camp, the campers would arrive early enough to fill their mattress 'ticks' with fresh good straw for their bedding.  A two story dormitory was used to house most of the people.  Hanging sheets provided partitions for privacy.  A women's dormitory and a dorm for the men were also a part of the housing facilities.

The surrounding woods always rang with voices of early morning prayer meeting groups praying for the day service.  Again in the evening before service, prayer groups would return to the groves for prayer.  Often shouts of praise and victory would ring out as they returned to the tabernacle for services.  The Lord would come and mighty conviction settled down over the congregation.  As a result, great altar services were the normal expectation.  People would "pray through" and "die out" as they were sanctified.  The building of the Kingdom moved forward in mighty strides.

Young people held youth camps at Millport during the summer.  Classes were taught and devotional times were held.  Fun times such as watermelon cuttings, walks to the old spring, ball games and pranks played on each other were important aspects of the camps.  Young people often shouted as waves of glory would roll over the crowded tabernacle. 

The Millport camp grounds and buildings were improved during the 1960's as finances permitted.

PARSONAGE FOR AL DISTRICT BEFORE SEPARATING INTO TWO DISTRICTS

(Alabama North and Alabama South)

• Located on Highway 119 North, Cahaba Valley Road in the Indian Springs are of Shelby County, one mile east of I-65, Exit 246 near Pelham, Alabama.  Constructed in 1966 under the administration of Dr. Reeford L. Chaney, the building contained 3, 250 square feet of living area and 750 square feet of office space.

PARSONAGE FOR ALABAMA SOUTH DISTRICT

• Dr. Jernigan purchased a district parsonage in Greenville, AL and resided there all five years he was District Superintendent.  Dr. Sessions lived in the Greenville parsonage for a short time then it was sold and a parsonage was purchased at 205 Kay Street, Prattville, Alabama.
• In 1999 the district assembly agreed to give a housing allowance to the Fullers to purchase their own home.  The parsonage at 205 Kay Street is currently being leased to Air Force Colonels studying at nearby Mazwell Air Force Base.

NEW ALABAMA CAMPGROUNDS

District Superintendent Reeford Chany wanted to develop a new campground nearer to the center of the Alabama District, which was just a short distance below Birmingham.  The old historic location in Millport had been nearer  to the Mississippi District and th ecity of Columbus than to the other large cities in Alabama.  At Millport there was an open tabernacle, with no air conditioning anywhere in the cabins, dormitories, or th ekitchen, and dinidnal hall, which as a screened-in area.  Some people thought that old Millport could be brought up to present-day standards, but it seemed that it would be better to relocate. 

One day, while Dr. Reeford Chaney was at a restaraunt in Montgomery, he noticed an ad in the local paper about eighty acres of land for saleabout forty miles south of Birmingham, and he immediately called and said, "Hold it for me until I get there."  It was unbelievable priced at ten thousand dollars for eighty acres.  The district purchased it and Dr. Chaney and Dr. Don Jernigan walked over the property which was filled with trees, and they were able to secure an arerial survey, which showed the general topography.  From this topo, Don was able to develop a master plan with roadways, three lakes, and proposed buildings for which he did the design and working drawings for all the buildings without charge.  "Give, and it shall be given unto....." 

The 59th District Assembly, in session at Panama City, May 17, 1967, voted in favor of re-locating to the present facilities.  Following the assembly District Superintendent Reeford Chaney and the district board began searching a suitable location.  An undeveloped tract of land, easily accessible, near the center of the district at a reasonable price was the object of the search.  The original 80 acre tract was purchased for $10,000 ($125 per acre) and additional acreage at the entrance to the site was acquisitioned at no cost to the district.  The total area of the new camp site was near 100 acres. 

The Camp Board and Advisory Board voted unanimously to purchase the property and to proceed with development plans to present to the 60th District Assembly, May 22-23, 1968. 

A Camp Development Committee was set up to include the Advisory Board, Camp Board and representative members-at-large from across the former Alabama District.  Rev. Don Jernigan provided his architectural skill and the Master Plan was prepared for development of the new campground facility.  One of our general superintendents and other camp meeting evangelists have remarked that is is one of the best in our denomination.  Don Jernigan and his family have given liberally in monetary terms to help pay for some of the buildings over many years and also erected two prototypes (an octagonal and an "A" frame).  They gave the         Octagonal cottage to the Camp.

In May of 1996, the Alabama North District Assembly elected Robert R. Broadbooks as their second District Superintendent.  The election came on the fourteenth ballot while General Superintendent James Diehl was presiding.  Dr. Broadbooks and his wife, Carol, were serving as pastor of Tampa First Church in Tampa, Florida at that time.  He succeeded retiring District Superintendent, Dr. B. J. Garber.  Robert 'Bob' & Carol Broadbooks served the Alabama North District for six and one-half years until his appointment as the District Superintendent of the Tennessee District, by Dr. Jesse Middendorf.

On February 15, 2003, Dr. W. Talmadge Johnson, with the unanimous vote of the Alabama North District Advisory Board, appointed N. Gregory Rickey as their third District Superintendent. Reverend Rickey and his wife, Jerelyn, were  serving in their eighth year as pastor of Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, OK at the time.  He succeeded District Superintendent, Dr. Bob Broadbooks who had served the Alabama North District for six and one-half years until his appointment as the District Superintendent of the Tennessee District, by Dr. Jesse Middendorf.