Our History
On Sunday before the 4th of July 1949, the Reverend Roy Rikard met for the purpose of establishing a Free Will Baptist Church in Belmont, NC.
The Church was set in order and called East Belmont Freewill Baptist Church. The church had eleven charter members:
| L.B. Wingate |
Pearl Wingate |
| Glenn Russell |
Willie Mae Russell |
| Fredrick Russell |
Walter Russell |
| Mary Phillips |
Hazel Allen |
| Rev. John Newton |
Lucia Newton |
| Mildred Allen |
|
To date the church has had six pastors:
| Pastor John Newton |
from 1949-1956 |
| Pastor Owen Gainey |
from 1956-1957 |
| Pastor M.T. Sparks |
from 1957-1986 |
| Pastor John Newton |
from 1986-1991 |
| Pastor Burel Bryant |
from 1991-2002 |
| Pastor Scottie Stewart |
from 2002-Present |
The church began to meet in different places until a permanent place was found. The present building was built under the leadership of M.T. Sparks and members.
