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HISTORY

Church History

The History of Atterberry Community Baptist Church (as much as we know)

1910 
In the small community of Atterberry, IL, a preacher named Frank Day held a soul- stirring revival. From this inspiration, Atterberry Community Baptist Church was started. The official dedication took place on September 11, 1911. The first funeral service at the church was that of Crit Atterberry, husband of Christina Bonnett Atterberry. 

1928 
The church was able to have electricity. The church also purchased a piano, which was used for many years. 

1928 to 1970 
The church had many pastors through the years. 

1970 to 1974 
The church doors were shut down. The church sat empty for approximately four years, because there was no pastor. 

1974 
In May of 1974, the Lord led Larry Taintor to reopen the work in the small community of Atterberry. The condition of the building was a disappointment, but the Lord's calling was on his life. He began visiting and evangelizing the area. The first official reopening service began on June 23, 1974. The original building of 1911 was renovated. Several people came to help clean up and help renovate the church. A new ceiling with a gold cross, along with new lights and a furnace were installed. 

1975 
The church purchased a parsonage in Atterberry for the pastor and his family. Also, the church added Sunday School rooms and two bathrooms. Pastor Taintor headed a missions-minded church by supporting missionaries. He also started a Christian school, which hosted many students for several years. 

1982 
After eight years, Pastor Tainter left the church pastorate, moving to Florida. Pastor Bledsoe took over the church pastorate for the next two years. 

1984 
Pastor Arnold Guy and his family took over the church pastorate. They left the church in February 1990. 

1990 
The church doors were closed once again from March 1990 until July 1990. On July 1, 1990, the church once again reopened. Pastor Ted Kemp, from Tallula, IL, took over the church pastorate. He retired on April 29, 1992. 

1992 
On May 26th, 1992, Pastor Anthony Hamilton from Coffeen, IL took over the church pastorate. The church provided a home for Pastor Hamilton and his family two miles SW of Atterberry. During the time Pastor Hamilton was with the church, the auditorium was completely stripped, being refurbished with new carpet. The old pews were replaced with new padded pews. The Church Ladies Auxiliary club purchased a new water heater, stove, and refrigerator for the church. 

1995 
The church purchased a 15-passenger van to use for the bus ministry. 

1996 
In May of 1996, the church purchased a 4-bedroom parsonage in Atterberry for the pastor and his family. In October of 1996, the church purchased the two lots next to the church. These lots were made into a church parking lot. 

1997 
On January 2, 1997, the church celebrated a ground breaking for a new fellowship hall and classrooms. After several months of construction, the church was able to hold a potluck fellowship on September 6, 1997, in the new facility. On November 2, 1997, the new classrooms were used for teaching classes. 

1999 
The church made some additions to the parsonage, building two bedrooms, an office, and another dining facility. Also, a large deck was built onto the back of the parsonage. 

2001 
On October 9, 2001, after 9 1/2 years with the church, Pastor Hamilton went home to be with the Lord. The church had two preachers who filled the pulpit for several months thereafter. 

2002 
Pastor Bob Loretz was the church pastor from October 27, 2002 to March 30, 2003. During this time five individuals who had accepted Jesus as their Savior, were baptized. They were Andrew Stroup, Brianna Boggs, Cameron Boggs, Emily Abbott and Tommy Abbott, all of Petersburg. Others accepted Jesus as their Savior during his time at the church. Pastor Loretz started a Friday night Youth Program which was well received and enjoyed by the youth in the community. 

2003 
Pastor Ben Brown was the church pastor from July 13, 2003 to November 10, 2004. During his time at the church, at least one individual accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized. That person was Matt Lowe of Petersburg. 

2005 
On March 27, 2005, Easter Sunday, Pastor Hubert Willis became the part-time pastor of the church. 

On October 2-7, 2005, the church held a large tent revival. 

On October 21, 2005, the church building caught on fire due to an undetermined cause and was damaged beyond repair. A new building had to be built. The congregation met in the garage of the home of Ed & Peggy Sinclair (in the next block) and services continued while the new church was being built. On July 16, 2006 a Reunion of the two former pastors (Pastor Bob Loretz and Pastor Ben Brown) came to help with a dedication service of the new church building. On July 31, 2006, the church accepted the resignation of Mr. Hubert Willis. 

2006 
October 2006, Mr. Jacob "Jack" Koons became pastor of the church. On February 6, 2008 the membership voted to dismiss him from the position, for cause. 

2008 
June 15, 2008, Ray Spellbrink, from Springfield, IL, became pastor of the church on an interim basis for 6 months. They are in the process of building a church that is pleasing to God.  The membership has been through many trials this past year and with God's help - they will come through it. There are currently 8 members who attend on a regular basis.

July 27, 2008 - Ray Spellbrink became the official Pastor for the church.  The business meeting was held after service and the vote was unanimous to place him as Pastor. 

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October 2008 A food pantry was established for those who are in need of food.  

2008 Stats: 1 saved, 1 baptized, 21 members

2009 
Be sure to see check out the special events to see how busy we plan to stay in 2009.

March 2009 - Meeting held to approve building a new parsonage.  

June 3, 2009 - work has started on the new parsonage to be built next to the old one.  

September 25, 2009 - Work is completed on the new parsonage and the Spellbrink's move in next week.

2010

Church continues to grow not only in numbers but more importantly spiritually.

2011

2 baptisms during 2011. We continue to have church and are seeing a move of God

2012

You could say this was somewhat of a difficult year.  In Sept. FS (elevator across from church) wanted to purchase our property.  After several months of negotiations the church voted to move the building next to the parsonage and it will sit at 20808 Atterberry Street once the move is final.  

2013 

The church moves and was told it would take 3 weeks. Our final service was Jan. 27 in the old location on Greeley Street - but it took FS almost 4 months to finally get us back in the building.   We were back in our building on May 19th - but there is still work to be done. 

While we went through the transition - we met in the parsonage until the mud got too bad then we started meeting in the basement of Petersburg National Bank.  Cowboy Church had to be relocated.  St. Paul's Evangelical Church and also New Salem Assembly of God offered their buildings to use for Cowboy Church.  We went to New Salem Assembly because they had all the sound system we needed already there.

The contract was signed to give the old property over to LincolnLand FS and it became final (date still to be determined since contract not signed yet - we are still waiting for FS to do some things before we sign the contract) this finally happened in 2015

June 16, 2013 Pastor Ray announced he will be retiring from Pastoral Ministries but will stay around to help will the congregation searches for a new pastor.  His final date was to be Sept 30th unless a new pastor is voted in before that date but he was told that July 30th will be his final day as pastor.  

August 1, 2013 - Daniel Heath Yielding from Alabama became the next pastor.  

2015

Oct. 11, 2015 - The membership voted to dismiss Daniel Yielding from the position of pastor, for cause.  He split the church and started a new work in Kilbourne IL and then moved congregation to Oakford, IL.

Oct. 18 2015. The church brought in ministers to fill the pulpit until a new one is voted on.  

2016

Jan. 17, 2016 - Church voted to hire Ray Spellbrink once again as their Pastor.  Sunday School will resume Feb. 7th, Wed. Bible Study will resume March 2nd. 

The church continues to grow both numerically and spiritually

2017

October 8, 2017 - Board members consist of Marilyn Hunt, Sandy Taylor, Dennis Walker, Bob Moore, Ed Sinclair.      Treasurer - Ed Sinclair; Secretary - Cindy Spellbrink

2018

October 14, 2018 - Pastor Ray Spellbrink announced that he will be leaving on March 31, 2019.  A pulpit committee was formed to look for the next pastor.  Church continues on as usual

Board consists of: Marilyn Hunt, Bob Moore and Ed Sinclair.  

2019

Several pastoral candidates have been brought in starting in January

March 31, 2019 - Pastor Ray Spellbrink's final service as pastor. No pastor has been found yet so the committee continues to look for a pastor. Pastoral Candidates and pulpit fill-ins will be brought in until a pastor is found.  Wednesday night service has been postponed until pastor is found. At this time Sunday School will continue on with Sandy Taylor teaching adults and Ada Powell teaching children.

September 29, 2019 - Pastor Steven Wease and his wife, Georgia, from Springfield, IL have been filling in since September 1st and he was voted in today as the new pastor.  

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2020

During the Coronavirus  pandemic we closed a few weeks and then had parking lot services.  WE ministerd from the front porch while people sat in their cars. We returned inside as soon as we could

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2021

July 11, 2021 - Steven Wease resigned suddenly and he and Georgia left the church. The church began looking for a new pastor and had a few candidates come in.

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October 3, 2021 - The church will vote on a new pastor.