MINUTES
of the
SIXTH MEETING
Of
The Cooperative Association
of
Missionary Baptist Churches
Of California
held with the
FIRST MIISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Corcoran, Calif.
March 27 and 28, 1956
Next Meeting to be held with
The First Missionary Baptist Church
McFarland, California
April 16 & 17, 1957
OFFICERS
Moderator
Allen Adkins
Box 159, Armona, Calif.
Ass’t. Moderator
C. C. Middleton
18401 Keswick, Reseda, Calif.
Clerk
Martin Canavan
2703 E. 218th Place, Long Beach 10, Calif.
Ass’t. Clerk
H. R. Cole
Rt. 2, Box 368, Dinuba, Calif.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
Preamble
With faith in God, and unquestioning acceptance of the Bible as the
Word of God, and sole rule of our faith and practice, we offer to all Missionary
Baptist Churches of Christ the following Articles of Agreement.
ARTICLE I
Name
The Cooperative Association of Missionary Baptist Churches of
California.
ARTICLE II
Object
The object of this Association is to encourage co-operation and Chris-
tian activity among the churches, to promote interest in and encourage Missions
on a New Testament basis among all people, to stimulate interest in Christian
literature, general benevolence, and Christian education and to provide a me-
dium through which the churches may co-operate in these enterprises.
ARTICLE III
Members
Section No. 1—This association shall be composed of Missionary
Baptist Churches as defined in article number thirteen of the declaration of faith
in J. M. Pendleton’s church manual.
Section No. 2—The annual or called sessions of this Associaŧion
shall be held by
3
messengers elected by the churches composing said Association.
Section No. 3—Each church co-operating in this Association is en-
titled to three messengers who are members of the church
they represent. They
;
are to bring letters showing their election by the church, which letters should
give a report of their past year.
Section No. 4—We recommend to all Scriptural New Testament
churches, desiring to co-operate with us for the purpose designated in Article
two of these Articles of Agreement, express their desire by presenting evidence
of their origin, faith, and practice; and, we further recommend, that any church
refusing, or failing to continue in the faith and practice designated by them, will
not be considered seated in the messenger body.
ARTICLE IV
Doctrinal Statue
This Association shall recognize the freedom of speech as essential
to the highest achievements in its work. It shall stand or fall on its own con-
formity to truth. It shall exercise no ecclesiastical authority but it shall by ev-
ery precaution recognize the sovereignty of every individual church. It shall
also encourage on the part of churches and Messengers the greatest possible
freedom of expression in discussing matters pertaining to its work, and in the
preeminence of missions and evangelism in the work of the churches.
ARTICLE V
Powers
The powers of this Assocalion shall be limited to the execuŧion ac-
cording to teachings of the New Testament of the will of the churches compos-
ing it; and the Association, in annual sessions, shall elect such officers as are
necessary for its deliberation and work, and appoint such committees as are
needed, and transact other business as may be directed by the churches.
4
ARTICLE VI
Officers
Section No. 1—It will be the duty of the messengers annually
to elect from among their members a Moderator, Assistant Moderator and
such Clerks and other Officers as may be needed or directed by the churches
composing this association.
Section No. 2—In all votes of this Association a majority of votes
cast shall decide questions; except in cases of change or amendment in the
Articles of Agreement. In such cases a two-thirds majority will be required.
ARTICLE VII
Missionaries
Section No. 1—Annually the Messengers shall recommend to the
churches from among the church endorsed missionaries such number as they
deem wise for co-operative support.
Section No. 2—The Messengers shall recommend such salaries
as is compatible with the strength of the Churches, and the needs of the Mis-
sionaries.
ARTICLE VIII
Funds
Section No. 1—All funds of this Association shall be raised by
voluntary donations secured purely upon the merits and the cause: in the
interest of which appeals are made for gifts; provided this is not to prevent
the use of any income or any properly that may be acquired by donation or
purchase.
5
Section No. 2—The Treasurer of this Association shall hold all
funds received between sessions of this Association subject to the designation
of the sending Church or Churches.
ARTICLE IX
Meetings
The annual meeting of the Church Messengers shall be at such time
and place as the assembled Messengers may appoint.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Enrollment and seating of messengers.
2. Reception of New Churches.
3. Election of officers.
4. Inviting of Brethren of like faith to sit in council.
5. Appointment of committees.
6. Treasurer reports.
7. Publicity report
8. Missionaries reports.
9. Reports of Committees.
10. Miscellaneous business.
11. Closing exercises and adjournment.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Antioch —First Missionary —533 Drake, Antioch, Calif.
Pastor —M.F. Downing, 410 Texas, Antich, Calif.
Clerk —Henry Hiebert, 527 Drake St., Antioch, Calif.
6
Armona—First Missionary—Railroad Ave., Armona, Calif.
Pastor—A. T. Adkins, Box 159, Armona, Calif.
Clerk—Jean Ellis, Box 153, Armona, Calif.
Bakersfield—Emmanuel Missionary—1604 Southgate Dr., Bakers-
field, Calif.
Pastor—Lee Wright, 1604 Southgate Dr., Bakersfield, Calif.
Clerk—Barbara Spain, 1401 Ridgeview St., Bakersfield, Calif.
Bakersfield—New Hope—Bakersfield, Calif.
Pastor—A. D. Storey, 2643 Monterey, Bakersfield
Clerk—Millie Chappell, 2117 Monterey St., Bakersfield, Calit.
Bellflower—Calvary Missionary—Near Clark on Center, Bell-
flower, Calif.
Pastor—Jess Crawford
Clerk—Mrs. Ira Owen, 16412 Virginia Ave., Paramount, Calif.
Ceres—First Missionary—670 So. Central, Ceres, Calif.
Pastor—Bedford Andrews, Rt. 1, Box 1140, Ceres, Calif.
Clerk—Nellie Lucas, P. O. Box 746, Ceres, Calif.
Chico—Missionary—1618 Spruce Ave., Chico, Calif.
Pastor—(Missionary) J.C. Patterson, 1140 Arcadian
Ave.,Chico, Calif.
Clerk—Tonie Robertson, Rt. 1, Box 510A, Chico, Calif.
Chualar—Landmark—Chualar, Calif.
Pastor—Wayne Ross, 1036 Acosta St., Salinas, Calif.
Clerk—Izaddia F. Subia, 497 Carol Dr., Salinas, Calif.
Coalinga—First Missionary—Coalinga, Calif.
Pastor—Lee Jolliff
Clerk—Bertice Jacobs, 620 College Ave., Coalinga, Calif.
Corcoran—First Missionary—Hale and Brokaw, Corcoran, Calif.
Pastor—S. E. Comstock, 1315 Patterson, Corcoran, Calif.
Clerk—Lorene King, 914 Estes, Corcoran, Calif.
7
Cypress —Missionary Baptist —Florin, Calif.
Pastor —Henry Nance, 4501 38 Ave., Sacramento, Calif.
Clerk —Alma Koslin, Rt. 1, Box 437, Galt, Calif.
Dinuba — First Missionary—So. College Ave.
Pastor—Harold Cole, Rt. 2, Box 368, Dinuba, Calif.
Clerk—Allie Keeling, Rt. 1, Box 274, Orosi, Calif.
Dominguez —First Baptist —2679 E. Carson, Long Beach 10, Calif.
Pastor —Martin Canavan, 2703 E. 218th Place, Long Beach, Calif.
Clerk —Ethel Williams, 616 Lagoon, Wilmingon, Calif.
Easton — First Missionary —151 E. Fantz,Fresno, Calif.
Pastor—Truman Russell, 6036 Lotis, Fresno, Calif.
Clerk—Vessie Tarlton, 446 W. Clayton, Fresno, Calif.
Exeter — First Missionary—Exeter, Calif.
Pastor—Fred Reevous, Rt. 2, Box 600, Exeter, Calif.
Clerk—Leola Dillon, 309 Quince, Exeter, Calif.
Freedom — Landmark Missionary —Freedom, Calif.
Pastor—Ellis Murders, 64 Bradford Road, Freedom, Calif.
Clerk—Juanita Taylor, P. O. Box 72, Aptos, Calif.
Fresno — McKinley Missionary Baptist, McKinley and Katy Lane, Fresno,
Calif.
Pastor—George James, 2052 Katy Lane, Fresno, Calif.
Clerk—Irene Steveson, 2228 No. Bryan, Fresno, Calif.
Fresno — Zion Missionary, 4677 Harvey, Fresno, Calif.
Pastor—Le Roy Nixon, 4527 E. Lewis St., Fresno, Calif.
Clerk—Marie Poole, 3344 Floradora St., Fresno, Calif.
Hawthorne —Missionary Baptist —417 W. 131st, Hawthorne, Calif.
Pastor —G.R. Shuffield, 1320 Phillips, Long Beach, Calif.
Clerk — Louise Coberly, 25633 Marigold, Harbor City, Calif.
Keyes — New Hope Missionary —Keyes, Calif.
Pastor—Connie Wright, Box 279., Keyes, Calif.
Clerk—Iona Case, Box 644, Keyes, Calif.
8
Linda —Missionary —Linda, Calif.
Pastor —J.W. Halsell, Box 274, Wheatland, Calif.
Clerk —Jean Halsell, Box 274, Wheatland, Calif.
McFarland — First Missionary, McFarland, Calif.
Pastor—Lee Collum, Box 1438, McFarland, Calif.
Clerk—Burl Beene, Rt. 1, Box 1037, McFarland, Calif.
Modesto — First Missionary —Modesto, Calif.
Pastor—Maynard Beckler
Clerk—Josephine Jenkins, 1736 Bronson, Modesto, Calif.
Napa —Napa Valley Landmark —Napa, Calif.
Pastor —Elmo Hartly, 1091 Trower Ave., Napa, Calif.
Clerk —Annie Graves, 610 Maine St., Vallejo, Calif.
Oakdale—First Missionary—East & G St., Oakdale, Calif.
Pastor—Wayne Easlon, 241 So. 5th St., Oakdale, Calif.
Clerk—Ethel Hanna, Rt. 3, Box 1718, Oakdale, Calif.
Oakland — Missionary Baptist — 1174 Bartlett Ave., Hayward, Calif.
Pastor—Lawrence Crawford, 1174 Bartlett Ave., Hayward,
Calif.
Clerk—Dora Clary, 445 46th Ave., Oakland, Calif.
Ojai —First Missionary —507 Fulton, Ojai, Calif.
Pastor —W.L. Crawford, 507 Fulton, Ojai, Calif.
Clerk—Myrtle Lipe, 314 Fulton, Ojai, Calif.
Oroville — Missionary Baptist—3250 Spencer Ave., Oroville, Calif.
Pastor—Olen Johnson, 3250 Spencer, Oroville, Calif.
Clerk—Cleo Vincent, Box 312, Palermo, Calif.
Phoenix —West Riverside —715 West Riverside, Phoenix, Ariz.
Pastor —Carl Hixon, 2325 w. McLellan, Phoenix, Ariz.
Clerk —Mrs. Otis Richie, 702 W. Pueblo, Phoenix, Ariz.
Porterville—East Date—2180 E. Date St., Porterville, Calif.
Pastor—None at present
Clerk—Ruth Wilson, 422 Legget Dr., Porterville, Calif.
9
Porterville—West Putnam—Porterville, Calif.
Pastor—Dwight Patterson, Rt. 3, Box 98, Porterville
Clerk—Zula Audrey—Shelly Lane, Porterville, Calif.
Reseda—Valley Missionary—18401 Keswick, Reseda, Calif.
Pastor—C. C. Middleton, 18401 Keswick, Reseda, Calif.
Clerk—Thelma Middleton, 18401 Keswick, Reseda, Calif.
Ridgecrest—First Missionary—Ridgecrest, Calif.
Pastor—J. L. Hawkins, 436 Wilson, Ridgecrest, Calif.
Clerk—Teena Wilkie, 128A, Independence, China Lake, Calif.
Riverbank—First Missionary—6th and Sierra, Riverbank, Calif.
Pastor—Monroe Patterson, Box 627, Riverbank, Calif.
Clerk—Edna South, Riverbank, Calif.
Sacramento—Landmark Missionary—Sacramento, Calif.
Pastor—J. F. Stevens, 2155 Whippoorwill Lane, Sacramento
21, Calif.
Clerk—Altee Shirley, 2115 Wyda Way, Sacramento 21, Calif.
Salinas—First Missionary—Towl and Garner, Salinas, Calif.
Pastor—L. M. Branch, 517 Green St., Salinas, Calif.
Clerk—Flora Cooper, 522 Green St., Salinas, Calif.
Sanger—Shiloh Missionary—1417 J. St., Sanger, Calif.
Pastor—Austin Russell, 1417 J. St., Sanger, Calif.
Clerk—Amanda Smith, 2240 Elm St., Sanger, Calif.
South Gate—Missionary—9837 California Ave., South Gate, Calif.
Pastor—D. O. Ross, 5206 Santa Ana St., Bell, Calif.
Clerk—Mrs. R. A. Richey, 8510 E. Eucalyptus St., Downey,
Calif.
Stockton—Mt. Olive—1752 B. St., Stockton, Calif.
Pastor—Clifford Creel, 2706 B. St., Stockton, Calif.
Clerk—Gertrude Martin, 1633 S. Adelbert St., Stockton, Calif.
10
Sunnyvale—Missionary—Sunnyvale, Calif.
Pastor—Ernest Bennett, 359 Stowell, Sunnyvale, Calif.
Clerk—Zella Harmon, 322 Jerome St., San Jose, Calif.
Tucson—Antioch Missionary—330 So. Scott, Tucson, Ariz.
Pastor—H. I. Shockley, 25 W. Palmdale, Tucson, Ariz.
Clerk—Ina Mae Shockley, 25 W. Palmdale, Tucson, Ariz.
Wasco—Central Missionary—3rd and Poplar, Wasco, Calif.
Pastor—Bill Fritz, 1610 3rd St., Wasco, Calif.
Clerk—Mrs. Bernice McCallum, 2021 3rd St., Wasco, Calif.
Woodbridge—Missionary—Woodbridge, Calif.
Pastor—O. E. Hall, Box 154, Woodbridge,
Calif. Clerk—Noma Wright, 437 W. Lockford, Lodi, Calif.
MESSENGERS
Antioch—M. F. Downing
Armona—Allen Adkins, Lee Joliff, D. Oliver
Bakersfield (Emmanuel) Lee Wright, Mary Wright, D. F. Gafford
Bakersfield
(New Hope) A. D. Storey, James Storey, Lorene Storey
Bellflower—L. D. Perdue, George Crawford, Sis. L. D. Perdue
Ceres—Bedford Andrews, Kenneth Groves, Harold Borrell
Chico—Irene Meyer, Ira Callaway Chualar—Wayne Ross
Coalinga—Bro. Dennison
Corcoran—S. E. Comstock, Sis. Comstock, Sis. Willie Bevins
Cypress—Henry Nance, Lonnie Magee, Clifford Cooper
Dinuba—Harold Cole, Paul Brown, G. A. Williams
Dominguez—Martin Canavan, Dorothy Canavan, Martin Canavan Jr.
Easton—Truman Russell, Irene Russell, Bro. Beavers
Exeter—L. S. Cotton, Sis. Cotton
Freedom—Ellis Murders, Edward Anderson, Bernice Murders
Fresno (McKinley) George James, Roy Harness, Jasper Kingham
Hawthorne—David Campbell
Keyes—Connie Wright, Betty Wright, Iona Case
11
STATISTICAL
MEMBERSHIP
CHURCHES
GAIN
LOSS
Antioch
200
12
13
25
14
2
209
3975.00
Armona
151
16
11
3
30
17
16
3
145
3831.16
Bakersfield (E)
78
33
23
56
1
7
126
3270.00
Bakersfield (N.H.)
33
2
1
36
11
7
18
1183.30
Bellflower
5
32
37
1
36
Ceres
106
13
21
34
20
5
115
2090.00
Chico
14
1
13
160.00
Chualar
18
3
2
5
3
20
384.15
Coalinga
36
2
2
2
15
21
1021.25
Corcoran
317
10
6
1
16
31
1
301
3677.24
Cypress
71
24
6
1
31
1
17
84
2345.00
Dinuba
69
5
12
18
6
8
73
2623.50
Dominguez
84
15
36
51
7
128
4737.30
Easton
60
6
3
9
1
1
1
67
520.00
Exeter
9
8
13
21
4
26
477.63
Freedom
61
4
8
1
13
6
1
66
1620.33
Fresno (McK)
115
4
13
4
21
22
18
96
1982.51
Fresno (Z)
30
5
29
2
36
7
1
61
2021.39
Hawthorne
10
2
16
18
3
25
29.94
Keyes
61
19
8
1
28
10
17
63
2413.50
Linda
19
3
3
2
1
19
416.45
McFarland
141
16
3
3
22
16
8
139
3904.76
Modesto
64
12
14
32
342.06
Oakdale
70
2
2
4
7
67
1820.00
Oakland
86
22
14
36
2
6
114
3091.00
Ojai
30
4
8
12
4
38
2780.00
Oroville
49
26
6
32
15
1
65
2178.06
Phoenix (Ariz)
21
9
24
33
2
52
382.51
Porterville (E. D.)
68
9
11
1
21
18
6
65
2548.30
Porterville (W. P.)
98
2
12
7
21
3
34
82
1437.86
Ridgecrest
97
5
11
3
19
6
5
105
2860.00
Reseda
31
4
18
22
6
47
1555.20
Riverbank
134
28
23
2
53
15
2
3
167
3110.00
Sacramento
43
5
14
19
3
59
2720.00
Salinas
137
23
5
2
30
14
3
2
148
2136.11
Sanger
33
6
6
5
3
31
1842.50
South Gate
36
19
54
73
8
101
3380.00
Stockton
42
15
2
17
5
54
877.96
Sunnyvale
34
5
11
16
2
48
2300.50
Tucson (Ariz)
28
2
2
1
1
28
502.50
Wasco
129
7
8
15
36
3
105
2730.00
Woodbridge
No Report Given
—12—
REPORT
EXPENDITURES
TOTAL
47.80
8165.72
265.91
949.86
313.62
1397.08
15,068.84
32.00
816.67
189.50
730.95
29.86
1638.59
7,349.84
48.98
2706.16
175.40
375.07
695.67
7,260.68
24.52
337.00
81.10
88.74
1,715.46
14.00
255.00
86.00
249.42
95.07
700.44
204.25
3662.87
343.71
472.33
698.81
7,471.97
15.00
72.35
134.05
112.87
494.27
40.87
46.11
89.64
855.49
1,426.26
197.84
600.00
226.99
338.09
2 , 3 74.17
289.78
5695.60
110.34
640.12
115.16
1253.65
11,778.96
104.59
1548.75
211.00
770.00
1523.04
6,493.19
605.00
136.13
192.61
396.91
3,949.20
759.50
88.66
202.36
2000.40
6,977.32
96.00
456.00
38.50
102.30
114.50
1,327.37
140.45
423.00
28.09
118.20
81.61
1,463.01
26.13
633.35
407.35
997.00
3,674.66
183.65
30.00
211.99
18.00
377.94
2
, 804.09
400.11
114.18
166.15
246.61
2,939.44
150.00
27.00
19.81
21.00
15.00
262.75
13.74
181.43
102.80
93.29
91.29
119.09
3,014.94
1.28
387.50
112.78
41.34
959.35
968.15
1580.39
645.82
1146.92
37.03
172.76
8,489.83
54.00
138.00
11.86
48.24
941.38
1226.55
20.00
150.18
400.41
3,623.17
111.65
9767.93
191.37
444.08
60.00
703.99
15,490.00
19.25
93.00
608.02
231.75
3,650.02
25.72
207.35
103.11
888.44
46.74
782.14
4,246.56
70.00
527.96
48.156
74.91
1,287.25
12.40
1363.19
200.57
295.94
334.25
4,975.90
132.51
176.89
313.62
386.73
2,535.54
409.25
25.00
345.32
620.40
4,259.97
1428.00
25.41
76.30
137.08
3,156.53
1563.75
170.47
119.31
306.04
107.64
5,407.21
85.15
7369.44
60.88
439.06
21.28
1015.04
11,720.95
376.52
1786.00
794.17
552.95
50.00
1257.18
6,952.94
199.89
16.80
178.58
2,305.27
13.56
2761.42
25.00
166.52
195.83
6,535.60
480.00
36.06
185.09
1,579.11
15.65
2263.63
100.00
129.00
255.96
5,069.14
14.00
938.72
36.10
5.00
281.09
1,772.07
27.87
900.00
318.71
196.74
244.90
4,811.50
—13—
Linda—By letter
McFarland—Lee Collum, Donald Bowen, J. H. Hefner
Modesto—Jess Wright, Sis. Wright, Charles Burlson
Napa—Elmo Harty, Eva Harty
Oakdale—Wayne Easlon, Annie Lue Burch, Helen Easlon
Oakland—Lawrence Crawford, Bro. Wofford, Bro. Springer
Ojai—W. L. Crawford, J. K. Howard, Sis. J. K. Howard
Oroville—Olen Johnson
Phoenix—By letter
Porterville;—(East Date) Gordon Richwine, Velma Lessley, Bro.
Grissom Porterville (West Putman) Floyd Jordan, J. T. Duncan, Robert
Campbell Ridgecrest—J. L. Hawkins, Bert Wilkie, Buck Kephart Rese-
da—C. C. Middleton, Violet Wilson, Violet Oliver Riverbank—Monroe Pat-
terson, Lee Hooper, Dwight Patterson Sacramento—J. F. Stevens, Georgia
Stevens, Jessie Lewis Salinas—L. M. Branch, Naomi Branch, Don Borland
Sanger—A. C. Russell, M. M. Pike, Agnes Loyd Southgate—D. O. Ross,
Cula Ross, Alice Schnitger Stockton—Any member present
Sunnyvale—Ernest Bennett, Harold Bledsoe, Rowena Bledsoe Tucson—H.
I. Shockley
Wasco—Billy Fritz, Mary Fritz, Gerald Hasman Woodbridge—O. E. Hall
BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS
Pre Associational Service
A capacity crowd filled the auditorium at Corcoran, Calif. Our singing
was led by Bro. Jack Connally. After a lively song service Eld. C. C. Middle-
ton was introduced and he read I Cor. 5:1-8 and delivered a great message on
“New Tabernacles.” Eld. Gordon Richwine was elected to bring the devo-
tional service Tues. morning.
Tue. 9:30 A. M.
We met with singing led by Bro. Peay. Prayer by Bro. Shock-ley. Our
moderator Allen Adkins introduced Eld. Gordon Richwine who read Luke
22:53 and brought us a sincere and stirring
14
message challenging us with the opportunities of the hour. Kings County
Supervisor R. M. Adney was introduced by the pastor S. E. Comstock and
Mr. Adney gave a message of welcome to our messenger meeting. Bro. L.
M. Branch gave a response for the messengers.
Motion and sec. that the letters be read giving the clerks and pastors
name, the membership statistics, and the total financial report. Motion car-
ried.
Elds. Harold Cole and Ellis Murders named reading clerks. Letters
were read by these brethren from 33 churches.
The messengers stood and our moderator declared the messenger
meeting in session.
New letters read. Letter from Woodbridge read and messengers seated
by declarative act of the moderator, letter from Hawthorne, and messengers
declared seated, letter from New Hope church in Bakersfield read and mes-
sengers declared seated, letter read from Antioch church in Tucson, Ariz,
and messengers seated, letter read from Napa Valley and messengers were
seated. Letter read from West Riverside church in Phoenix, Ariz., and letter
received. Letter read from Chico church, and messengers seated. Letter read
from the Linda church representing by letter only, and the letter received.
Led in singing of “Rock of Ages” by Eld. Lee Wright and Bro. Lee
Collum led our hearts in prayer.
Our moderator introduced Eld. Bedford Andrews, pastor of the Ceres
church as the speaker of the hour. Bro. Andrews read Is. 45:22 and called
on Bro. Wright to lead “There is a Fountain” and then brought to us a great
message on the doctrine of salvation. Bro. Lee Wright led in singing “Only
Trust Him” as an invitation to the lost was extended.
Letters that had just arrived were called for. Letter from the Whittier
church was read and the messengers seated. Letter from the Ojai church
read and motion made that Ojai send the clerk a statement as to when they
were organized and their practice; motion carried and messengers seated.
Motion made and sec. that we adjourn until two P. M. Motion carried.
2 P.M. Tues
15
Met with singing led by Eld. O. E. Hall, and Bro. Lee Joliff led us in
our opening prayer.
Election of officers now declared the order of business. Nomination
for moderator was Allen Adkins. Motion and sec. that Bro. Adkins be
elected by acclamation unanimously carried.
Nominations for Ass’t. moderator were L. M. Branch, M. F. Down-
ing, C. C. Middleton, Olen Johnson. Nominations declared closed and
Bro. C. C. Middleton was elected. Nominations for clerk were Martin
Canavan, Bedford Andrews, Harold Cole. Nominations were closed and
Bro. Canavan was elected. Motion made and sec. that Bro. Harold Cole
be assistant clerk.
Motion made and sec. that we elect a publicity manager. Motion
carried. Nominations were S. E. Comstock, M. F. Downing. Nominations
were closed and S. E. Comstock was elected.
Visiting Brethren were recognized, Bro. E. J. Martin and Bro.
George Walton.
Nominations for an evening preacher were Lawrence Crawford, M.
F. Downing, Lee Wright, Jim Patterson, L. M. Branch, Lee Collum, El-
more Harty, E. J. Martin, the voting resulted in Eld. Lawrence Crawford
being elected. Motion and sec that we make it a unanimous vote for Bro.
Crawford. Motion carried.
Committee appointments were made by the moderator.
Motion and sec made that we have an enrollment committee to care
for enrollment of messengers. Spoken to by L. D. Perdue, George James,
Martin Canavan, Ernest Bpnnett, Lee Wright, C. C. Middleton, Monroe
Patterson, Connie Wright, A. D. Storey. Motion carried.
Motion and sec. made that we have an enrollment committee com-
mUtee for next year. Ten minute recess declared.
Met back with singing and prayer. The Christian education report
was read by Martin Canavan, motion and sec that the report be adopted.
Spoken to by Bro. Canavan. Motion carried.
Bro. L. D. Perdue read his missionary report. Motion and sec that
the report be adopted as read. Spoken to by L. D. Perdue, George Craw-
ford, Martin Canavan, D. O. Ross, L. M. Branch, Monroe Patterson, C. C.
Middleton, Ellis Murders, Bill Crawford, report adopted.
Treasurer’s report read. Motion and sec that the report be adopted.
Motion carried. Motion made and sec that we pay the
16
clerk $100. Motion carried. Motion and sec made that we include a
picture of the officers and missionaries of this association be put in
the minutes. Motion carried.
Report of the committee on Home Missions read by L. D. Per-
due. Motion and sec. that the report be adopted. Report was spoken
to by L. D. Perdue, G. A. Williams, A. D. Storey, Ellis Murders,
Wayne Easlon, George James, Olen Johnson, L. M. Branch, Ernest
Bennett, M. F. Downing, Allen Adkins, Henry Nance, J. C. Patter-
son, Lee Wright, Harold Cole, D. C. Ross, Monroe Patterson, M. M.
Pike. Amendment that we recommend Bro. L. D. Perdue as the one
missionary of this report and that we consider our discussion as due
consideration of the Phoenix letter. Discussed by Olen Johnson, Jess
Wright, Monroe Patterson, Martin Canavan, M. M. Pike. Motion
carried.
Motion made and sec. that we recommend that our churches
pay our missionary $400 per month. Spoken to by Connie Wright,
Wayne Ross, motion carried.
Motion made and sec. that we adjourn until 7:30 P. M. Dis-
missed in prayer by Bro. Bill Fritz.
7:30 P. M.
Met back with singing “Where the soul never dies” led by Bro.
Bill Crawford. Bro. Lee Hooper led us in our opening prayer. Con-
gregation sang “Death will never knock on Heavens door.” Linda
Austin from Salinas sang as a solo “At Eventide” accompanied by
Sis. Sammie Green. Bro. Crawford led in singing “Jesus hold my
hand,” Jim Fallin from Corcoran sang “The Love of God” accompa-
nied by Sis. Comstock. The Congregation then sang “I can tell you
the time.” Linda Austin and Sammie Green from Salinas did a spe-
cial number accompanied by Linda Horton. Eld. G. A. Williams led
in singing “Victory in Jesus.” Eld. J. C. Patterson led us in prayer.
Solo by Eld. Bill Crawford.
Moderator introduced Eld. Lawrence Crawford of Oakland,
Calif, as speaker of the evening. He read his text from Heb. 11:40
and took as his subject “Better things for us.” A real message that
lifted us was delivered and enjoyed by all.
Nominatons for speaker for the 11 A. M. hour resulted in the
election of Eld. Allen Adkins. Nomination for devotional leader for
9:30 A. M. Wed. resulted in election of Eld. Bill Crawford. Motion
and sec. to adjourn till 9:30 A. M. Wed. Carried. Hand of
17
appreciation was extended to Eld. Crawford by Eld. D. O. Ross for
the great message. Offering was taken for missions. It amount ed to
$51.00.
9:30 Wed. A. M.
Our services opened with singing led by Eld. Henry Nance The
song selected was “Joy Unspeakable.” Bro. Winton Jeffersoi led us in
prayer. Our moderator introduced Eld. Bill Crawford pastor of the Ojai
church to lead our devotional. Bro. Crawford read Mark 2: and after
prayer by L. D. Perdue he spoke on “Barriers between Man and God.”
Bro. Crawford brought a real challenge to us in this fine message.
The moderator declared the next order of business to be the com-
mittee reports.
Bro. W. D. Peay read the Foreign mission report. Motion and sec.
that the report be adopted. The report was spoken to by W. D. Peay, Lee
Collum. Report adopted.
Eld. Harold Cole read the report on Christian Literature. Motion
and sec that the report be adopted, report spoken to by Harold Cole,
Ellis Murders, J. C. Patterson, Ernest Bennett, Monroe Patterson, D. O.
Ross, L. M. Branch, G. A. Williams. Motion made and sec. to amend
the report “we further recommend that each church send at least $2.50
a month to Bro. Allen Adkins to help publish a state paper.” Spoken to
by C. C. Middleton, Monroe Patterson, Wayne Easlon, Ernest Bennett,
Allen Adkins, motion carried.
Eld. M. F. Downing read the report on Resolutions. Motion and
sec. that the report be adopted. Spoken to by M. F. Downing, Henry
Nance, C. C. Middleton, Lee Collum, Elmore Harty, report adopted.
Invitations received for next years metting from Ceres and Mc-
Farland. Spoken to by Harold Cole, Jim Patterson. The voting resulted
in McFarland’s invitation being accepted.
Next order of business is the election of a speaker for the annual
sermon. D. O. Ross, M. F. Downing, Martin Canavan, L. D. Perdue
were nominated. Motion and sec that second highest be alternate. Mo-
tion carried. The voting resulted in Eld. Martin Canavan being elected
and Eld. L. D. Perdue as alternate.
Motion and sec. that we change our order of business. Amend-
ment and sec. that we combine No. 1 and 2 to read “Enrollment
18
and seating of messengers.” Amendment carried. Original motion
carried.
Motion and sec. that a vote of thanks be extended to the
Corcoran church for our royal entertainment. Motion unanimous-
ly carried.
Motion made that we meet the Thurs. and Fri. before Easter
of each year. Spoken to by W. D. Peay, Gordon Richwine, Ernest
Bennett, Ellis Murders, motion lost.
Bro. Middleton introduced Eld. Allen Adkins.
Bro. Adkins read Heb. 21:1 from this reading Eld. Adkins
brought to us a message about the things our forefathers witnessed
to us by their lives.
Bro. Lee Collum extended to Bro. Adkins the hand of ap-
preciation for the messenger assembly.
Bro. M. M. Pike made an offer through Bro. Middleton to
assist any of our churches by contracting a new building for them
at cost.
Various announcements were made.
Motion and sec. that we adjourn until next year. Motion car-
ried.
Bro. S. E. Comstock dismissed us in prayer.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
FOREIGN MISSIONS
We recommend to the churches of this Asso. for support
those missionaries who are endorsed by the churches of the Amer-
ican Baptist Ass’n.
Realizing, that all these missionaries are God called and
then church sent we boldly recommend that our sister churches
regularly (at least once a month) send a substantial offering for
their support.
Knowing, that they receive no other support but these offer-
ings that come from true Missionary Baptist Churches, we recom-
mend our churches send their offerings to our secretary treasurer
at 214 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark.-Tex.
Signed: Lawrence Crawford
W. David Peay
Lee Collum
19
HOME MISSIONS
We your committee on Home Missions beg to submit the following re-
port. By home mission we mean missionary work done within the bounds of
this Asso. Realizing the great need in this field, we recommend that we con-
tinue to support one State Missionary as in the past. We further recommend
that the messenger body give consideration to the desire of the Riverside M.
B. C. in Phoenix, Arizona.
Signed: L. D. Perdue
G. A. Williams
J. C. Patterson
RESOLUTION REPORT
Be it resolved that the Association go on record, as endorsing the invi-
tation of the First Missionary Baptist Church, Armona, Calif, in their invita-
tion for the 1957 session of the American Baptist Ass’n. Messenger meeting
to meet in Fresno, Calif.
Be it further resolved that the churches of the Ass’n. assist in the ex-
penses involved in the entertainment of the American Baptist Ass’n. mes-
senger meeting.
Be it further resolved that we recommend to our churches that they
send offerings to our associational treasurer for publicity purposes, to be
used by publicity chairman. Such offering should be sent at least 30 days
before messenger meeting. Any surplus to be held over till following year.
Publicity chairman to give report of money spent to messenger assembly.
Signed: M. F. Downing
Henry Nance
D. O. Ross
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
We your committee on Christian Education wish to submit the follow-
ing report.
Recognizing the need of a trained ministry and further recognizing that
a church sponsored school is the type in harmony with the word of God we
recommend that the churches of Calif, give cooperative support to the P^ble
Institute of Long Beach sponsored by the Dominguez Missionary Baptist
Church. We further recommend the Little Rock Seminary and all other
such
20
church owned and operated schools that are in harmony with the Ameri-
can Baptist Association for advanced studies.
We further recommend that all of our churches continue to pro-
mote educational programs such as training classes, Daily Vacation Bible
Schools, Sunday Schools, officer and teacher’s meetings.
Signed:
Martin Canavan
S. E. Comstock
Wayne Easlon
CHRISTIAN LITERATURE
We your committee on Christian Literature recommend the follow-
ing.
That we use first and above all the inspired word of God as our rule
of faith and practice.
We further recommend for use in Sunday Schools, Baptist training
courses, and Vacation Bible schools, the material printed and published by
the A. B. A. and realizing the power and good of local church bulletins,
and the need of a statewide paper published in the interest of the churches
of this Assn. we recommend that all the churches put forth an effort to
place the “Baptist Sentinel” in each church home, and that each church
endeavor to publish a weekly church bulletin.
We further recommend that each church send at least $2.50 a month
to help publish a state paper.
Signed:
H.R. Cole
Olen Johnson
Ellis Murders
21
FINANCIAL REPORT
Minute fund and clerk hire
Wasco
10.00
Linda
$3.58
Fresno
(Z)
10.00
Armona
10.00
Modesto
5.00
Ridgecrest
5.00
Freedom
7.50
Dominguez
5.00
Bellflower
10.00
Oroville
10.00
Oakdale
5.00
McFarland
15.00
Oakland
10.00
Chico
5.00
Woodbridge
5.00
Porterville
(E.D.)
10.00
Tucson
1.00
Antioch
10.00
TOTAL
290.91
Reseda
5.00
Riverbank
10.00
Sunnyvale
10.00
STATE MISSIONS
Cypress
5.00
Napa
10.00
Dinuba
5.00
Messenger offering
$51.00
Sacramento
10.00
Tucson
5.00
Fresno (M.K.)
10.00
TOTAL
56.00
Southgate
8.83
Paid Out
Chualar
5.00
Clerk hire
100.00
Ceres
10.00
L. D. Perdue
56.00
Easton
10.00
Bal. on hand
4.10
Sanger
5.00
On hand for minutes etc. 195.01
Exeter
5.00
Bakersfield
15.00
Salinas
15.00
Keyes
5.00
Porterville
(W.P.)
10.00
22
ANNUAL STATE MISSION REPORT
TO THE MESSENGERS OF THE CHURCHES OF THE CALI-
FORNIA COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION WHEN CONVENED
AT CORCORAN, MARCH 27 AND 28, 1956 CHRISTIAN GREETINGS:
I am sincerely grateful to all the churches which compose this associa-
tion, for the privilege of serving you in the position of State Missionary this
past year. It has been and still is a very strenuous work on me but this is not
even worth considering when we think of the blessings that the Lord gives
us for our labor. May God have all the credit and glory for all that has been
accomplished and charge all the mistakes to me.
I will not go into detail on everything that I have done but will only
hit the high points. The first part of the year was spent assisting the church at
Freedom in their building program. I believe the church there will gladly tell
any who may wonder at the reason of my labor with them that I saved the
church in actual money far in excess of what I received on the field the entire
year. About the middle part of the asso. year I moved to the L. A. area and
since I have been here I have assisted Brother Gilford Shuffield in organiz-
ing the church at Hawthorne and also organized the church in South Whitter.
Both of these churches 60’s in Sunday School. I have resigned the Calvary
Church and are growing with the Calvary church in Whitter having in the am
ready to start a new work right away as the door opens. I also helped get the
Young Peoples Youth Rally going down in Southern California and the last
one that met had over 200 in attendance. I have traveled many many miles
from one end of California to the other and even out of the state in the inter-
est of the work and assisted in every place that I possibly could.
The following financial report speaks for itself concerning the work I
have done among the churches. If you will notice there are 14 churches in
this state or like the church in Phoenix, interested in our work, that did not
represent in the messenger meeting at Oakdale, yet they have taken part in
supporting the State Missionary. One other church worked for a while and
then went to the nabers. *Churches not represented at Oakdale.
23
Antioch
$427.40
Van Nuys
49.65
Armona
219.36
West Putnam
5.52
Coalinga
45.88
Wasc
4.69
Cypress
174.54
Zion
20.96
Ceres
225.14
*Downey
10.00
Corcoran
152.06
*Hawthorne
19.81
Chular
26.56
*Linda
48.69
Dominguez
133.24
*Manteca
58.29
Dinuba
57.68
*Napa
185.99
East Date
47.83
*New Hope Bakfld
2.50
Emmanuel Bakersfield
8.00
*Oakland
157.17
Easton
27.00
*Ojai
40.80
Freedom
438.81
*Riverside Phoenix
32.29
Keyes
10.72
*South Gate
68.40
McKinley
199.42
*Torrance
25.00
McFarland
371.86
*Woodbridge
49.00
Mt. Olive
41.40
*Wilmington
3.00
Oakdale
146.15
*Whitter
224.42
Oroville
103.56
Other Sources
Riverbank
114.27
Antioch L. R. Ark
43.24
Ridgecrest
350.64
2nd Bap. Mal. Ark.
20.05
Sacramento
4.17
A. B. A.
4.17
Paramount (N.A.B.A.)
62.10
Other Sources
96.54
Salinas
104.21
TOTAL
$4830.98
Sanger
23.05
Yours for future service,
L. D. Perdue
Uncle Sam let me take off $2450.00 for expenses.
24
