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Kannapolis church celebrates 100 years
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Published: October 2, 2009
When anything has been around for 100 years, it's usually worth a celebration, and First Wesleyan Church in Kannapolis is doing just that — celebrating.
Pastor James Matchette has been at the church since July and is looking forward to his new beginning that coincides with the church's celebration.
"We want to continue the growth of the ministry that has gone on in this church in its past, and a church that is involved in helping and serving the community around it. Proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ that we believe in, and we believe has the power to change lives," Matchette said.
Honoring their tradition all year long, the church will begin the festivities on Sunday with a homecoming service at 10:45 a.m.
To begin the centennial year, Mayor Bob Misenheimer will speak at the service, Dr. Bob Black will talk about the history of the church and the traditional homecoming meal will be served.
Throughout the year, there will be four special Sunday evening programs, a missions' emphasis month in March, a ministry month in April and special programs and events that will take place all year culminating with the big Centennial Celebration on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010.
That is the day services began at the church 100 years ago. Sunday morning services will be held that day, as well as a candlelight service in the evening, beginning to celebrate the future.
The church has put together a series of service projects to honor this special year.
A book donation yielded 2,850 books, 260 audiotapes, 63 Reader's Digest magazines that were all donated to the Kannapolis Public Library.
They far surpassed the goal of 100 books.
The church set 100 stuffed animals as the goal to be given to the Kannapolis Fire Department and EMS, for children in times of emergency. They actually collected 395.
The Pathfinders Sunday School class made up 100 packages of school supplies and small toys for children in Iraq.
The Pathfinders also provided baskets of goodies to the police and fire departments to honor their service to protect.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, there will be a blood drive with a goal of 100 pints of blood donated.
History and community
Norma Brownell, 77, has been a member of the First Wesleyan Church since 1945.
"I started coming when I was two years old, so I've been here 75 of the 100 years," Brownell said.
Mildred Flinchum, 73, has been a member for 64 years.
"I was gone for awhile back in 1996," Flinchum said.
Jolene Perkins, 77,has been part of the church family her whole life.
"I've been a member since 1940, but my mother and dad were members before I was born," Perkins said.
The three are co-chairs of the Centennial committee that has planned all the events celebrating the church's 100 years.
After James W. Cannon purchased the land for mills and a planned village in Kannapolis in 1906, the population in the area grew.
This was incentive for church groups to send preachers to the area.
Rev. L.C. Douthit presented First Wesleyan to The North Carolina Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America in Charlotte, on Nov. 22, 1910.
Rev. W.J.S. Walker was the first pastor of the church.
In 1918, the members purchased land on Gay Street for a permanent home for their church, which had grown to almost 100 members.
Ten years later, because of the growth they were experiencing, the old church was knocked down and a new larger one was built in its place.
For 60 years the church was located at the corner of Oak Street and Gay Street, but in 1977 a fire destroyed the building.
The church acquired 13 acres of land on Bethpage Road, and the current church was built.
Dedication of the new facility was held in August 1979, with 500 people present to celebrate.
"A church like ours with such a rich tradition, has such a broad range of ages," Matchette said. "We have someone who is turning 100 in November, Reba Fortner, and we just had a baby born in the church this week. My wife has a baby due in a few weeks. Our church is church family, for your family."
First Wesleyan wants to reach out to the communities around the church with ministries that will help support them.
They donate to a food pantry every month, offer classes on how to manage finances, and explore marriage and parenting issues.
Depending on what is going on in the community, they will change and adapt to meet the needs.
"This is a family, so this church rallies around the people who attend here," Matchette said. "That is very clear. Even in the way they have embraced me. This church is a very loving and open family just like any good Southern home, where anyone is welcomed on the front porch or to come in for dinner."
• Contact reporter Robin L. Gardner: 704-789-9140.
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