Bessie Road Independent Baptist Church History

Rev. Jimmy and Mary Wells were attending Rehobeth in Piedmont in the 70’s. Brother Jimmy had been preaching about 4-5 years when one day he was taking their trash to the landfill and he passed where Bessie Road is located. He went home so excited and told Mary that the Lord spoke to him and said “Son, this is where I want you to build a church and win souls for me”. He asked God to tell him what to do. He prayed and began to talk to a few friends about the land. The Lord led him to find the owners. The property had an old block building with no floor, no power, outside toilet and was grown up with weeds and there was red mud everywhere. The old building had been used as a dog kennel. That building is now the front of our Sunday School
building (old fellowship hall). The back of the building was added a while later and a mobile home moved in to serve as a fellowship hall. Bessie Road began with all the organizations of the Southern Baptist Convention. The associational office met with Bessie Road and because of the requirements, Bessie Road was not able to meet (mostly financial), it was decided that Bessie Road would be an independent church. There were about 70 attending church at this
time. Brother Jimmy preached at Bessie Road for 15 years before having two strokes and having to step down. Preacher Robert Davis supplied for one year before Preacher Harold Hughes was called as pastor.

Preacher Harold Hughes began his ministry at Bessie Road in 1990. After his first trial sermon, he and Mrs. Hughes left and he told her that this was where the Lord wanted him, if the people would elect him. While a revival and second trial sermon later, he was voted in as pastor. When he began, the Sunday School building was being used as the sanctuary and a mobile home was used for Sunday School and the fellowship hall. About three years after Preacher Hughes began
at Bessie Road, work began on the new sanctuary. The building was dedicated on October 3, 1993 by his brother, J.M. Hughes. The Lord used Preacher Hughes greatly. There were a lot of souls saved--some that drifted in and out of church but the Lord continued to work. Preacher Hughes enjoyed his ministry. There was cooperation with the people and a lot of work and prayer in growing the church. After a heart attack, Preacher Hughes had to resign as Pastor per his doctor's orders. The Hughes said there were no problems in the church and since it is the best church around, they make Bessie Road their home.

Preacher Robert Griswold began his ministry at Bessie Road in April, 2001. He had preached for about eight months before he was voted in as Pastor. Looking over some of the things that have been accomplished during his ministry you must think about the buses. The first bus was bought after a planned bus trip became too expensive because of the renting of a bus. The school buses took many trips including one to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where Pastor Robert
even drove through Cade’s Cove. All four of the buses have been used successfully for Vacation Bible School. The present pulpit furniture, choir pews, and sound system were added after Pastor Robert became Pastor.

By Pastor Robert’s first anniversary as Pastor, it had become evident that the church had outgrown the old fellowship building. He met with the deacons and the men of the church about a new fellowship hall and one year later we had the new building. While the grading was being done for the new building, the parking lot was extended and all the church property was cleared and graded. As we all know, our men did an excellent job remodeling our old fellowship building into our newly remodeled Sunday School department. Looking back over the last 2 ½ years from the 20+ that were attending and seeing we have grown to 193 at our Old Fashion day and averaging 160 for the last month we must give God all the glory. Pastor Robert said he is looking forward to building a new sanctuary on the cleared property and it being a blessing for the Lord until His return.