Our History

In 1951, South Dalton Baptist Church discovered an unused chapel on Eleventh Avenue, and on August 15th, voted to start a mission, and chose to call it Eleventh Avenue Chapel. Rev. Floyd Woods was the first pastor of the mission, and Rev. Ed Rodgers was the second pastor.

In May 1952, the first revival was held with Rev. J.B. Waters as the evangelist.

December 12, 1953, the mission was organized into a church, and the name was changed to Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church. Rev. Edward Babb was elected as pastor.

March 1954, with a down payment of $500, the building in which the church was meeting was purchased. On June 6, 1954, the church held its first homecoming, and the first Vacation Bible School was held the week of June 14, 1954.

Rev. Jim Hayes was elected pastor in May 1955.

In 1958, Rev. J.B. Waters was called to be the pastor. He accepted on June 1st and became the first full-time pastor. The following year, members decided to build a block church and add a baptistery. The new auditorium would seat 350 people. In 1961, nine Sunday School rooms were added. In 1966, the church was brick - veneered, and in 1968, air conditioning was added.

The church continued to grow, and in 1970, a second story was added to the Sunday School Department. In 1973, the parking lot was paved, and in 1974, a fellowship hall was built. In 1980, padding was added to the pews, and the Sunday School rooms were air conditioned.

After almost 24 years as pastor, Reverend Waters decided to retire. During the same conference that he resigned as pastor, Rev. Lloyd Guffey was elected as the new pastor. The church was without a pastor only for about five minutes. Reverend Guffey accepted the church on           March 7, 1982.

In 1984, property was purchased on the north side of the church for additional parking. In 1985, an expansion program began to increase the size of the auditorium an additional 42 feet including two restrooms and an audio control room.

Record high attendance of 630 in Sunday School was achieved on Pastor's Appreciation Day,    March 01, 1992.

A building project began in September 1992 to build a homecoming shed; it was to be 120 feet long, 24 feet wide, with 90 feet of table space down the middle.

November 01, 1992, Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church received its youngest pastor ever,             27 year-old, Rev. Ronald Guffey.

May 10, 1995, the church voted to relocate.

March 09, 1997, the church voted to purchase land on the South Dalton By-Pass. By June 04, 1997, the land deal was complete.

January 02, 2000, the church had its first service in the new building. January 3rd thru 7th was the week of the church's first revival. January 30th, a dedication service was held for the church, and the first baptism service . On April 2nd, the church voted to start a Kids for Christ program. August 16th, the program was voted in. June 19th thru 23rd, was the first Vacation Bible School held at the new building.



**History information was provided by Debra Cox, and taken from the Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church Directory of 2000.