Hey, Second Baptist, College Park folks! Come home to Sunday School Sept. 27

In 1919, President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, died in his sleep at age 60. Edsel Ford succeeded his father as head of Ford Motor Company. Congress established most of Grand Canyon as a National Park. The Treaty of Versailles was signed, officially ending World War I. The League of Nations was formed, and so was a Sunday morning Bible study in old College Park, Georgia.

A group of College Park Methodists and Baptists, enlisted and encouraged by a man named C. W. Monroe, organized a Sunday School that began meeting around Sept. 27, 1919. Their first meeting was in the Clayton County School building.

As attendance increased, the group purchased a tent and met on a vacant lot on South Main Street, near the Monroe’s home. Until her death earlier this year, we had a member who, as a preschooler, remembered going to Sunday School under the tent.

The group grew strong enough to constitute formally into a church in September, 1921. They named themselves Second Baptist Church, College Park.

They grew in strength and influence as they built buildings, added members and helped people grow spiritually. The church flourished in that location until the late 1960s, when the Atlanta Airport began expansion and took the original site.

This trial was a time of great concern and uncertainty for the congregation, but long-time member G. W. Northcutt stepped up and donated land to build a new facility on Norman Drive. The church relocated in 1969 and had a great ministry in the College Park/Riverdale area. North Clayton High School was located across the street and had a wonderful relationship with the church family.

In the late 1980s, the membership began a rapid decline as the area began changing and people moved away. The church family continued reaching out to the area and made no plans to move.

However, Second Baptist was approached by Christian Fellowship Baptist Church about the possibility of purchasing their facilities. After much prayer and study, the church voted to sell and relocate to property previously purchased on McDonough Road in Fayetteville. Christian Fellowship and Second Baptist shared facilities and worked closely together while Second Baptist was transitioning.

On March 6, 1994, the Second Baptist congregation caravanned to their new site and took a new name, McDonough Road Baptist. Enjoying a brand new facility and opportunity, they launched a new chapter in their storied history.

Fast forward to 2009, a year of milestones. This March marked the 15th year at this location, and the 10th year of worshipping in our sanctuary addition. This September marks the 90th anniversary of our Sunday School. We’ll celebrate it with a big day on Sept. 27, and want to invite all former members to “come home to Sunday School” that day.

We’re challenging our congregation to capitalize on the 90s. We want to reach 90 percent of our enrollment in Sunday School that morning; ask each member to make 90 contacts throughout the month; have a $90,000 total budget offering for the month; and enroll 90 new people in Bible study. We want to make history that day with a record attendance.

We have former members scattered throughout the Southern Crescent, so here’s inviting each of them and other interested folks to join us in celebrating this spiritual milestone.

Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville. The church family gathers at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. Visit them on the web at www.mcdonoughroad.org, or call 770-460-5423.