HARRISBURG -- The Rev. Art Donley says the past 50 years at Bible Baptist Church have been memorable ones.
Donley, now 89, said he first was called to preach in March of 1963. While he enjoyed preaching, by 1969 he was ready to do more.
"50 years ago, I was preaching in a Southern Baptist church," Donley said. "I wanted to be involved more in missions work, so I felt the Lord leading me to start an independent Baptist church."
He met with pastor Denzil Gulley to help gauge interest and on Nov. 7, 1969, they had people come and meet with them to see what they were planning. Two days later Donley held a meeting in his home with 23 present, and Donley delivered a message. Two people came forward for baptism.
Donley said he had to tell them they did not have the authority yet to become a church. A few days later, though, on Nov. 12, Donley and some others traveled to Southside Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky, to see if that church would be willing to start a mission in Harrisburg. Southside approved, and Donley was voted pastor of the new mission.
Donley's new church met at his home for about a month, and held its first baptism on Nov. 16 in a lake at Ingram Hill.
By Nov. 30, the church had moved into a rented building at 1000 S. Granger St. The first day, 31 attended and two were baptized later that afternoon.
The church didn't have much in the way of furnishings, he said.
"It had an old stoker furnace that gave us a lot of trouble, and another thing, we didn't have any chairs. So, at a local funeral home, I borrowed chairs, and after each service, we had to take them back," Donley said.
A couple of the men of the church each bought 25 folding chairs and a homemade pulpit was constructed.
By 1970, Bible Baptist Church was able to buy the property where the church currently sits at 606 W. Church St., from a man named Robert Whitney. The organization formally was organized into a church by Southside Baptist Church in 1971. The new church building was built in 1972 and dedicated the following year, with Parvin Hall serving as guest preacher for the dedication service.
Eventually, the church bought a Volkswagen bus and a 48-seat International bus, and by 1979, they broke a Sunday school attendance record with 77 present, Donley said.
Over the years, other additions to the church have been made.
They added six Sunday school rooms, and in 1985 they added a gym and apartments.
Donley said over the years, they've supported 41 missionaries, many of them who have now passed.
Beginning this Monday, Nov. 11, the church will host its 31st Bible conference. All are invited, with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and preaching and singing at 7 p.m. Donley also noted that musical guest The Blue Grass Boys have been a part of all but one of the church's 31 Bible conferences.
Through the years, Donley said the church continues to be an active member of the community.
"I believe that we're doing the Lord's work, and our church has been blessed because of it," he said.
