150th Anniversary

of Pleasant Hill

Sunday, August 10, 2008

From its humble beginnings in a brush arbor, Pleasant Hill has experienced many changes to become the church that it is today.  However, Pleasant Hill is still a mission minded church and believes that the Bible is the inherent, infallible Word of God.  Pleasant Hill offers programs for all age groups. Programs include Sunday School, AWANA, Youth group, WMU, small group Bible studies, and the Enola Sunshine Club.

PHBC Auto Magnets are on sale

for $5.00. 

Homecoming Photos

Parade Video

1858-1908 Movie

1908-1958 Movie

1858-1908 Movie

1908-1958 Movie

1958-2008 Movie

Pastors of Pleasant Hill

1995 Choir

"Daddy was an Old Time Preacher Man"

Pastor Interview

Choir Director Interview

Pearl Huffman Interview

Bulletin

Church History

Homecoming 2007

 The Homecoming service included special singing from various church groups including PHBC Choir, PHBC Ladies Ensemble, Preacher Cline, and the PHBC Praise Band.  The service concluded with a fellowship at PHBC's picnic grounds. 

These videos are from the 2006 Homecoming.

Homecoming 2006

Homecoming 2006

PHOTOS from the 2007 Homecoming Gathering at the picnic grounds can be found here.

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The following pictures and information from Mona Smith

October 1959

Baptismal Service after the August 1951 revival.  Approximately 142 people were baptized.  The baptismal site is in the Henry Fork River at the intersection of Old Highway 18, River Road, and Enola Road.

Homecoming 2007 Photo

Photo is copyrighted - J. Randall Photography

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church History

August 12, 2007

It has been one hundred and forty-nine years since a group of people decided there should be a place of worship in this community.  In 1922 Mr. Timothy Smith was responsible for the idea of starting an annual homecoming day.  We celebrate today our 85th annual homecoming. 

In 1858, sixteen charter members met in a brush arbor once a month on Saturday before the fourth Sunday for services.  Billy Bradshaw was the first pastor and a partial list of the members included Anderson Denton and wife Jane Eliza Denton, Peter Denton and wife Mary Mackey Denton, Timothy Smith and wife Emily Hicks Smith, Sidney Poteet and wife Mary Ann Hawkins Poteet, and Fred Huffman and wife Susan Cook Huffman. 

Approximately three years later the first permanent structure, a one-room log church with only one door and one window was built under the leadership of Sidney Poteet and Fred Huffman on land donated by Sidney Poteet.

 In 1874 the church voted to hold two services each month, meeting on the second and fourth Sundays.  The one room building was shared with some Methodist who lived in the area.  The Methodist met on the first and third Sundays.  One Sunday both groups happened to meet on the same day.  Of course there was a disagreement between the two groups and it is said that Mary Ann Hawkins Poteet, the wife of Sidney, tapped her cane on the floor and led the Baptists out of the church.

 The small auditorium of brick was constructed in 1940.  In 1942, the first transportation to bring people to church was provided –via personal trucks, not pick ups, but large lumber trucks that were driven by Willie McCurry, J.E. Smith and Leonard Prewitt.  Portable steps were built and carried along to enable folks to climb onto the trucks. 

In 1951, we had the largest baptismal service in the history of the church.  This took place in the Henry Fork River.  There were 138 people baptized, with several ministers helping with the baptizing. 

 The three-story educational building was started in 1942 and on October 14, 1956 ground was broken to erect this present sanctuary.  This building was dedicated on November 2, 1958, our centennial year.   

Since it’s beginning in 1858, 30 men have served as pastor of this church.  Fifteen have been licensed to preach, and seven men have been ordained.  Through the years we have reached out to spiritual needs of people through mission offerings:  which include the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, State Mission, The Gideon’s, and our Baptist Camp.

From its humble beginnings in a brush arbor, Pleasant Hill has experienced many changes to become the church that it is today.  However, Pleasant Hill is still a mission minded church and believes that the Bible is the inherent, infallible Word of God.  Pleasant Hill offers programs for all age groups. Programs include Sunday School, AWANA, Youth group, WMU, small group Bible studies, and the Enola Sunshine Club.