The earliest organization beyond the local church occurred in 1836 with the formation of the Providence Baptist Association in Ohio. Two years later saw the second attempt at organization in 1838 in Alton, Illinois. Located a few miles northeast of St. Louis along the banks of Wood river, a handful of Negro Baptist came together for the express purpose of uniting the Baptist Churches. April 27, 1839, in the home of Samuel Vinson, messengers from three churches organized the Wood River Baptist Association. The churches represented were Mt. Zion Baptist of Ridge Prairie, Ill; Union Baptist of Alton, Ill; and Salem Baptist Church of Ogle Creek, Illinois.
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The first official meeting of the Wood River District Association was held on Friday September 13, 1839. At this meeting, Rev. John Livinstone was elected the first Moderator. The primary objectives of the Association were the support of African mission, church planting and equipping the Negro Pastor for the ministry. During the years that followed, the organization was led by such pioneers as Rev. W. M Burch, Rev. L.M. Leonard, Rev. J. E. Ford, Rev. Bailey, Rev. G.C. Mason, Rev. H.H. White, Rev. T. C. Fleming, Rev. J.F. Thomas, Rev. G.T. Caston, Rev. D.M. Harris, Sister Susie Hazel, Sis. Maggie Kelly, Sis. G.N. Brooks, Sis. Minnie Steele, Sis. Alice Hardey, Sis. G.N. De Baptist, Sis. Lyla Bromwell, Sis. Birdie Brooks. In 1868, the Wood River Association held its 29th Annual Session at Second Baptist Church in Danville, Ill where Rev. M. Lenard served as pastor. At this meeting Rev. J. F. Thomas, (founder of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Chicago, Il) served as Moderator. He was assisted by Rev. S. P. Lewis of Bloomington, Illinois.
The Wood River District Association continued to meet and grow over the next 30 years through 1898. In the following year, 1899 the Association voted to separate geographically. The Association to the south retained the name, Wood River Baptist Association. The Association to the north became officially known as the North Wood River District Baptist Association, aka North Woodriver District Association. The first meeting of the North Wood River District Baptist Association was held at the Providence Baptist Church in Chicago, Il in September 1899. The four-fold objectives of the North Wood River District Baptist Association were:
- Spreading the Gospel
- Christian Education
- Promotion of Home, District & Foreign Mission
- Consolidation of Christian Union among members and Churches of the Distric
The 2nd Annual meeting was held at Herman Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois in August 1901, Rev. D. H. Harris, Moderator. At this meeting the Women’s Auxiliary was organized with Sister Rebecca Marion serving as President. Over the next 8 years the following sessions were held:
- 3rd August 13-17, 1902; Second Baptist Church (Pontiac, Ill.) D. H. Harris - Moderator
- 4th 1903, Third Baptist Church (Aurora, Il.) D. H. Harris – Moderator
- 5th 1904, Ebenezer Baptist Church – Rev. J. F. Thomas, Pastor (Chicago, Ill.) D. H. Harris - Moderator
- 6th 1905, Second Baptist Church (Joliet, Ill.) D. H. Harris - Moderator
- 8th 1907, Second Baptist Church – Rev. M. Martin, Pastor (Streator, Ill.) D. H. Harris - Moderator
- 9th August 13, 1908, St. John Baptist Church- Dr. F.A. McCoo, Pastor (2712 S. Federal Chicago, Ill) Dr. B.P.E. Gayles-Moderator
- 10th August 1909, Union Baptist Church-Rev. J. T. Steward, Pastor (Bloomington, Ill.) Dr. B.P.E. Gayles-Moderator
Dr. B.P.E. Gayles continued to serve as Moderator until August 19, 1911. Later in 1915 he became the Pastor of Main Baptist Church in Aurora, Illinois. |