Elder Darrel Chambers

Elder Chambers was born April 21, 1961, to Hulen and Jean Chambers in Marshall County, Alabama.  He was the first of three sons born in this family.   Darrel  joined  Pilgrim’s  Rest  Church  at  Rainsville, Alabama  at  the  age  of  nine,  being  baptized  by  his  uncle, Elder Guy Hunt.  He since has been a member of Pine Level Church  at  Atmore,  Alabama,  Flint  River  Church  at Huntsville,  Alabama  and  Union  Church  at  Woodville, Alabama.    His  membership  is  presently  at  Union  Church where he was ordained and serves as one of the pastors.

Darrel was ordained as a deacon at Flint River Church in 1982 at age 21 and performed those duties until he was ordained  to  the ministry  in April of 1996.   From age five, he has shown great interest and concern in spiritual matters and to the church and it’s function.

He  is married  to  the  former Donna  J. Kennamer and  they have  two daughters, Laura age 15 and Jessica age 13 and one son, Benjamin age 8.  All are members of Union Church.

Elder Leon Etheredge

Elder J. Leon Etheredge was born November 16, 1931 at Ozark, Dale County, Alabama the fourth of five children born to Elder S. W. Etheredge and Lena Hester. Elder  Leon  was  raised  in  a  God  fearing,  devout  Primitive  Baptist  home.  After graduating  from high school, and spending  four years  in  the US Air Force he used the GI bill and earned a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University in December 1957.

While in college he married Betty Jo Spurlock of Ozark, Alabama. His wife had a  small  son  from  a  previous marriage  and  there were  three  children  born  to  this union. His experience of being called out of nature’s darkness into God’s marvelous light happened the first Sunday in December 1963. His loving companion had taken the  three  boys  and  gone  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church  of  her  membership, leaving him at home with their daughter. While languishing in bed that Sunday morning, a very strong urge moved him to search for a church he had seen which had indications of being a Primitive Baptist Church.

At a nearby home he  learned  that  the church was of  the Primitive Baptist  faith and  that  there would be  services second Sunday night at 6:30. They went home and when his wife returned,  their daughter ran  to her and said “Mama, Daddy has  found  a  church.” He  shared his  experience with his wife  and  she  agreed  to  go with him  the next Sunday night.

He  said  that was  longest week  he  ever  spent. The  time  finally  came  to  go  to  church. He  and  his  family  arrived shortly after 6:00 PM and those who came were friendly and warmly welcomed them.

He  and his wife were baptized  into  the  fellowship  of Bethel Church by Elder  S.W. Etheredge  in April  of  1964, among a flood of tears. Elder Leon says  that  if he was ever called to preach  the Gospel of the Son of God,  it was  the same day he had the urge to go look for the church building described earlier.

At  the  request of Elder Gene Thomas, Elder Leon made his  first  effort  to  speak  in  the name of God  at Bethel Church in June 1965, and was ordained to the full work of the Gospel Ministry in June of 1966. He was soon called to serve  three Primitive Baptist Churches of  the Mud Creek Association. A  few  years  later, he was  called  as one of  the pastors of another church  in the Mud Creek Association. Since that time, he has continuously served as pastor of four churches in the area. As of February 2000, he serves Hurricane Church of the Flint River Association and Bethel, Union and Bethlehem Churches in the Mud Creek Association.

Elder Gene Thomas

I was born on  January 3, 1929,  in Scottsboro, Alabama. My parents were Joe and Minnie Thomas.

On  the  4th weekend  in  September 1940,  the  Mud  Creek Association  convened with Union Church. On Friday  I was  in  a  quiet, meditative  mood.  That afternoon  my  mother decided  that  we  would go  home  with  Brother and  Sister  Jim Wilborn. Some others went on to Brother Wilborn’s  by  car,  but mother  and  I  and  a  few  others  rode  in Brother Wilborn’s wagon. As we bounced along, tears were formed in my eyes as I became resolved  to offer myself  for membership  in  the church the  following  day. My mother  discerned  that  something  was  bothering me.  She  finally  asked  if  it  was  about  the  church.  I  nodded  in  the affirmative. Not knowing what to say, she could only pat my shoulder.

After  the preaching services on Saturday morning an opportunity  to unite with the church was given. The services were held in a grove of trees and  a  stand  had  been  erected  for  the ministers. As  the  invitation  song began, I walked forward to the stand. I was only eleven years of age and very small for my age. The stand was  too high for me  to climb  into and Elder H. P. Houk, the Moderator, did not notice my coming and standing at  the  edge  of  the  stand.  I  then  reached  up  and  caught  the  cuff  of  his pants and began  jerking  it  to gain his attention. He  looked down, picked me  up,  and  put me  in  the  stand.  Six  others,  including my  older  sister Kathryn, also came forward. My sister and I were baptized by Elder H. P. Copeland.

My first effort in a public way took place on the 3rd Sunday in June of 1948 at Bethlehem Church near Limrock, Alabama. The deacons of my home church approached me on the churchyard a few minutes before the time  of  the  preaching  service.  Brother W. H.  Butler  spoke  to me  and asked if I would take part in the services that day. Feeling that it would be right to be obedient to the desires of my brethren, I replied that I would do  so. When  the  time  came, dear old Elder  J. W. Page  led me  into  the pulpit. I opened the Bible to Ezekiel 16:1-6 and read those verses. I spoke for about  ten minutes on  the subject of original sin and depravity. Amid tears, I  took my seat with a mixed sense of relief and a realization  that a heavy weight of  responsibility was being  assumed. From  this  time  forth there has been no place to turn back. In November  of  1948 Union  Church, while  in  regular  conference, expressed  their  desire  that  I  should  be  set  apart  as  a  gospel  minister. According  to  the  arrangements,  we  met  at  Union  Church,  Woodville, Alabama,  in  the Mud Creek Association, on Sunday morning, December 5, 1948, at ten o’clock, for that purpose. The presbytery was composed of the  following:  Elders  H.  P.  Houk,  John  Page,  H.  P.  Copeland,  K W. Yeager, Henry Autry, B. A. Stephens, M. M. Morton, and sixteen deacons. Elder Houk was  chosen  as moderator  and Brother W. M. Butler,  clerk. The Moderator  appointed Elder Yeager  to  offer  prayer, Elder Autry  to question the candidate; and Elder H. P. Copeland to deliver the charge. I  have  served  as  a  pastor  of Union Church  continuously  from my ordination to the present (February 1998). Through the years I have been called at various other churches as pastor or to fill regular appointments. Among these are Bethel, Mud Creek, Pilgrim’s Rest, Bethlehem, Sweeten’s Cove,  Hurricane,  New  Home,  Mount  Pisgah  and  Macedonia.  At  the present time I am serving Union Church and Macedonia Church.

In  conclusion,  it  has  been  my  sincere  desire  to  uphold  sound, scriptural  principles  of  doctrine  as  well  as  clean,  godly  principles  of practices  in all our churches. I believe  in facing  the problems of our day with  the  answers  as provided  in  the Bible.  It  is my humble desire  to be numbered  among  those who  “earnestly contend  for  the  faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”