CHAPTER IV: PRAYERS ANSWERED

At this period in our church, our people showed a concern and love for the church and planned for a greater future with the help of our Lord and the leadership of our pastors to help carry on the work in a greater way for our Lord.

Reverend John Turner was called to be our pastor in June 1944, and he served until 1948. In the summer of 1944, a well was dug behind the building for church use and to fill the pool. A small house was built over it, which served as a coalhouse. Another small house that had been used for storage was remodeled for a Beginner's Sunday school classroom. At this time, a building fund system was begun to prepare for new building requirements. The first payment on the Minister's retirement plan was made in September of 1944.

In 1945, the pool was painted, and the Beginner's classroom was painted. The Lord's Supper observance was changed from the first Sunday morning to the fourth Sunday morning.

In January 1946, the road to the church, which had been repaired several months before, was covered with gravel. New doors were purchased and installed at the front of the church and gutters were added.

BTU was organized in February of 1946. The insurance was raised to $3,000.00 on the church and furniture.

The mission work in the church gradually increased during the years since its reorganization in 1938. The mission organization consisted of a WMS, Sunbeams, and one RA chapter. If the goal that had been set for foreign and home missions was not reached, the church helped.

In 1946, a building fund was started. Three dozen folding chairs were purchased for use in the church.

In February of 1947, the deacons recommended to the church a budget that operated on $150.00 per month. Also a church sign was made, and then erected. Eighteen new hymnals were purchased. In August of the same year, a modem oil heating system was installed in the church. This was a great improvement over the coal heater that was used prior to this time. There was a leak in the baptistery pool and it was waterproofed. Also, a pump was put in the well. 

Reverend Turner resigned May 1948, to go to Cannon Memorial Baptist Church in Central, South Carolina. He was born in 1903 at Seneca, South Carolina, and attended school at Seneca and North Greenville College. He accepted Christ and was baptized in 1922, at Brandon Mill Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina. He entered the ministry in 1936, and was ordained in 1937 at East Park Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina. Reverend Turner married Maud Skelton. Of their six children, their oldest son became a minister. Reverend Turner was a great man and had a desire for the people of Enon to do great things for the Lord as all labored together. All the people loved him.

These are the churches Reverend Turner served: Fortville Baptist, Greenville, South Carolina; Middle River Baptist Church, presently First Baptist Church, Cleveland, South Carolina; Shiloh Baptist Church, Marietta, South Carolina; Enon Baptist Church; Cannon Memorial Baptist Church, Central, South Carolina; Mount Airy Baptist Church, Easley, South Carolina; Ruhamah Baptist Church, Liberty, South Carolina; Eastview Baptist Church, Pelzer, South Carolina; and Westwood Baptist Church, Easley, South Carolina.

Reverend Turner has served as interim pastor for a number of churches since retiring.

On July 4, 1948, the deacons recommended Reverend R. C. Stockston to serve as pastor and he was approved. The church voted to pay the pastor $100.00 for four Sundays a month. In September 1948, the deacons recommended that the church pay $10.00 on the pastor's rent and to build a parsonage. Reverend Stockston helped build the first parsonage in 1949 on a site adjacent to the church. A well was dug for the parsonage. Baptist Training Union was held every Sunday night.

In May of 1949, the church was put on the budget list for the Baptist Courier so all members could receive this weekly publication.

The church voted to put a floor furnace in the parsonage in October 1949.

In November of 1949, the church voted to take the Sunday School offering on the first Sunday and send it to the Connie Maxwell Home, instead of $20.00 per month. Also, the church cut in half the amount of money sent to the Cooperative Program.

Reverend Stockston called for his and his family's letters in March 1950. Instead of serving a three-months notice, he was paid $300.00 and dismissed.

Reverend Calvin Turner was called to our church in May 1950, by a unanimous vote. There was extra repair work on the parsonage in July 1950. The pastor's salary was raised $10.00 each Sunday.

In 1951, the church began their full-time Sunday services. It was around this time the deacons recommended to the church that the pastor be paid $50.00 a week beginning the first of July 1951. This money was approved, but the amount was changed to $40.00, so that the pastor could obtain his government check.

By August of 1951, the people of Enon Baptist Church observed their Centennial and Homecoming Celebration. They enjoyed the day fellowshipping with their many Christian friends, feasting on a bountiful meal served outside on a long table under a grove of trees. Also attending were personnel from "WELP", the first radio station in Pickens County. This radio station is located approximately one mile and a half from the church.

In December 1951, the deacons recommended that the church give the WMU $40.00 each quarter to help the needy and sick. Many things were being done in mission work.

An item was included in the budget to pay the pastor's expense to conventions in February 1952. Also $50.00 was to be sent to the district associational helpers. The janitor's salary was raised to $20.00 a month.

In May 1952, $150.00 was put into a building fund and later $500.00 and additional monies were added. The pastor's salary was raised to $60.00 a week in 1953, and the pastor was granted an annual vacation.

The church purchased forty-eight new modem hymnals in 1955. In May of that year, a love offering was taken for the South Carolina Baptist Hospital. It was voted that the Sunday school offering on Mother's Day be sent to the Baptist Hospitals each year.

As the years passed, the membership increased and there was a need for additional space within the church so that greater things could be done for our Lord in the days to come. On the first Sunday in December 1954, a building committee composed of Chairman Walter Couch, Robert Shaw, Carl Dorr, Ray Simmons, Carl Kilby, Allen Riddle, and Grady Porter was appointed by the church to plan for these needs. On February 1955, the church voted to build a new sanctuary and educational facilities. A picture in the Easley Progress,. April 25, 1956, shows Enon's previous church from the south side with approximately 175 members of the church attending the groundbreaking services.

Those participating in the groundbreaking services included the following people: Loyd F. Dillard, Chairman of the Finance Committee; George Irby, Chairman of the Board of Deacons; Tom H: Arial, grandson of the late Reverend John Arial, who donated the land for the first church in 1851; the Reverend Mr. Turner; and, Carl Dorr, member of the Building Committee and Finance Committee.

On Sunday morning, April 8, 1956, prior to assembling on the church grounds these people gave brief talks: Reverend Calvin Turner; Mrs. Ethel Bracken, representing the ladies of the church; Robert Shaw, speaking on behalf of the men; and W. D. Roberts, contractor. The sanctuary will have a seating capacity of 300, and there will be eighteen classrooms and a pastor's study in the educational facility.

On the first Sunday in October 1956, the new church was used for services. A new piano and electric organ were purchased and installed. The building has since been air-conditioned and is now debt free.

Reverend Turner and his wife, Margaret, did not go to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1956, but instead requested that this money be contributed to the building fund. The Board of Deacons recommended raising the pastor's salary ten dollars a week. This was approved.

During 1956, the church bought insurance from Home Building & Loan on the new church for $30,000.00. Also on December 21 of this year, the church began the practice of receiving tithes through the use of envelopes.

Reverend Calvin Turner was born January 5, 1925, at Brandon Mill, Greenville, South Carolina. He accepted Christ and was baptized near the age of twelve at Eastpark Baptist Church, Greenville. He is a graduate of Travelers Rest High School. He served in the United States Military from 1943 to 1946. He was ordained into the ministry at the Calvary Baptist Church, Greenville, in 1949. Mr. Turner received his formal education at North Greenville College, Furman University, South Eastern Baptist Technological Seminary, Erskine Theological Seminary and his CDE from Greenville Mental Health Center.

He served Enon Baptist Church eight and one half years. He came to Enon as a young preacher, twenty-five years old, to serve with deacons, most of who were many years older. This was terrifying to him. But through God's love, care and mercy, and the cooperation of the good people at Enon, he was privileged to serve this great church. Reverend Turner was a great man and had a vision for the people of Enon whom he loved. He was loved and respected by the people. According to him, the first Sunday he preached there were thirty-seven in Sunday school and the largest Sunday school attendance during his pastorate was 216.

He served Whitefield Baptist Church of Belton, South Carolina for eleven years and two months. Then he served as pastor of Holly Spring Baptist Church in Inman, South Carolina until his retirement.

Rev. Turner has served as vice-moderator in the Palmetto Association, Chairman of Missions Committee, and Chairman of Evangelism. He served as moderator, vice moderator and Chairman of Evangelism of the Greer Association. He was on the nominating committee of the South Carolina State Convention. He was invited by the Foreign Mission Board to participate in two evangelistic crusades abroad, in 1975, South Africa, and in 1981, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

Reverend Calvin Turner married Margaret Ervin. Margaret was always ready and willing to help her husband and work with the people at Enon. She was a very friendly person. At the time of this writing their son, Cecil, resi3ed in Seneca, and their daughter, Jan, who was born while they were at Enon, resided in Inman. Reverend Turner resigned on October 26, 1958. Rev. Turner went to be with the Lord on January 4, 1997. Margaret presently lives in Greenville and is a member of the Dunean Baptist Church.