REVIVAL AT HEBRON PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH

    Hebron Primitive Baptist Church was constituted in 1812 in the little community of Hillsborough Ga. In the 1830's they sided with the Anti-Mission Baptists and became "Primitive". In 1915 however, they decided to affiliate with the Southern Baptists. It was at that time they changed their name to Adgate Baptist Church. When I first started my journey into studying the Primitives, this church was my first contact. I found out that it was at one time Primitive from a teacher at Luther Rice seminary, who served as part time pastor there.

   I could not find much written history from when this church was Primitive, then found out there was a dear woman in her late 90's who had attended there from birth, whose name was Miss Annie Lee. This was in the 1990's, so she had actually been a member when it was still with the Primitives. I called this dear lady to see what history I could learn from her. Boy was she happy to tell the story!

   Around 1910, the church got in some "hot water" with the other churches in their association. What crime had they committed? They allowed a Missionary Baptist to preach! You see the Primitive pastor and the Missionary pastor both farmed and their properties were next door to each other. They were friends and neighbors, and had debates over the fence rail dividing their pastures. Now here is where the story gets interesting. The land on which the Primitive Baptist Church stood had been donated to the church by the ancestors of the Missionary Baptist preacher. Since this was before the split, there were no churches called "Primitive Baptist" yet. The Missionary preacher found out that there was a stipulation in the deed which stated that if the church ever deviated from their original articles of faith, or ceased to be a "valid New Testament Church of Christ", that any living heirs of those who donated the property could reclaim it.

   This deeply troubled the Primitive preacher, that his church could lose their property. The Missionary preacher asked why he should be concerned, as he had no intention of making a big fuss about it. The Primitive preacher had an epiphany at that moment and realized the PB association they were in, had  "re-worded" their articles of faith some 20 years earlier. He didn't know what to do, and assumed the Missionary preacher had no idea of the changes. His conscience got the better of him, and he told the Missionary preacher about the changes. The Missionary asked him were the changes just clarifications or were they actually changed in meaning. The response was unclear, as this dear sister did not remember the answer, but now that I have studied the history of the PB movement, I already know the answer. I believe the Missionary Preacher knew too.

   After a few days, the Missionary preacher called on the Primitive preacher for a chat. He told the Primitive preacher that if he would allow him to preach just one message at the PB church, he would go to the courthouse and forever remove any stipulations on the deed, as long as he could preach "whatever the Lord desires".. The Primitive preacher agreed. They set aside the last Sunday of the month, because this would be the 5th Sunday and no Primitive churches met on any 5th Sunday. It is thought that the Primitive preacher didn't think many would come, as all the PB churches had already had both of their monthly meetings, some on the 1st and 3rd Sunday and others on the 2nd and 4th.

   What happened was remarkable. Because no PB church was meeting on the 5th Sunday, they came from miles around and the church was filled to the brim, with over 100 standing outside. With the windows up and doors open the people listened to that Missionary preacher. His sermon was entitled "No Other Name" and he quoted Romans 10:9 which says "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 

   As he spoke Miss Annie said there was one woman who began to weep loudly. At the end of the service, the Missionary preacher sang acapella "Jesus Saves". Then he got to one verse which says 

  Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, ye islands of the sea;
Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

   When he sang that verse, Miss Annie said "the flood gates opened, and it seemed we might all float away on the flood of tears that were poured out". Then the Missionary preacher gave a Missionary invitation and asked for any that might be lost, to call on Jesus and be saved. 38 people responded, the first one was the woman who had begun to cry loudly.

  After 2 weeks had passed, the Primitive Association excluded the church because they had allowed a Missionary Baptist to preach. The week after that, the church changed its name and asked to be admitted to the Missionary Baptist association. The church is still very active in its rural community. A PB church nearby has been abandoned for decades, and another has only about 10 members. A Methodist church has also closed, But Adgate Baptist is still preaching the gospel to a full house. Oh and did I forget to say, the lady that began to cry loudly that day was Miss Annie's mother! Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves!