Here's a little more with several Union family names within the records of Providence Baptist Church which is located in Point, LA. Several months ago Tina Murray gathered what she could find for me at the church. I typed up this from the info Tina sent. Thanks again, Tina! This is long and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that AOL doesn't turn it into an attachment! Notes in italics are mine. Debi Historical Beginnings (part of the reconstruction of minutes for Providence in Point, La taken from minutes of the Concord Association) >From the History of Concord Association (1832-19??) we find in 1832 the area between Ouachita and Red Rivers had 8 churches and 6 ministers. On November 3, 1832 15 messengers from 4 of these churches with 128 members met at Black Lake Church in Claiborne Parish (now Webster) and constituted the Concord Association. The four churches were - Pine Hills, Providence, Black Lake and Bayou Bartholomew. The new Concord men were: John IMPSON, Haywood Alford, Arthur McFarland, Mills Farmer, John Hancock, William Honeycutt, Alexander Nelson, William ??, Jonathan Newman, Thaddeus Byas, Samuel Leatherman, Robert Byas, New?? Drew, Phillip Ma??, and Jess Millions. Some of the issues facing the churches there were missions, temperances and slavery. In 1861 the men were marching off to war. In 1866 the Concord men were stronger, with 2? churches, over 2000 members including 278 born. In a 1906 minute of the 74th annual session of the Concord Assn. we read that T. J. Ford was requested to continue his efforts "to present to the body at it next session histories of all churches." History of Providence Baptist Church Many of the facts relating to the history of the Providence Baptist Church have now been lost. some of what follows is a matter of record, while parts of it is a recall from memory. The matters of record are established fact and the recollections are a very close approximation. >From a 1909 minute we have a short history of Providence Baptist Church at Point, La. "In the year 1875 this community was looked upon as a wilderness and was destitute of any preaching. In Nov. 1876 the Lord saw fit to use Bro. A. J. Calloway to constitute a Baptist Church at this place: and a presbytery was invited to come and assist in the constitution. The presbytery was composed of Bros. C. H. Raley, J. C. Mayes, F. N. Burns, A. J. Calloway and Deacon James Burns and Bro. Nathan White. The church called Bro. A. J. Calloway to the care of the church and he served 6 years. The first ordained deacons were TG Guice, Joseph Carter, G. W. Feazel and MB Day." The charter members were: Mrs. Barbara Antley (Mr. Will Antley’s wife) [William Franklin Antley] Mrs. Martha Day (Mrs. Mittie Dyer’s mother) Mrs. Joe Carter (Mrs. Julia Antley’s father) a deacon [wife of Sidney] Mrs. Josephine Antley (Mr. Sidney Antley’s mother) [Willis Council Antley’s wife] The church called Bro A.J. Calloway to the care of the church, who served six years and baptized 45 people. Bro F. M. Burnes served one year as pastor and baptized 10. Bro. S.R. Nolan (Mrs. Joy Nolan’s granddaddy) served either years as pastor and baptized 54. Bro T. J. Humble served two years as pastor and baptized 8. Bro. M.B. Hammons srved two years as pastor and baptized 22. Bro A.J. Slocum served one years and baptized 60. Bro H. G. Bayles served six months as pastor and baptized five. Total baptized 200. We have ordained one one to the full work of the ministry, Bro. H.G. Bayles. Also ordained four deacons, T.G. Guice, G.W. Feazel, M.B. Day and Joseph Carter. "Brethern, we have not proved our faith by our works altogether on the missionary line. Pray for us that we may do better and more for the cause of Christ." T.G. Guice [This was Thomas G. Guice, one of my gg-grandfathers] Discipline was strict in the church as we as in the home. The 1906 minutes on church statestics shows Providence added that year 9 by Baptism and one by restoration and decreased that year 2 by letter, 3 by exclusion and 2 by death. Total membership 154. In the 1908 minute on church stats Providence membership increased 4 by Baptism, 3 by letter, 2 by restorations. Decreased 10 by letter, 21 by exclusion and 2 by death. 193 total Preaching was one Sunday each month and business meeting was on Saturday before the preaching Sunday. Every member was expected to be present. The first building was of logs and located on the south side of the present auditorium in front of the annex building. It is recalled that the building sat north and south with an only door in it’s west wall. This building was sold on Saturday before the first Sunday in June, 1900. a new church house had been constructed permitting the sale of the old one. In 1901 Mr. Peter Albritton gave a bell as a gift to the church, which rested for many years on a pole beside the building. Providence began as a fourth time church (Preaching every fourth Sunday or once a month) with preaching and conference on Saturday morning, presching again Saturday night and the following Sunday morning. The church was governed by Rules of Decorum which were read at every conference. later the church went halftime, and has been full time since 1951. The first building was erected on private property and 23 years later on October 7, 1899 Mr. Willis C. Antley deeded "for the furtherance of God’s" work approximately 1 and one half acres of land to the church. It was upon this newly acquired property that the second building was erected ,which building many who are now living remember quite well. (I have a copy of the actual deed between Willis C. Antley and Thomas G. Guice, church deacon. It states he is donating this land which the church now stands on. It says the church owns the building which was constructed on said donars land. Mrs. Orelle Atkins of Winnsboro told me that she thought Willis Council’s father, James Augustus Antley originally permitted the church to build on this land and her grandfather later gave it to the church. From the wording, it’s apparent the land was owned by the Antley’s when the church was built upon it but by father or son I’m not sure without further research. Willis C Antley died just two months after deeding this land to the church.) It is not remembered when Sunday school was starter: where as ByPU was started in either 1919 or 1920. WMU was started in 1952 and was active for several years but it is not active at present. Vacation Bible School began in 1953 and with exception of one summer has been held every year since. Singing schools have been taught through the years with Mr. Ples Lewis being the earliest one of the teachers recalled. [There were several entries here of fairly current records then:] In 1976 the church had it’s centennial celebration. In November of that year the church reached it’s first century. Born during Reconstruction, it has been God’s instrument to bring many to the redemer. Born in Providence, it has helped many sons and daughters of God trust his Providence. half as old as the Nation, it has helped shape men and women for good citizenship and heavenly citizenship when God Calls.