Don Sasser wrote: > > 1. 06-03-1917 Frank Sasser and Stellia Sasser were Baptized in to The Mount > Arrarat Missionary Baptist Church. > > 2. Dassie Sasser was Assistant Church Clerk December 1933 > > 3. James Sasser was the clerk in 1876 > > >>>>>Who were they? > > I have more Sasser, Gilbert, Cobb, Helton and Cottengim names that belonged to > Mount Arrarat Missionary Baptist Church. > > 4. November 6th 1881 " To union Brotheren Joe Sasser and N.J. Gilbert to N.B. > Jones and Caleb Ledford." > >>Who was this Joe Sasser? > > 5. May 4th Saturday, in 1891 > >>>>.> Bro. James Sasser and Martha Sasser his Wife were "received" What does > this mean, and who were they. > > 6. Laurel River Baptist Association.... > >>>>>> Do they still exist? Where? > > Even the smallest bit of information would be appreciated.... > Thanks, > > Don Don: I can offer only the "smallest bit of information," regarding use of the term "received" in the records of the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church. Baptist churches still use this term today, and it means that the church granted the person(s) request for membership in the local congregation. The theological stance of many conservative protestant churches concerning church membership holds that Jesus Christ grants salvation unto repentant sinners and they automatically become a member of "the church" in the universal sense. These newly converted members of the "universal church" are then instructed by the new testament teachings of Christ and the apostles to affiliate with a "local body of believers," which was in this case the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church. Because Jesus Christ has already granted salvation and admitted the person(s) into "His church," it would be improper and presumptous for the local church to do anything more than "receive" those whom Christ has already "admitted." I admit, in the natural sense the difference in "receiving" and "admitting" into membership is largely semantic. But it has to do with the belief that no congregation has the authority to "admit" a person(s) into membership, only Jesus Christ. It may also be helpful in understanding records from Baptist churches that there are 3 ways that a person may be "received" into membership. First, as a newly confessing convert to christianity they may join "by profession of faith" and be baptized by full immersion. Second, they may be received on "statement" that at sometime past they received Christ as Lord and Savior and were baptized by full immersion under the auspices of a church of "like precious faith." I assume the church leaders make the determination on which churches are of "like precious faith." Third, they may come "by letter," also called "moving their letter." This involves transferring existing membership into another church. The "letter" refers to the fact that the church secretary of the "receiving" church requests a "letter" from the original church attesting to the members date of baptism and church membership, along with testimony that the transferring member left the previous church in "good standing." Suffice to say, you may run across church records which reference being received into membership by profession of faith, statement, or letter. I probably told you more than you wanted to know, but it is the first time in my three months on the network that I have actually had the answer to a question! Regards, Michael G. Sasser