Monday, September 29, 1997
Pleasant Grove Baptist celebrates 50th anniversary
By JERRY DANIEL REED / Abilene Reporter-News
ANSON -- Pleasant Grove Baptist Church started out telling
the old, old story in a new, new way 50 years ago.
Also known as "The Jesus Saves Church," Pleasant
Grove celebrated its golden anniversary Sunday with reminiscing,
preaching, "dinner on the ground," old-fashioned hymn
singing and renewing old acquaintances.
Former pastors Jim Moseley of Westbrook, Don Jeffreys of Schertz
and Jerry Pittman of Anson came.
The church about 4-1/2 miles south of Anson was founded 50
years ago from the merger of several small rural Jones County
churches.
To the passerby, the Pleasant Grove church looks very much
like any number of rural churches that dot the countryside all
over America: simple square corners, steep roof, clean white sides,
a steeple topped by a cross. Except for one distinctive feature:
a bold neon sign proclaiming "JESUS SAVES."
The decision to install the sign was the church's first battle
over policy, said current pastor Jefferey Fenwick. The first pastor,
the late Scott W. Hickey, and the deacons disagreed over the kind
of sign the church should show the world. "They wanted him
to just put a (painted) sign up that says, 'JESUS SAVES,' "
Fenwick explained. The deacons didn't want neon, perhaps because
they associated it with restaurants, gas stations and -- and worst
of all -- honky-tonks, he said.
But Hickey persisted and prevailed, Fenwick said. So the "JESUS
SAVES" sign has glowed day and night for a half century from
its position high above the front door of the church on the east
side of U.S. 277.
And it has not gone unnoticed, especially at night when its
light contrasts with the darkness. "A beacon in the night,"
Hickey wanted it to be.
"We have people stopping by (off Highway 277)," said
Barbara Tollerson of Anson. "They might give a little offering
and say, 'Keep that light going.' "
Pleasant Grove church membership is a family tradition for
Tollerson, whose grandparents, the late Mr. and Mrs. G.G. Martin,
were early though not charter members. She and her husband, Eugene,
the church's music director; her brother and sister-in-law, Carl
and Paula Bennett of Abilene; and her daughter and son-in-law,
Tamara and Jimmy Stevens of Abilene, all have been married by
different pastors of the church.
The building itself has been modified only modestly in its
five decades. Vinyl siding maintains the look of the original
clapboard, and the upper walls inside have been paneled. Out back,
the congregation has added a fellowship hall and Sunday school
building.
"And we've added cushions in the pews," said Barbara
Tollerson with a laugh.
Membership has seen its ups and downs, but now has risen to
66 members. Ninety-eight worshipers were numbered for Sunday morning's
services, but that may not count because of the reunion and anniversary
celebration. A week earlier, attendance was 64.
The "JESUS SAVES" sign has gained the church some
outside renown, including mention in a November 1990 Texas Monthly
magazine article on "Vanishing Texas." But Pleasant
Grove's members try not to let the acclaim turn their heads.
"The main thing (is what) the light says," said Fenwick.
"The words 'JESUS SAVES' are what's important."
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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