Church spotlight: Parma General Baptist Church to celebrate 130 years with Harvest Day

PARMA, Mo. — The public is invited to join with the congregation of the Parma General Baptist Church as they celebrate 130 years in Southeast Missouri with their Harvest Day on Nov. 10.

Worship will begin at 11 a.m. with guest speaker Maurice Redden delivering the message. A potluck lunch will be served following the service and at 2 p.m. music will be provided by Changed Heart.

According to Keith Kennedy, pastor of the Parma General Baptist Church, the church was originally organized as the Lotta Union General Baptist Church on Aug. 5, 1889. The church’s 16 members then met in a house along No. 8 ditch in Parma.

“Although his years as pastor are undetermined, it is believed that A.J. Wilson was the founder of the church,” Kennedy said.

There church building was located in a little place known as Lotta and sat parallel with the main street of what is now Parma. Kennedy said the building was used for services by the Methodist, Presbyterian, Missionary Baptist and General Baptist congregations, which made up the Lotta Union.

In 1908, the General Baptist congregation erected a new church at 210 West South Railroad St. in Parma. The church retained the name, Lotta Union.

“From this time until 1942, there is a record of only 11 pastors,” Kennedy said. “During Brother Frank Richardson’s term as pastor (1943-1944), the roof of the church burned.”

For nearly two years, the General Baptists held services in the Presbyterian Church as they waited for their building to be rebuilt.

Up until 1957 or 1958, the church was built in the shape of a plus sign with the choir located at the east side and two doors straight across on the west side. In 1958, the church was remodeled and the choir was moved to the south end. During Billy Hamlett’s term as pastor from 1960 to 1963, the church annex was added.

The building would served its purpose for the next 20 years until it was torn down in November 1983 to make way for the new church.

“Due to bad weather conditions, the construction of the new church was delayed until Feb. 15, 1984,” Kennedy said. “During the construction, the new church was incorporated and the name was changed. There is no longer a Lotta Union General Baptist Church, now the church is known as the Parma General Baptist Church.”

The first service in the new building was July 8, 1984, and on Aug. 19, 1984, the new building was dedicated. Not quite two years after the dedication of the new building, it was paid off in full on March 10, 1986.

In addition to Sunday’s Harvest Day, the public is welcomed to attend the Parma General Baptist Church. Sunday school is regularly at 9:45 a.m. Sunday with the worship service following at 10:45 a.m. Sundays.