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Simplicity Of Order And Worship

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By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 11, 2009

WIMAUMA - In 1875, five miles east of Wimauma, 25 people signed their names to a charter, and Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church was born. Today, 12 committed members maintain a timeless and vital ministry and the historical pioneer family cemetery.

Fellowship's interim pastor, Elder Donald Martin, deacon Earl Stanland and church member Clyde Holland recently talked about the church and its expansion plans.

Q. How long have Primitive Baptists been in Florida?

A. Elder Mosley came down here in a horse and buggy in 1850 on a wilderness trail. The Plant City Mount Enon Church was the mother church of all Primitive Baptist in Florida. And this church Fellowship is one of two that maintained the original predestinarian position.

Q. How active is the church today?

A. We have 12 actual official members; then anywhere from 20 to 30 in attendance. These churches used to be hubs of the community; today, people come from all around.

Q. Is this the original building?

A. This building was built in 1957; the original burned in 1963. We have 43 acres, including the cemetery.

Q. Why are you expanding the facility?

A. We wanted a building for community functions, a place where the community can gather. So we started counting our nickels and dimes, and we're erecting it here by the cemetery to better serve the community.

Q. How can people help?

A. There are many pioneer families in this cemetery, and if people want to help financially to assist this program we'd be grateful. The cost is probably going to end up around $100,000. Also, since 1904, we've had Cemetery Workings twice yearly. We'll eat together and work the day.

Q. Define "Primitive."

A. Primitives maintain a simplicity of order and worship that's becoming more and more of an interest. There is a draw to the simplicity here that the common Baptists do not have; Primitives are not into programs, entertainment and so forth.

Q. Is the music different?

A. We sing totally a cappella, and we sing by meters, not by notes. It's been a tradition since 1717 in the United States. We feel God has given us voices as instruments - without the drowning out of the noise. The only Primitives with instruments are the Progressive Primitive Baptists.

Q. When did Primitive Baptists begin?

A. We came from England in the early colonies. They were called Strict and Particular Baptist. In 1832, after the Black Rock Address in North Carolina, the missionary-minded went to the left and the Primitives went to the right. We have a strict position against means and methods; we continued to go the old paths.

Q. So what is the church up to today?

A. The historical aspect of the Gospel we stand for and the heritage we've maintained through the years is more important than what we're up to.

Q. Were you raised Primitive?

A. I was raised Methodist, then converted ... at 27. I went to the Southern Baptists, then started to minister among Primitive Baptists in 1975. I'm an elder - that's what we call preachers - we don't take titles of reverend. I've been interim pastor here since two years.

Q. How important is tradition?

A. As a Primitive Baptist assembly we've carried on the history just as it was when the church was established. What we do here on a given service day is no different from what they did back in 1870. Simple singing and Scripture discourses from the pulpit with no kind of pomp and show. The simplicity is one of the key things to our witness.

We've been an unchanged group of Baptist people down through time.

Q. Dinner on the grounds?

A. Every Sunday after church.

Q. Why do Primitives resist programs and missions?

A. We believe in the absolute predestination of all things. We believe God has called out a people throughout the generations of time.
Primitive Baptists maintain that this election work of God is being accomplished and he's bringing people into his church as he so desires. We believe that if someone is to be here, then God in his sovereign purpose will bring him here. We're not trying to build the church bigger and better by the efforts of men's hands.

Q. How do you feel about the future?

A. I feel very positive, and here's why. We believe in the absolute sovereignty of God - that God is in control of all things. We have confidence that our God has everything under control.

FELLOWSHIP PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
The church is at 10232 State Road 674, Wimauma, and meets at 10:30 a.m. the first Sunday monthly; a luncheon follows each service. Elder Donald E. Martin Sr. is interim pastor. Call (352) 793-1721.

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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