The church had three different pastors in the first three years. Aden Brown was the first, followed by Harry L. Stevens, and then succeeded by Henry Smith in 1945. Henry Smith pastored until 1950 when Landon W. Stanley came.

Landon Stanley pastored until 1964. During his pastorate, the church debt was retired. On June 26, 1955, a special service was held to commemorate that event. The congregation ranged from 80 to 100.

Then 1960s brought rapid development to Maxwell Hill as new housing developments were springing up everywhere. These developments brought new opportunity for the church. In 1964, C.G. Walker replaced Landon Stanley as an interim pastor, agreeing to a one-year term.

A new era began in November 1965, as Clarence Griffith, Sr., a resident of Shady Spring, West Virginia, was selected to be the new full-time pastor. The church began to grow so rapidly that a new facility was needed. Plans were made in 1967 to construct a new building, but financing became a problem since the church did not want to use pledges to secure the loan, and banks required them. God solved this problem through a Christian banker and loan officer, Sam McClean of the National Bank of Summers. He understood the method of tithing and convinced his bank to loan $100,000 to construct the new facility. This money was quickly absorbed as the building progressed and more money was needed for completion. God again supplied the need. An anonymous donor approached Sam McLean and loaned the church an additional $40,000 to complete the construction. This donor still remains anonymous. The new building was completed and services began in the fall of 1968. Reluctantly the old facility was torn down.

Other highlights occurred during Clarence Griffith's pastorate. In 1969, the church broke its ties with the American Baptist Association of Churches and voted to become independent. Our church began a tape ministry in 1976, a short time after a radio ministry had begun on station WJLS. Tapes were furnished free upon request to listeners of the radio broadcasts, and that continues to be true. The radio ministry was expanded in 1986 to station WGFC, in Floyd, Virginia.

In March of 1977, the church voted to build a gymnasium, and construction was completed in July 1978 at a cost of $150,000. The church considered an active sports program to be an outreach to the community, and basketball and volleyball leagues were formed and housed in the gym. Participation also took place in local softball leagues for both men and women. Other activities that were born and still exist today are the traditional chicken barbecue held on Labor Day and our annual Christmas dinner.

The attendance grew to an average of 275 in 1985, which led to the addition of a fellowship hall and kitchen adjacent to the gymnasium at a cost of $186,200. Another special date to remember was November 23, 1988. A special service was held to celebrate the canceling of the debt on the buildings. The service was entitled, "Thanksgiving Jubilee," and was a service of praise to the Lord for the redemption of our debt

In the early part of 1991, Clarence Griffith asked the deacon board to begin the search for a new pastor as his health had deteriorated. The search led us to God's man in the person of Kenneth Killen of Pound River, Virginia. Pastor Ken began serving in June of 1991 and continues today as our Senior Pastor.

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