Church History

1900 – 1923
*Swinging bridge connected the north and south sides of the Neuse River.
*The people of the area attended one church, Crabtree Baptist Church. Crabtree Baptist Church was later renamed Malaby’s Crossroads Baptist Church.
*Faithful saints from the south side held services on the banks of the Neuse River (owned by the Rogers and Merrits’ families)
*Later, worship was held at the old Elevation Schoolhouse.
*Brother William “Button” Seawell was led to organize a church and became the first pastor of what would eventually become Elevation Baptist Church.
*He received assistance from Reverend A. Herman Pear, Reverend A. T. Price, and a number of “borrowed deacons” from Malaby’s Crossroads.
*The first Deacons of Elevation (noting that some were borrowed) were Brothers Oley “Jock” Bridges, Scott Wilson, Tobe Smith,Troy Smith, Joshua Hinton, Clay McCoy, Gattie McCoy, William Seawell, and Snow Hinton. Sisters Lottie and Mary Smith assisted them.
*The first choir was known as the Do Re Me Vocal Choir.
*The current sanctuary sits on the original land acquired from a loan from Raleigh Union Lodge #1. It was a “handshake” agreement so no deed was drawn.*Brother William Seawell saw fit to sell the church all the timber needed for only one dollar.

*On October 5, 1924, the dream finally became a reality with the birth of a new church; the Elevation Baptist Church! It became known as the “little white church on the hill” located on the Old Tom Bridges Estate.

1940
*The church membership started with 15 people, and church dues were 25 cents. Church Conference was held on the first Saturday of each month.
*Elevation worshipped and fellowshipped with neighboring churches.

1991 – 2001
*On Sunday, February 2, 1992, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Gentile Everett, the dedication service was held for Elevation’s new edifice.
*Elevation hosted the Baptist State Convention in 1994.
*In 1996, the women’s ministry began, and it was then known as “Seeds of the Sowers.”
*Pastor T.L. Carmichael, Sr. was installed on April 5, 1998.
*Under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Carmichael, the church paid off its mortgage on October 9, 1998. Renovations on the new structure included a new finance room, nursery, computer lab, overflow room, and several classrooms. The parking lot was also expanded.
*Elevation’s first Women’s Conference was held in October 2000, and the first Men’s Conference was held in 2001.

New Ministries
*Ministries established under Pastor Carmichael’s leadership include the following: Couples’ Ministry, Tutorial Ministry, College Ministry, Health Ministry,

Security Ministry, Personnel Ministry, Email Ministry, Public Relations Ministry, Website Ministry, Dance Ministry and Sign Language Ministry, just to name a few. However, one of the most significant ministries that has come to life during our Pastor’s tenure is a pseudo-ministry he calls the “Helps Ministry.”

The “Helps Ministry” simply stated, is a blanket request for the body to offer up their Godgiven gifts and talents when a need is identified in the church.

2002
*Manna From Heaven News – First church newsletter, distributed September.
*Incorporated a 7:45 a.m. and a 10:45 a.m. service every Sunday, which includes communion for both services on the first Sunday of each month.
*With the birth of the Website Ministry, Elevation Baptist Church became “well connected” on July 24 (www.elevationbaptist.org)

2003-2005
*Hired a full-time youth minister, sexton and an administrative assistant.
*The audio/visual equipment, to include theater style lighting, was upgraded.
*The church purchased a 29-seat passenger van.
*The front lawn houses a digital sign, which displays scriptural messages and upcoming events.
*Elevation’s weekly television broadcast, “Raising the Standard”, began appearing on Time Warner Cable Channel 22 every Monday night at 10:30 p.m.
*The first Youth Summer Camp was held during the summer of 2003.
*During Pastor Carmichael’s leadership, fifteen ministers have been licensed to preach the Gospel, with five being ordained. Our First Lady, Elder Rebecca Carmichael, is included among the eight. In addition, Pastor Wayne Jones has been blessed with his own church at Phipps Chapel Baptist Church in Henderson.
*Brothers Samuel Burch, Stanley Elliott and James Rogers were ordained as deacons on June 26.
*Acquisition of 101 acres of land on April 25th (at 8520 US 64 Hwy in Knightdale).
*Ministry Recognitions experienced by all during Annual Church Outing in 2004.
*Evangelism Ministry ventures out to the streets to disburse the “good news” of Jesus Christ - membership has grown by
approximately 2064 Disciples.

2006 – The Year of Agreement
*During the 2005 Watch Night Service the mortgage for the acquired 101 acres of land was burned.
*Brothers Anthony Crawford, Patrick Faulkner, Vincent Pettiford, Jesse Simpson and Wayne Sutton were ordained on
March 5th as Elevation’s newest deacons.
*The Men’s and Women’s retreats experienced its largest attendance in August.