The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-08
Ruhama Church Old as Alabama Prepares to Erect Structure
 In Keeping With Its Influence
S Parent Congregation of Many of the Most Influen- tial Houses of Worship In Central and Northern Parts of State
By Carolyn B. Elliott

baptlst churcheS ot Jefferson
 county.
 As a matter of fact, Ruhama is either the mother or the grandmother of most of the Baptist churches of this district. It was through her interest and ministry that the First Baptist church was found- ed and kept alive during the year 1875, when the Rev. A. J. Waldrop, pastor of Ruhama, also served without money and without price" First Church congregation tn it's infancy.
 Other direct descendants founded by Ruhafna are the Woodlawn (Fifty-sixth Street. Baptist, the Gate City church, Irondale, Olive Brarch and Whatiey Me morial. And when the family tree is shak- en more vigorously an interesting discov- cry is that there is scarcely a Baptist church in North Alabama that has not received assistance directly or indirectly through the unselfsh mother spirit of old Ruhama. The children and grandchildren of Baptists who have been educated at Howard College have worshipped at it's altars, and many prominent laymen and ministers of Alabama trace the greas Staying and controlling influences of their lives back to the ministry of the little church located so near the college campus.
 With the victory of the Howard College campaign in it's endowment of s4J0, ,0Oo, the future progress of this educational insti- turicn is assured as the alma mater to- ward which Baptist youths of the state will point with more and more pride. And with it's success is also assured the en- largen1ent of the influence of the moth err church whose ministry is destined more and more to bless Alabama in the quality of it's Christian citizenship For this reason the Baptists of Jefferson county are more than ordinarily interest," ed in seeing representativ church building replace the old structure that IS now inadequate to accommodate the eVer- increasing membership.
 ITO be quite frank, the members of Ru- hama church have been so absorbed in oo- ing for others that they have thought very little about themselves" stated the pastor, the Rev. J. c. Stivender. They realize now, however, that for the work s sake a more modern and better equipped building is necessary. I believe It was this thought that inspired the unanimous vote several weeks ago, to erect new building, the exact location to be oe- c:ded upon later Our membership IS made up largely of people of high soul culture. not many of whom are rich in material wealth, but I believe every oIse Of them has gone to work in earnest to do his part toward erection of a building worthy the church whose appeal is nos only local but state-wide"
 Dr.-Stivenders himself is a product of Howard College and in his college days attended services at Ruhama Church In 1913 he finished at Howard with the de- gree Of A. B. to enter the University of Chlcago. Two years as pastor of the Baptist church at Michigan City, Ind. and the pastorate of Wentworth Church. Chicago, intervened during his university career that he afterward completed with the Gesree of B. D. From Chicago. Dr. Stivender entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky, where the honor of Ph. D. was conferred on him. and where he received his prepa- ration for the ministry before acceptance of the pulpit at Ruhama church last Oc- tober.
 As the pastor of this important charge, pr. Stivender is universally beloved With the enthusiasm of man young in years and able to accomplish. he has planned to center all educational. missionary and ev angeical work of Ruhama around the building of the church during the coming year
 This doesn't mean that our missionary effort will stop by any means,"' he ex- plained Our recent history shows that s45.000. or 50 per cent more than our ap- portionate pledge, was raised toward the Baptist se5 N0o0 campaign, and the build ing of the new church will not diminish the interest of this congregation in out. side calls.
 MISSIONARY CHURCH
 "Ruhama has always been a missionary church. he continued. 'In the early days her membership was made up exclusively of farmers. Though most of them were men of limited means, the church was liberal to respond to outside calls, es- recially in the support of denominatonai work in this city and stateS One of the pastors. the Rev. A. J. Waldrop, was granted lifelong membership in the Baptist convention because of the liber- ality of the members whose history has been one of unselfish cooperation"
 A part of this interesting history is herewith given, as told by Dr. Stivender. The information was gathered by Mrs. N. A. Barrett, that elect lady who has been ably identified with the efforts of Ruhama church and with much of the constructive community work of this city. 4 'Runama is not only the oldest church of any denomination in Birmingham and Jefferson county. but is also the oldest in all this section of Alabama" Dr. Stiv- ender informed When it was established what is now the city of Birmingham was . wilderness, and East Lake was the Ruhama community, whose postoffice was Rockville. Jefferson county, where William H. Wood was postmaster. The Wood family has been prominently con- nected with the work of the church since those early days when Indian wigwams were dotted over the landscape.
 "A story is told of one of the pioneer pastors who always carries a gun, some times for deer hunting and sometimes as protection from Indian assault con- tinuas pr. Stivender.
 "TWhy go about with gun, Pastor CAser one of his parshoners inquired. You surely know you are not going to die before your time comes. don't your I
 ''Truly do.' replied the wary woods man. but how do I know when l go out on these long tramps but what some ln- dian's time is at hand?'
 OLD AS STATE
 t.The Ruhama Church vas organized the year that Alabama was admitted to the union, March 27. ls19," resumed Dr. Stivender. The Rev. H. Holcombe began his pastorate with a membership of nine. including himself and Mrs. Holcome, Mir. Joseph Nations, Mir and Mrs. Richard Rocket and Dinah, colored servant of the Rocket family.
 The original building was small log church. located at what is now Sloss ave- nue and Seventy-seventh street. East Lake. In few years the congregation had grown to such proportions that a larger frame church was built on the same lot.
 Among the early pastors who served Ruhama were the founder, the Rev. Hosea Holcombe. who was succeeded by the Rev. John Henry. Elder Williams Case, the Rev. T. D.>Armstrong and the Rev Joseph Byers" reminded Dr. Stiv-