On January 18, 1995, a group of 48 people met at the Ellerbe Lions Club Park to discuss the formation of a new Baptist Church in Ellerbe, NC. Later that year, in October, land at 138 Wallace Road was gifted to Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church, where the church still resides today. 

 

Over the past 30 years, Ellerbe Fellowship has had five pastors: Rev. Eugene McNair served 1995-December 2005, Pastor Kevin Thompson was ordained on October 29, 2006 as pastor and served until November 2013. Following Pastor Thompson’s resignation, Pastor Bill Monroe was called interim in December 2013 and then transitioned to full time in June 2014. On December 20, 2019, Pastor Monroe resigned. Our church was led by Larry Frye, associate pastor, until June 2020 when Pastor Tommy Preslar came to serve our church. Pastor Preslar left in June 2023. In January 2024, Pastor David Kessler became interim pastor and continues to serve at this time.

 

Ellerbe Fellowship is a body of baptized believers committed to sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are part of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, North Carolina Baptist State Convention, and Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) aiming to fulfill God’s work by reaching the lost. Our doctrinal stance supports the current Baptist Faith & Message of 2000.

 

The members of Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist church have always worked faithfully and willingly to ensure a church that is active in our community. In addition, we support local and foreign missions, as well as mission projects, such as Operation Christmas Child. We have a longstanding history of an active children and youth program with a large Vacation Bible School each summer.

 

Demographics for Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church

 

Ellerbe Fellowship has a total membership of 232 members, of which 79 are currently active. We offer a blended worship style on Sunday mornings with an average Sunday worship attendance of 109. Sunday School enrollment is 191 with an average attendance of 92 each week.

 

Although the population of Ellerbe, North Carolina dates back to the 1700s, the town of Ellerbe was incorporated in 1911 and is located in north-central Richmond County approximately 11 miles north of the county seat of Rockingham on NC State Highway 220. Ellerbe is 20 minutes or less from the collar counties of Moore, Montgomery, Scotland, and Anson Counties. The area is primarily rural and made up of small towns and small to medium sized churches.  

 

According to the most recent census, the Town of Ellerbe’s population is 852 and has been slowly declining over the past 15 years.  However, the population within a 15-mile radius of Ellerbe is approximately 54,500, which is made up of 21,500 households and 14,500 families. Of those surveyed, only 25% attend church regularly (down from 33% in 2014) and 60% of those attend church weekly.