Frequently Asked Questions
What are your beliefs?
In summary, our core beliefs are:
– There is one God, eternally existing in 3 Persons: Father, Son & Holy Ghost.
– The verbal inspiration of the Bible is verbatim in its original language.
– Every individual, upon coming to the age of accountability, is a sinner & is therefore in need of salvation.
– We believe that salvation is the gift of God, “not of works, lest any many should boast”. Salvation is obtained by repentance & faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Lord & savior.
– There is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. Jesus died upon the cross, shedding His blood for our sin; was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day & is now seated on the right hand of God.
For more information, see the “Core Beliefs” tab.
Do you have a children’s program?
Yes! Children’s spiritual growth & development are considered a very high priority at Quiet Dell Baptist Church. On Sundays, during the morning service there is children’s church for ages 3 – Middle School. This time includes singing, activities, and an age-appropriate Bible story/lesson. Sunday evenings at 5:30 – 7 pm children can participate in AWANA Clubs (starting 6/2022). We would love for your children to participate!
What style of music do you have?
Our first and foremost priority is to worship God and any song which does so is a song we may sing. However, we sing mainly hymns and choruses. We often have special music from the kids as well as from the older generation.
What is Quiet Dell Baptist Church’s history?
Until 1920, the Quiet Dell community of Marion County had no church. That year Billy Sunday, a nationally known evangelist, held services in rural areas of Fairmont. Because there was no church, services were held in an old school building on the site of the current Quiet Dell Baptist Church. Ethan Vincent held Sunday Church School in the same schoolhouse in the late 1920’s, and occasionally, Rev. Albert Ray of the Fairmont Pentecostal Church held revival services there, too.
In 1933-1934, a new school was built nearby. Religious services were held in the school on Sundays, with Mary Ruby instructing children on Sunday afternoons.
In 1935, Rev. A. C. Bell, an ordained Methodist minister, was called to hold regular services, but these ended when he was transferred to a different church. In 1945, Marie Vandergrift asked Rev. J. B. Sessions, pastor of Grace Tabernacle in Fairmont, to assist in organizing a Sunday School of which she became superintendent.
Because the Sunday School program had outgrown the school, in 1946, Henry and Gotha Ruby deeded over the property where the original schoolhouse had been located. The construction was truly a community effort: Joe Corbin excavated for the basement, volunteers (chiefly Albert Vandergrift, Charley Henderson, and Hobert Ingram) built the concrete block structure, and W. Henry Ruby with Lee Nestor did most of the carpentry. The stone for the parking lot was laid by Wayne Vandergrift and Rev. Brooks Clayton handled the wiring. All supplies were purchased using donations.
The church members voted on January 16, 1947, to affiliate with Christ Gospel Mission, calling Rev. Clyde Wright as pastor. The first church service was held May 11, 1947, with the building officially dedicated on November 9, 1947. Clara Casey led a successful fund drive to supply furnishings.
Various ministers served from 1948-1957 under the auspices of Christ Gospel Mission. On May 19, 1950, under the pastorate of Colmar Nuzum, the constitution and by-laws written by the church board were ratified by the fellowship.
On May 28, 1957, the church voted to withdraw its Christ Gospel Mission affiliation and on August 3, 1958, joined the Fairmont Association of the West
Virginia Baptist Convention. At this time, the church officially became known as the Quiet Dell Baptist Church.
In February 1984, the Southern Ohio Coal Company notified the church trustees that the company would be mining beneath the church. From July 1984 until July 1986, church services were held in a small vacant building owned by the coal company. The congregation moved back into the church after some necessary reconstruction on July 20, 1986, with a re-dedication service held in September of that year.
The church has held continuous services since that time.
List of church pastors, affiliations and tenures:
A.C. Bell, Methodist, 1935 – ?
Clyde Wright, Christ Gospel Mission, 1947-1948
Colmar Nuzum, Jr., Christ Gospel Mission, 1948-1950
Baxter Davis, Christ Gospel Mission, 1951
William Sutfin, Christ Gospel Mission, 1952-1953
Douglas Rutherford (Interim), Christ Gospel Mission, 1953
Cecil Radcliff, Jr., Christ Gospel Mission, 1953-1957
Joseph D. Billups, American Baptist, 1957-1958
Gary Bonnell, American Baptist, 1958-1961
Other Baptist pastors who have served since 1961 include Jon Kyle, Lon T. Marks, Howard Harper, Clyde Loar, A.J. Dickerson and Durard, Estep Charles Conley, Arnold McIntosh, and Gerald Bowman.
Student pastors have included Michael Hall, David Allen, Burce McConihay, Donald Biram, David Burnsworth and John Thomas.
Resource: This historical information is taken from an article entitled “1920 Quiet Dell Church” by Francis Ruby Swisher, written sometime after 1986. The article is located in the church, but no further publication information is attached. If anyone should know where this article was originally published, please contact the church so proper credit may be given.
How would you describe Quiet Dell Baptist Church?
Quiet Dell Baptist Church is a small, humble country church full of people who love the Lord and would love for as many other people as possible to do so as well! The importance of having a personal relationship with Christ and not just having rituals or religion is highly emphasized.
Which denomination is Quiet Dell Baptist Church a member of?
Quiet Dell Baptist Church is an independent church, but part of the American Baptist Convention.