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With Roots Reaching To 1852, Church Is Solid As Oak

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2007

THONOTOSASSA - Seated in a pew at First Thonotosassa Missionary Baptist Church, Florine Walden, 90, and Ernestine Pelham, 87, reminisce.

They are the church's oldest members, reminders of a time when families still recognized Sunday as a day for rest. Thinking back on the old days, the friends laugh.

They didn't even have air conditioning back then.

'I've went to this church all my life,' Walden said. 'My mother was a member here before that. The services lasted a bit longer then. People would come and stay all day.'

Pelham nods.

'Back then, the preacher preached until he got tired of preaching,' she said. 'We sometimes heard three sermons in a day. It done us good.'

Founded in 1852, First Thonotosassa's original members met under an oak at Flint Creek. In 1878, the church acquired property at 10650 McIntosh Road and built a wood-frame worship hall. Soon, people were traveling a day or more to attend. They packed picnics and blankets.

Today, the Rev. Tommy Burrus leads the congregation at McIntosh Road. A concrete building built in 1965 stands where the original worship hall stood. There are 60 attending members, young and old.
Burrus came to pastor the church in 1993 and fell in love with its congregation.

'I was 22 when I came here,' Burrus said. 'The elders of the church, they've raised me. We've grown together over the last 14 years.'

Pelham considers Burrus a good 'shepherd.' She hates to miss any of his sermons. No longer able to drive, she gets a ride to church every week. Her three grown children and their families also attend.

'You can read your Bible every day, and you should, but there's nothing like gathering with ones who believe the same way you do,' Pelham said.

Pelham said she wasn't always a model Christian. Growing up, she was a rebellious child. Sometimes, she acted up during services and received a spanking. Telling the story, she looks at Walden, then shakes her head and smiles.

'She Walden doesn't know about that,' Pelham said. 'She was a good girl.'
Walden nods. 'I was,' she said.

Pelham wasn't officially saved until 1954. It was the year she started playing piano at church. She was First Thonotosassa's official pianist until 2005, when she gladly allowed a new girl to take over.

Pelham and Walden sing at church. In their younger years, they sang almost every week. Now, they sing when the mood strikes.

'We became friends later in life,' Pelham said. 'Now, we're in-laws. My daughter Glenda and her son Mitchell are getting ready to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.'

Most First Thonotosassa members are descendants of past or current attendees. Some are related to the founders. Still, new faces are welcome.

Brian Reed, 34, discovered the church in 2005.

'My wife and I were looking for a traditional church,' he said. 'I'm a history buff, so I love it here. I love the music and the sense of family.'

Tradition is important at First Thonotosassa. According to Walden, services haven't changed much over the past few decades. The sermons come from the Bible. The songs come from a hymn book. The decor is simple. There are no electric guitars.
Burrus isn't interested in changing that by bringing in fancy lighting or rock music. He thinks the Bible alone will keep members coming back. Even youths, he said, benefit most from one-on-one interaction. About 25 children and teens attend church each week.

'Trying to keep the youth entertained can distract them,' Burrus said. 'I think they bond more just being at church or a member's house and being together.'

Pelham thinks childhood is the best time to learn about God. She worries about today's youths and urges young congregants to steer clear of trouble. Burrus, she said, is a good role model.

'Our young people learn they can enjoy themselves without getting into the ways of the world,' she said.

Reed is excited to see his daughters, ages 2 and 7, grow up in the church. His older daughter already attends children's church, which Burrus leads Sundays before the main service. The children meet in the fellowship hall, which was added in 1989. The hall is also used for special events.

The last Sunday of every month is family night. It includes a potluck dinner and time to discuss youth events. Four times a year, the church hosts festivals open to the public.

'We do things like set up a hayride and eat doughnuts off a string,' Burrus said.
Burrus hopes to grow old at First Thonotosassa and tell future generations about his good old days. For now, he's content to learn from the stories of others.

'When we were kids, there was this old lady who sat in the front pew that still wore a corset,' Pelham said, laughing so loud her words are barely audible.
Walden chuckles.

'I remember her,' she said. 'Remember, we didn't have electricity? Remember all those big fans?'

Pelham nods. 'This church has seen its ups, downs, but through it all, God was always here,' she said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: First Thonotosassa Missionary Baptist Church
WHEN: Services at 11 a.m. Sundays

WHERE: 10650 McIntosh Road

INFORMATION: Call (813) 986-4756.

Reporter Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813) 865-4845 or srothwell@tampatrib.com.

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