"Jesus Is The Light Of The World"

 History of Selah Christian Church

Selah is a Disciples of Christ church in the open country of Grantham Township of Wayne County. It is sixteen miles west by southwest from Goldsboro. For several years before the church was officially organized, a few Christians of the community held prayer meetings in their homes and in the old Park Hill schoolhouse. There had moved into 'the community people who were members of Mill Creek Church in Johnston County and elsewhere. They continued to worship with the church from whence they had come, but that was a great distance to travel in those days. The only means of travel was by horse and buggy, wagon, cart, or on foot.
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Haywood and Betsie Bizzell conceived the idea of building a church and Mrs. Bizzell selected Selah as the name for the church. This term we have inherited from Hebrew psalmody. It was a music mark to denote a period for meditative rest.It was a symbolic call to solemn reflection on the truth immediately preceding. It has good connotation for workship in any age.



Mr. and Mrs. Bizzell were rather old and having no children to help with the work, gave money toward the construction of the building. There was little money for a building of any kind, but those who had money contributed for materials. Others gave logs, which were hauled by mules and log carts to the Eliza Thornton and Jesse Cox sawmill located on the Isaac Thornton farm. Community families hauled the lumber back from the sawmill with mules and wagons. Lightwood trees were donated by Zeke Grantham, John W. Britt, William Wright Weaver, Julius Ivey, and Joel Rose. The trees were sawed with crosscut saws into blocks, which were hewn down with axes and used fqr pillars of the church. These same pillars are still under the church and are in good candition.


Prior to. the construction of the building, a revival was held in the schoolhouse. Their pastor, Rev. James H. Johnson, preached during the revival. The crowds became so large; they were pressed for room. The schoolhouse was only a small one-room building. The Friends of Bethany Meeting, nearby, let them use their house for the last services. Many names were added to the church roll during this revival meeting.


In the year 1890, Baurbon Ivey and wife, Ava, deeded to Joel L. Rose, William W. Weaver, and E. T . Grantham, trustees, and their successors after them, three acres of land on which Selah Christian Church was built. W. P. Rose constructed the building. Many families in the community contributed free labor. All lumber was dressed by hand except the ceiling. A small amaunt of lumber was machined dressed for the ceiling. All lumber used in the church building was selected long-leaf heart pine. In the beginning, only the main auditorium was constructed. Later it was plastered. Hog hair was saved from hog killings in the community and used to help stick the plaster to the wood lathes. The first pulpit furniture and benches were built by Julius Iveyand Will Hood (hired carpenters). Some of the original benches are still used in one af the Sunday Schaol classrooms. The first lighting was by kerosene lamps. Later, carbide lights were used. Heat was furnished by a wood stove in the center of the church. Since there were no classrooms,classes assembled in different parts of the auditorium. Later curtains were used to. separate classes.


The first officers at Selah were: Elders--Haywood Bizzell, Bourbon Ivey; Deacans--Ezekiel Grantham, William Wright Weaver, James Williams; Church Clerk-- Wilson Ivey. Some other charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Offie Best, Mr. and Mrs. Joel L. Rose, Mrs. Nancy Rose, Mrs. Haywood Bizzell, Mr. William Wright Weaver, Mrs. Bourbon Ivey, Mrs. Ezekiel Grantham, & Mrs. James Williams. The congregation with 129 members was enrolled in the North Carolina Christian Missionary Convention in 1893.


In the mid 1890's their pastor, James H. Johnson, lived at nearby DobbersvilIe, (population, 60), and operated one of the three stores there. The post office for most of Selah's members was Bizzell, which had a population of 20, and was one of the 20 post offices in the county at that time. There was but a single store there. It was a confectionary shop run by R. A. Whitfield.


Selah's first Sunday School was started in 1893. Wilson Ivey was the first superintendent and Julius Ivey was secretary. Both got their mail at Bizzell, North Carolina. The membership was 55. The church had fruitful summer revivals, making for a steady gain in membership through the years. In 1900 ir was189, and a-total of $69 was given for total expenses that year. In the summer of 1924, two Atlantic Christian College men, W. O. Henderson and L. B. Bennett held their revival with 22 additions. Mrs. Julius Ivey, local correspondent, reporting this for Selah, added: "We are glad we have a college that can send out such 'preachers as these."


A charter member, Mrs. Joel L. Rose, passed away on April 14, 1937. Her pastor said of her:
"She was indeed a Mother in IsraeL. She reared 12 children: 6 boys and 6 girls. She was most faithful. Her long and useful life is a benediction to the Selah community." Also in 1937 two new Sunday School rooms were added to the building.


Electricity became available and some of the members of Selah wanted electric lights for the church. Electric lights were installed in 1939 although many of the people did not want electricity and therefore would not pay any part of the bill, which was a flat rate of $1.50 per month, payable annually.


During the time of World War II, the original building needed a new roof. Timber was cut from church property and sold for $35 per thousand board foot. The timber was used for the war effort and the proceeds from the timber sale were used to replace the old shingle roof with roll tin.


In 1949 the church building was "completely renovated and decorated," and the cemetery much improved in appearance. In 1950 the C. W. F. (Christian Women's Fellowship) which has been very active and the CYF (Christian Youth Fellowship) "showing promise of extensive service" was organized.


Installation of new pews, art glass windows, and a new heating system were effected in 1954.
Another Sunday School room was also added adjacent to the auditorium, and the interior was also redecorated. The same year Dr. James Rose and Dr. David Rose donated several gas heaters. In 1959, two rest roorns and a lounge were added.


From this church have gone out three Christian ministers: Victor Hugo Grantham, Glenn Weaver, and Donald Weaver . Glenn held-a summer reviv1i1 in 1954. The pastor, W. C. Foster, testified as follows: "The Morale of the church was lifted to the highest point in recent years. The future of the church is very bright." During that summer membership at Selah was 120.


Another minister making his start at Selah Church is Jean L. Hood. He was a member at Selah in his early years. He later moved to the Methodist Church where he became a Methodist minister.


Selah was vandalized in1966. Thieves-took-the gas heaters and consequently central heating was installed. One half acre of land was added to the cemetery in 1967 as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Helms. For his Eagle Scout project, Robert Grantham, Jr. plotted the cemetery into 150 gravesites and placed cement markers on each plot. In 1968 additional furniture was added to the building. Thieves struck again in 1971 taking the piano. A new one was secured and dedicated in the sanctuary. In 1973 the water pump was stolen and.in 1974 the bulletin board outside was damaged by a car wreck. Central air conditioning was installed in 1974. Vandals broke the windows in 1975. Art glass windows were secured to replace the damaged ones. In 1978 cushions were added to the pews and to the chancel chairs. Talk began about the need for a fellowship hall, so the women initiated the fundraising with a yard sa1e which netted $244.50 and began making quilts to sell at the annual harvest sale and supper which was resumed after having been discontinued some years earlier. Fundraising suppers were served to fertilizer and chemical companies. Church members sold scrap aluminum and peanuts.


After a groundbreaking ceremony in 1981, construction was begun on the Selah Church Fellowship Hall and the building progressed, as funds became available. Tables and chairs were purchased, a heat pump installed, ceiling and floor covering added and cabinets built. The building was dedicated on Homecoming Sunday in October 1985. In November ofthe same year a benefit dinner was served to raise funds for a church member, Sarah Grantham Johnson a cancer victim who died a month later. The Fellowship Hall has been used by Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H Club, and family reunions as well as church functions.


In 1986 the wood trim on the church was covered with vinyl siding. An outside building was constructed to use for cooking barbecue and chickens for the annual fundraising supper and harvest sale. Dedicated church members and loyal friends have made all these improvements possible without the need to borrow money.


The Wilbert Stafford farm bell was given to the church in 1990 by his son, LinoI. This bell was formerly owned by two generations of Lamberts and was 'purchased from Sears & Roebuck in 1860.


In 1997 a classroom was converted into a baptistery and office. The same year a picture of Selah Christian Church was painted and donated by Betty Carolyn Ivey Sutton. It is hanging in the foyer of the new Fellowship Hall for which ground was broken in 2001.


As was the tradition of Selah members caring for their own, in 1994, a love offering of $500 was given to cancer victim, Edward Carter. A supper for his benefit was also held at a later date. As the need arose, contributions have been made to other community people. Selah people believe in helping their local community.


In 1998, a sound system was installed for the sanctuary. Also about $2,500 was given to people in the community who had lost their homes in the flood or a fire or just had a desperate need for help. The church sponsored a goat project for the youth by buying 13 goats for them to show at the Livestock Show. The CWF purchased new carpet for the sanctuary in 1999.


The original pulpit and a short bench were refinished as part of the redecoration of the church foyer in 2001. New pews had been donated by church members the year before.


After the foundation was poured for a new Fellowship Hall in 2001, men of the church donated many hours of their time to the construction of the new building. Church ladies prepared food for the men. Funds collected over the years from church suppers and harvest sales were used for this project. Pledges of money were also collected. No money was ever borrowed. The building is valued at about $350,OOO. The new Fellowship Hall was first used in 2005. During the construction years the original Fellowship hall was converted into classrooms to accommodate the increase in attendance. A stage was built in the new building, and a digital piano was purchased for the sanctuary with memorial gifts in 2006. Each year, Selah contributes to the Mill Creek Scholarship for a student interested in the ministry. However, in 2006 a scholarship fund for Selah Church youth was established. New hymnals, two vacuum cleaners, furniture for the new foyer, and chandeliers for the sanctuary were purchased. The church nursery was updated and refurnished, office furniture was purchased, bookcases were added to the classrooms and pictures of the original church and historical documents were framed and hung in the foyer of the new Fellowship Hall. Delores Hood painted and donated a picture of Selah Church, which shows the new building as it stands today in 2008. A projector, screen, and DVD player-were added to our sound system.


Members of the Christian Men's Fellowship (CMF) designed a playground and installed playground equipment.


A pictorial church directory showing our church family was completed in 2007.


An outstanding live Nativity display of 10 scenes of the life and death of Jesus was viewed by about 900 people on December 21 and 22, 2007. Plans are for this to be an annual event.


On February 10, 2008, Decision Sunday was an unforgettable event. Fifty-five new members were added to the church roll. Selah is-a-growing church with many activities planned. Church membership is now 145, and Sunday School is 156.

 The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) History

Selah Christian Church is a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We trace our beginnings back two centuries to Kentucky and West Virginia. Our founders, Barton Stone, Thomas Campbell and Campbell's son Alexander sought the unity of all Christians on the simple basis of faith. The movement spread rapidly, and today the denomination claims some one million members in the U.S. and Canada.

The symbol of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a simple red chalice bearing the cross of St. Andrew. Long associated with the Disciples of Christ as a symbol, the chalice points to the centrality of Holy Communion in our life and worship. A Lord's Supper open to all has been characteristic of our church since its beginning. The cross of St. Andrew, national cross of Scotland, focuses attention on the Presbyterian roots of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The color red signifies vitality, spirit and sacrifice.

Disciples advocate freedom and respect diversity. We hold that Christians can determine through study and prayer what God requires of us. Just as our founders, the unity of all Christians in the love and service of Jesus Christ continues to be our goal.

We disciples have beliefs and practices in common with all sorts of Christians. For instance, we practice baptism by immersion, although persons coming into our Church who were baptized in another way are not expected to be re-baptized. We partake of Holy Communion every Sunday. In many ways the Disciples have become a "melting pot" of Christians, a Church in which persons from a wide variety of traditions can find a place.


For further information about the Disciples of Christ faith, please click on a link below:









The National Website for the Christian Church Disciples of Christ: http://disciples.org