The History of Pilgrim Baptist Church Pilgrim Baptist Church was organized on March 7, 1859 at the Free Will Meeting House in Wilkes County. The first pastor of the church was A.W. Vannoy, who served the church from 1850 until 1863. From the organization of the church, to the present, thirty-five pastors have served the Lord here at Pilgrim. The minutes for the first seventy-five years were taken up almost entirely with the discipline of the members of the church. After years of meeting in a small, white, wood framed building, the church voted to purchase an acre of land across the road from the church to build a new sanctuary. On July, 15, 1962 the congregation met for its first worship service in the new building. On April 5, 1970 the church voted to purchase the land surrounding the sanctuary to build a fellowship hall and educational building. This construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1974. A dedication service was held on November 24, 1974. In 1986, renovations began on the sanctuary and the educational building. These renovations were completed in 1987. In 1992, a picnic shelter and barbecue pit was built behind the fellowship building. Grading and the paving of the lower parking lot were also completed in 1992. During this same year, our mission groups were organized to include: The Baptist Men, Women on Mission, Youth Group, Girls in Action (GA's), Royal Ambassadors (RA's), and Mission Friends. In 1993, the church voted to support Rev. Dennis Love as our first full time minister. In 1994, the church voted to expand the fellowship building and to renovate the existing seating area. In 1998, the church voted to remodel the kitchen in the fellowship building making it a very nice facility to accommodate all of our church meals and fellowship gatherings. In the spring of 1998, the church voted to install a new lighted sign at the front of the church to share messages of inspiration and information to the community. In the winter months of 1999, the church voted to rent the billboard on Highway 421 at the entrance of Pilgrim Baptist Church Road as an ongoing outreach to our community. In the spring of 2000, the church voted to begin a countywide video ministry. Our services are being video taped and aired on the local cable TV channel as an outreach ministry. In the spring of 2000, renovations to the cemetery grounds were completed with the work and help of our Baptist Men. In 2000, Brian Sampson announced his call into the ministry and the church granted him a license to preach the gospel. In 2001, the church began a CARE Team Ministry that meets the third Thursday of each month. Teams deliver meals, pray, write cards, make telephone calls, and make door-to-door personal visits. In 2001, the church voted to give the building committee the approval to secure an architect and to begin their work on a complete set of drawings for a new sanctuary. In 2002, the church voted to hire Dave Gaeta as a part-time Youth Minister and granted him a license to preach the gospel. In November 2002, the church had a Harvest Crusade with Evangelist William Blackburn. The church experienced a great harvest of souls and baptized 41 people into the church. In June 2003, the building committee presented the price, the plans, and the construction company to the church for a new worship center. Cost for the new sanctuary was 1.7 million dollars. In May 2005, the church celebrated the "Rising Up to Build" campaign by opening the doors to the new sanctuary to the community. Also, in May 2005 Brian Sampson was called to become the part-time Minister of Youth and Education. In 2006, the Baptist Men worked diligently to transform the old sanctuary into a new education building, housing seven new Sunday School classrooms. The nursery was also expanded during this time. In April 2007, the Building and Grounds Committee presented to the church the plans to implement a more permanent church sign on Highway 421 to replace the billboard. On May 18, 2008 Dr. Dennis Love resigned as pastor of the church.   On June 14, 2009 Rev. Mike Hamby preached his first service as our new pastor.