“In the beginning God” visited Bradley, West Virginia in the spring of 1955 through the anointed preaching of  the late Rev. Robert H. Doan and the late Rev. Elden Pauley. This soul stirring revival took place in the basement of Duncan’s Grocery Store and continued for thirty days.

A group of dedicated Christians emerged from these services determined to continue “God’s Work”. This group met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Renfro and the church was organized June 12, 1955, under the name of Bradley Free Will Baptist Church.

The first pastor and shepherd of the flock was the late Rev. Robert H. Doan. The Board of Trustees consisted of Rev. Doan, Carl Hornsby and Lewis C. Vance, all of which are now at home with the Lord. Serving as deacons were Delbert Thompson, Grover Lawson, and Thomas Martin, all of which are now at home with the Lord. Mrs. Mae Renfro was the clerk and the Sunday School was under the direction of her husband Blaine P. Renfro, both of which are at home with the Lord. Two young graduates from the Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee, Rev. Alton L. “Bud” Hines and Rev. Galen Dunbar were in charge of the youth groups. Both of these ministers are now retired.

The Rev. Leslie Lilly and the Rev. L. V. Basham, both at home with the Lord, held appointments at the church for many years.

Rev. Doan arranged for the church to purchase the Renfro home for church services. In addition to regular church services, a radio program was broadcast from the church’s sanctuary each Sunday afternoon. How appropriate was the theme song “Press Along Weary Pilgrim.”

God richly blessed and the membership and attendance grew. Through the generous giving of the congregation and friends, money and labor were made available for a larger building. On January 17, 1965, the congregation moved into its new church home. God continued to bless the church and sent outstanding men to minister to the church. The Rev. Doan resigned his pastorate and the Rev. J. W. Cooper was elected pastor, followed by Rev. Daniel Legg, Rev. Gene Hall, again Rev. Daniel Legg, Rev. Gerald Kelley, Rev. James Stanley, Rev. Guy Owens, again the Rev. Daniel Legg, and now Rev. R. Wayne Peters.

During Rev. Gerald Kelly’s pastorate, a beautiful new church was built and dedicated on June 1, 1986. The old church was remodeled and the old sanctuary is now the site of our teen church and other youth programs.

We praise and thank the Lord for our past history and plead for His blessing on our future to be a Great Commission Church. Pray with us that the Bradley Free Will Baptist Church will win souls to Christ around the globe, build new converts in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and send laborers into the vineyard until the harvest is completed.