Sweetwater Baptist Church Hayesville, NC 28904

"I enjoyed visiting Sweetwater Baptist Church. There were about 25 people in attendance on the Sunday I visited. Most of them showed up right at 11 a.m. for service. There were maybe 4-5 people there earlier for 10 a.m. Sunday school. That lesson was about having grace toward other people. The church didn’t seem to offer any bulletins. Everyone seemed to know each other and folks passed around a bag of candy before service. Above the pulpit was a cross that read “Why Jesus died.” It had a mirror in the middle. The solea was flanked by a large copy of the church covenant on the right side and the ten commandments on the left. The church also includes a pavilion, a cemetery, and a small basement. The pastor, Rev. Gerry, declined my request to take photos inside the church. He said if people want to know more, they’ll have to visit themselves. He also said people tend to confuse Sweetwater Baptist Church with Sweetwater Church, which is less than a mile east on Hwy. 64. Two years ago, he said, roofers accidentally replaced half of the roof on that church before they realized they were at the wrong place. Rev. Gerry was a middle-aged man, bespectacled and balding, in a nice suit. It seemed he preaches in addition to his full-time job in another career. He opened the service by inviting anyone who wanted to sing to come up front. About eight folks went forward and sang three hymns from red hymnals. There didn’t seem to be a screen or hymnals in the pews for the rest of us to follow along, but the songs were familiar enough that it was okay. Two boys collected an offering in shiny plates, then all the children in the church collected another offering in paper cups. The pastor asked about recent birthdays or anniversaries, then he accepted prayer requests and invited people to kneel with him at the altar as he prayed. Rev. Gerry was a fine preacher. On the Sunday I was there he taught on John 14 and the importance of salvation, saying that Jesus died for all people and none of us know when our time will be up. Every few minutes he called out someone named David on the front row, asking something like, “Isn’t that right, brother David?” Pastor Gerry closed by asking if anyone wanted to share a testimony. The service ended at exactly noon. Three people, including the pastor, invited me to return. I felt very welcome here."

"Nice place"