A True Pioneer: Pastor Buddy Leo Peters
The members of Gateway Baptist Church recently suffered the loss of their earthly shepherd but the life of Pastor Buddy Peters has impacted the lives of everyone he encountered. If memory serves me correctly, Peters came to Lumberton as the pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church. Later, he was moved to serve in a different capacity. Shortly after leaving Zion Hill, Pastor Peters started a weekly bible study. Orginally, the gatherings were held at the home of James and Carolyn Sandifer. As the number attending grew, it was necessary to find a larger space to accommodate the growing crowd. Later, with the assistance of the late Carolyn Sandifer, property manager, the weekly gatherings were held at 956 Myrick Avenue ( "The Center" in Turnkey). Peters often used the amended phrase from John 1:46, " can any good thing come out of Lumberton?" At the start of his new ministry, I'm sure there was plenty of opposition and possibly resentment towards Peters as he looked to...