Flat River Baptist Association
Our Mission
At Flat River Baptist Association, we exist to unite and involve our 36 member churches in meaningful fellowship, cooperative ministry, and the shared calling to fulfill the Great Commission.
We are committed to:
- Reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Equipping and developing believers
- Supporting one another in faith, service, and mission
Together, we are stronger—and together, we make a greater impact for the Kingdom of God.
Our History
Flat River Baptist Association – A Legacy of Faith and Service
The Flat River Baptist Association has a rich heritage of uniting churches across North Carolina in missions, evangelism, and ministry. For generations, our congregations have stood shoulder-to-shoulder—serving communities, sharing the Gospel, and offering hope and healing in the name of Christ. Rooted deeply in biblical truth and our Baptist tradition, the Association remains steadfast in its mission, focused on both present needs and future opportunities.
Our Beginnings: 1794 and Beyond
Although the first official session of the Flat River Baptist Association convened at the Flat River Meeting House in Person County in August 1795, tradition holds that a preliminary organizational gathering occurred at Garner’s Meeting House in Warren County in late 1794. For this reason, we mark our founding year as 1794.
That first session brought together ten churches, including Grassy Creek (est. 1754), Tabbs Creek (1775), and Lock’s Meeting House—now known as Concord—dating back to 1782. Other founding churches included Sherman’s, Tanner’s, Gardner’s, Eno, Camp Creek, Cedar Creek, and Neuse, representing a combined membership of approximately 800 believers. Remarkably, an October 1932 newspaper article noted that a two-day Association meeting held at Oxford Baptist Church drew an equal number—800 attendees.
Originally, these North Carolina churches were part of the Roanoke District Association in Virginia, which graciously dismissed them to form a new regional body—what would become the Flat River Baptist Association. Over time, the Association came to include churches from Durham, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Granville counties.
A Moment of Change: The 1806 Division
Since its founding, the Association has experienced only one division. In 1806, a group of churches requested a separation along a boundary running from Jones Bridge on the Hico River through Person Courthouse to Pain’s Ordinary in Hillsborough. The churches to the east retained the name Flat River Baptist Association, while those to the west formed what became the County Line Primitive Baptist Association.
Growth and Expansion
By 1844, following realignment and growth, only four of the original churches remained active in the Association. Twelve new congregations had joined, including Island Creek, Brassfield, Hester, Olive Branch, Corinth, Fellowship, Mt. Zion, Floyd’s (now Poplar Creek), Buffaloe, Mt. Moriah, Bethel, and Shady Hill.
As M.A. Huggins wrote in North Carolina Baptists, 1727–1932, the story of Flat River is inseparable from the story of Granville County (est. 1746), the Grassy Creek Church (1754), and the Flat River Association (1794). Together, they form a testimony to enduring faith, committed service, and a deep love for local communities.
Honoring Our History, Embracing the Future
As we continue to build on this sacred legacy, may each congregation within the Flat River Baptist Association remember and honor the foundation laid before us. Let our history inspire us to boldly carry the Good News—through acts of compassion, service, and love—from our local communities to the ends of the earth.
Our Staff
Our Team
Administrative Secretary
Teresa Walker
Mrs. Teresa joined the Flat River Baptist Association staff in 2025, bringing with her over 30 years of secretarial and administrative experience. She and her husband, Jimmy, are faithful members of Butner First Baptist Church. Teresa serves with excellence, warmth, and dedication—helping ensure the day-to-day operations of the Association run smoothly and effectively. We are deeply grateful for her servant’s heart and the professionalism she brings to our ministry team.
Director of CCM
Becky Currin
Becky Currin leads our Center for Community Ministries (CCM) with passion, compassion, and unwavering dedication. With a strong background in both ministry and community service, Becky is deeply committed to building relationships, fostering outreach, and meeting real needs across our region. Her leadership reflects Christ’s love in action, and she is a trusted and inspiring voice within our team.
DIrector of Missions
Jeff Epley
Meet Jeff, Rebecca, David, Joseph, Tommy, Nadine, and Lisa Kelly Epley, a family with a heart for missions who served 11 years with the International Mission Board in South Asia, where two of their sons were born in Thailand and their two daughters in Bangladesh. Now settled in North Carolina, they are excited to see how God will work through the churches of the Flat River Baptist Association. The Epleys love Clemson football, Houston Astros baseball, and Blue Bell ice cream, and they want you to know they are just a phone call away—faithfully praying for every church, pastor, and member as together we shine as beacons of light in our communities.
