A. W. Huyck

Full house at Ebenezer Baptist Church honors Rev. Albert Huyck for service

The Huyck family stood on the steps at Ebenezer Baptist Church Sunday for this picture. All the last names are Huyck. On the front row are Thomas with his family (l-r) Holland, Elizabeth, Hannah Grace, and Tracey; (middle row) Suzie, Pam and Charles: (back row) Andrew, Kenneth, Eudora, and Albert.
As Rev. Albert W. Huyck Jr. retires from a nine-year pastorate at Ebenezer Baptist Church, nearly 150 members and guests filled the church sanctuary for his sermon Sunday, October 22, 2006. The pastor was recognized with a luncheon, a gift, and Pastor Emeritus status.

Rev. Huyck began his ministry at Ebenezer in November 1997, following 25 years as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Washington. Angie Strother, who was a member of the committee which recommended him as pastor, presented him an inscribed pewter serving tray from the congregation. She reviewed his transition from First Baptist and the growth of Ebenezer during his term.

On behalf of the deacons, Dr. Joe Harris presented the Pastor Emeritus certificate which recognized his distinctive service, reverence and loyalty.

James Smith is chairman of the deacons who have recently recommended Dr. Leonard Dupree of Thomson as interim pastor beginning November 5. He has agreed to serve.

Rev. Huyck will preach the last sermon of his term on October 29, which event he approached with his most recent sermon, "If I Had But One Sermon to Preach," and focused on John 3:16. His three sons and their families were in the congregation which included many friends from various times in his career.

A covered dish luncheon arranged by church members Pam and Newton Gunter followed the service.

Albert Warren Huyck, Jr. served as pastor of the Washington church from  June 1974 to  October 1997. During his pastorate Terry Blackmon was ordained to the ministry in 1975. In March 1977, the church voted to redecorate the sanctuary, including new carpet throughout. Also, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary that year. In June 1980, the church approved purchase of a building across the street for use primarily as a youth activities center. It was named The Ark and has become an important part of the church's total ministry. The church started a pre-kindergarten program in 1980 with Laurie Granade as teacher. In the decade of the 1980s there were 131 professions of faith, and the church gave a total of $422,365 to missions. In 1983 the church launched its largest building program to date. A Together-We-Build campaign had a goal of $400,000 and in the end approximately $500,000 to pay for renovation of the Nancy Mercer Annex and new construction to include a church library, rest rooms, an office suite, a kitchen, and a fellowship hall. The new fellowship hall was dedicated and named the Mary Callaway Burton Fellowship Hall. Mrs. Burton's portrait, painted by George Mandus, was hung in the church office in 1986. A new bus was purchased in June 1988 at a cost of $88,060. The church adopted a rotating system for all church committee members in 1989. A modern record of 559 persons attending Sunday School was set on October 29, 1989. In July 1991 the church approved purchase of land across the street from the church for parking and future

developement at a cost of $75,000. Under Mr. Huyck's leadership the church enjoyed one of its finest periods of varied ministries, united fellowship, and spiritual growth. He was instrumental in developing Penfield Christian Home into a part of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He has been chairman of trustees for Tift College and a director of the Alumni Association of Furman University. In 1971 he visited Bible lands and in 1980 he went on a preaching mission to Japan and the Republic of China.

Biography of Albert Warren Huyck, Jr.

Albert was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Warren Huyck, Sr., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Augusta. Albert attended ARC - Academy of Richmond County - in Augusta; Furman University in Greenville, SC; and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He was pastor of First Baptist Church of Royston, GA, and pastor of First Baptist Church of Swainsboro, GA, before coming to Washington in 1974. After leaving Washington his retirement was short lived and he became pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Aonia community nine miles east of Washington.

Full house at Ebenezer Baptist Church honors Rev. Albert Huyck for service

Rev. Huyck began his ministry at Ebenezer in November 1997, following 25 years as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Washington. Angie Strother, who was a member of the committee which recommended him as pastor, presented him an inscribed pewter serving tray from the congregation. She reviewed his transition from First Baptist and the growth of Ebenezer during his term.

On behalf of the deacons, Dr. Joe Harris presented the Pastor Emeritus certificate which recognized his distinctive service, reverence and loyalty.

James Smith is chairman of the deacons who have recently recommended Dr. Leonard Dupree of Thomson as interim pastor beginning November 5. He has agreed to serve.

Rev. Huyck will preach the last sermon of his term on October 29, 2006, which event he approached with his most recent sermon, "If I Had But One Sermon to Preach," and focused on John 3:16. His three sons and their families were in the congregation which included many friends from various times in his career.