Foundational History of the
Fredrick M. Hawkins Center
for Christian Studies
The F.M. Hawkins Center was the dream of Berry Henderson, one of the greatest preachers in the history of the Hightower Baptist Association, and one of the best friends ever of the churches of this area. Berry believed in theological education, but he knew that most of the ministers in the Hightower Association could not afford to leave their families and jobs to pursue a theological education elsewhere. So he desired to bring theological education to them, making it accessible to them. As a strong advocate of theological education and missions, Berry walked in the footsteps of the founding fathers of the Hightower Association. The founding fathers strongly believed in theological education and missions.
Richard Phillips, the first moderator of the Hightower Association, started churches throughout the north Georgia area. In one year, he started Bethlehem, near the Forsyth-Fulton County line, and Bethel, near the Forsyth-Hall County line. Traveling on horseback between these two churches would have taken him three to five hours. Today, the equivalent would be like starting a church in Cumming, GA and in Albany, GA in the same year. In addition, according to the Richard Phillips family history, Rev. Phillips received an above average education. Alfred Webb, who served as moderator of the Hightower Association for 41 years, and served at Mt. Tabor Church as pastor for 42 years, was trained in the Greek language, the original language of the New Testament. Fredrick M. Hawkins, the founding pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, attended a literary school as well as the Sumpter Theological Seminary, in Sumter, SC. So at its beginnings, the Hightower Association believed in theological education and missions.
In 1998, a steering committee met to discuss the formation of a local school for biblical studies. In attendance at that meeting were Rev. Berry Henderson, Rev. John Lummus, Rev. Ronnie McCormick, Rev. Eddie Martin, Rev. Rubin Smith, and Dr. Jimmy Orr. The purpose of forming the school was to provide a place where local ministers and laypersons, especially in the Hightower Baptist Association could experience quality theological education. When the steering committee met to form this school in 1998, Friendship Baptist Church was offered as a place to meet. And, since F.M. Hawkins was the founding pastor of Friendship, and a seminary student himself, it seemed fitting to name the school in his honor – The Fredrick M. Hawkins Center for Christian Studies. It was and is our hope to reclaim the dreams of those founding fathers.
By Dr. Jimmy Orr
The F.M. Hawkins Center 