The Founding of The Church

The first entry in the church minutes dates back to October 5, 1895. This appears on page 5. Since the first pages are missing, we do not know when a group of concerned believers began meeting together to form our church. We have no way of knowing on whose part the initial undertaking was begun. Anyone, who at that time had taken an adult part in the founding, would now be more than a century in age. We do know, however, that on November 30 Elder Peter Upper advised that they had become an incorporated body.

On December 28 of that year they met at the Crawford schoolhouse to elect officers and to read the Articles of Association.

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Article I – The name of this organization shall be the Free Will Baptist Church of Novesta, Tuscola County and State of Michigan.
Article II – The object of this organization shall be to maintain conduct, such religious services as are deemed proper and necessary by a well regulated church in the Free Will Baptist Denomination, to purchase, buy, or hold any property or appliance for such purposes and to conduct any work, cause or movement for the good of mankind in harmony with said denomination as expressed in their treaties upon their faith and practice.
Article III – The officers of this organization shall be Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, and a board of trustees, consisting of six persons. Two of whom shall be elected for one year. Two for two years and two for three years to be elected by ballot. Hereafter two shall be elected annually for three years.
Article IV – The trustees shall hold in trust all property put into their hands for said church, and shall have the care and supervision of all the temporalities thereof or which may be held in trust of any other corporation for the said church.
Article V – Any bylaws may be made for the regulation of the affairs of this church not repugnant to this constitution and the above named treaties. Election of the trustees must be made by ballot and their term of office named on ballot.
Article VI – The pastor may act as moderator.
Article VII – The deacons act as inspectors, otherwise two must be elected.
Article VIII – The inspectors must certify to the election of the trustees their terms and names and acknowledge the same before a justice, notary public, etc. Howells Annotated Statutes Section 4621 & 4622.
Article IX – These articles of association must be filed with the county clerk for record.
Article X – Trustees of the First Free will Baptist Church of Novesta elected according to the laws of the state of Michigan Dec. 28, 1895 at a regular meeting held at the Crawford Schoolhouse and said date as above mentioned.
1^st Peter Upper, George Collins 2^{nd H. W. Goodrich, Robert Horner 3rd George Howard, Elwood Biddle}	Term of office one year ending Dec. 31, 1896 Term of office two years ending Dec. 31, 1897 Term of office three years ending Dec. 31, 1898

On December 30, 1895 Charles Asby and George Howard personally appeared for the official signing of the papers by Justice of the Peace Francis F. Barber.