An Interview with Preacher Henry "Hank" Vegter

Preacher Henry “Hank” Vegter has been the preacher at Friendship Baptist Church in Saluda, NC for 61 years!

He began preaching at Friendship Baptist Church in the summer of 1964, making 2025 his 61st year of dedicated service to his faith, church, congregation and to the Saluda Community. He cannot remember how many funerals he has presided over. Preacher Vegter grew up in Iowa and met his wife, Wilma Vegter at Tennessee Temple Bible College and married her in 1959. They have one daughter, Gloria, plus grandchildren and great grandchildren. Preacher Vegter is 92 years old and wants to continue preaching until he is 100. One of the missions that he is the proudest of is erecting over 100 huge white crosses around Western NC, with a number of them located in Saluda. He is retired from this mission and is looking for someone to take over the construction of the crosses. Preacher Vegter says many good things about a number of Saluda folk, some living and some no longer with us. He also says that Friendship Baptist Church has produced some of the greatest preachers in the United States, including Evangelist Tom Hayes.

*Please note, Preacher Vegter solved the mystery of the white cross in the woods, located near the rear of the oldest part of the church cemetery. See the previous video on this topic.

Video Filmed and Produced by Cindy Stephenson Tuttle for Historic Saluda, Inc.

Historic Saluda, Inc.
PO Box 277
Saluda, NC 28773
Email: historicsaluda‪@gmail.com‬
Website: www.historicsaluda.org
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