|
|
|
History of First Baptist Powell
Our story begins in 1889, when in Powell Station, Tennessee, fifteen members of Sharon Baptist Church were given letters of dismission so that they might organize a church in the small, but thriving Powell Station community. Powell Station Baptist Church began its mission when that small group met on April 27, 1889, in the school community building. Preaching the first sermon that morning was Rev. J. M. Carter of Claiborne County. As in many rural farming communities, the demands of the land, crops, and commerce put great constraints on a person's every waking hour. It's not surprising to learn that in those days, the church often met only once each month. And when they began meeting twice monthly, they got together on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. Services were held for some time in the school building, under the leadership of Brother William W. Bishop.
1894 |
Over the years, "Powell Station" became simply "Powell." In 1894, the slowly growing Powell church was able to purchase property from Elbridge Parker at the corner of Wells Street and Ridge Road, now known as Brickyard Road. It was on that land that the little white church (shown at left) known as the "first" Powell Baptist Church was erected. James C. Shipe was recognized as the first pastor.
Soon the church family outgrew that little white church. The Powell Baptist Church members came together and decided to build a new church on a lot donated by Brother S. R. Godfrey. The building plans from neighboring Grace Baptist Church were used; and on April 23, 1923, Deacon A. O. Child, the oldest male church member, broke ground for the new church foundation. |
The new building was dedicated on November 7, 1926, under the leadership of Pastor Neil Acuff.
The present church location was chosen in December 1954 when the church voted to purchase the Fletcher property, four acres of land at Ewing and Spring Streets. They had a limit of $6,500 for that purchase (doesn't that seem like a small sum in today's terms) and, over the next two years, the red brick colonial-style building was erected. Under the pastoral leadership of W. H. Parrott, the new building was dedicated in 1956, and the name was officially changed to First Baptist Church of Powell.
Over the next three decades, Pastor W.H. Parrott, Robert Burns (1972-78), and Dean Buchanan (1978-86) led the church to purchase additional property, make building modifications needed for better management of space, and to make other changes needed in order to handle the church's steady growth. |
1998 |
By the time the current pastor, Phil Jones, began his ministry in Powell in July 1986, the churched owned 15 acres of land. Soon was added a three-story educational wing and fellowship hall, and the lower level of the existing building was remodeled in order to accommodate the church's continuing growth.
Over the past 15 years, under Pastor Phil's guidance, the church has experienced considerable growth - and a lot of changes! For several years we kept up with the growth by adding worship services and Sunday School times. It soon came to the point that it was obvious new facilities would be necessary if the church was to continue to fulfill its mission - reaching the world for Christ. Between 1996 and 2000, God impressed upon His people at First Baptist a specific need ( a new $4,500,000 worship center) - and He then supplied the means to meet that need without incurring debt.
(That's why we joyfully proclaim "Jehovah Jireh" - The Lord, Our Provider!)
2002 |
As the church members have given sacrificially over these years, the work of the church in other areas has continued unhindered. For example, the 1988 total church budget was $332,000, but in the year 2001 we spent almost $650,000 on the mission's portion of the budget - that's almost double the whole budget just 13 years ago! Along with the financial growth came membership growth. Morning worship attendance has increased from 450 in 1988 to over 1,500 currently. |
Sunday School attendance has increased similarly, from 350 in 1988 to near 1000 today. Each Easter we have over 1500 people attending the morning services.
We believe that there is much more in store for the people of First Baptist Church!
|
|
