1951 - Present
In the fall of 1950, Elder L. W. Smith and Elder H. C. Vanderpool came into Woodburn, Kentucky community in search of a place to conduct a revival meeting. There was an old theatre building in the center of the business district where the owner, a Mr. Tresh, showed movies twice a week. This gentleman offered to let the ministers have the theater for the meeting except Thursday and Saturday nights when he would be showing movies.
Some of the brethren who came with the two ministers did not think it would be a good idea to dismiss church services two nights a week for movies to be shown. Elder Vanderpool said, “I’d rather have a place to preach five nights a week than not to have a place at all.” After some discussion the other brethren agreed. The revival was announced around in the community. The meeting began on Sunday night, October 15, 1950. Elder Smith and Elder Vanderpool did the preaching and Elder D.C. Russell led the singing.
On Wednesday night of the first week it was announced that there would not be any services on Thursday night, but for everyone to come back on Friday night which was to be between the two movie showings. To the surprise of the preachers, when they arrived on Friday night, Mr. Tresh, the owner of the theatre, met the preachers outside and told them to go ahead and have services on Saturday night and also all nights next week, that he would not be showing any movies. So, the meeting went on for two full weeks and only one night was missed for the show. During the meeting seven souls were saved including a number of adults.
After the revival Elder Vanderpool began some pastoral work in Overton county, Tennessee and Elder Smith preached part-time in various buildings in the Woodburn Community. There was an interest among the attendants of the mission to organize a church. There was a Methodist church building on College Street in the village and this is where the organizational meeting was held on April 27th, 1951.
On the aforementioned day of the organization, a group of old time Christians came together for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church at Woodburn, Kentucky. A number of churches had been invited and the following were present:
Drakes Creek Missionary Baptist Church: Elder D.C. Russell, Deacon C.R. Gammons, Deacon Obie Cothron; Fifth Street Church (Fairview Memorial Missionary Baptist Church): Elder G. C. Meador; Meadorville Church: Elder W. T. Russell; New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, TN: Elder Albert Crouch, Elder L. W. Smith, Elder H. C. Vanderpool; Union Hill Church: Elder F. L. Ray, Deacon A. G. Gregory; Siloam Church: Elder A. G. Stinson; Plano Church: Deacon M. E. Tuck; Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church: Elder L. A. Stewart, Elder Lloyd Fishburn; Bay’s Fork Church: Elder Odell Willoughby; and Salem Church Elder Everette Scruggs.
The newly seated presbytery moved that Elder L. W. Smith act as Moderator. A motion was made that Elder D. C. Russell act as Clerk. A motion was made that Elder W. T. Russell preach the sermon. A motion was made that Elder L. A Stewart read the Articles of Faith. A motion was made that Elder H. C. Vanderpool would read the Church Covenant. The motion was made that Elder F. L. Ray would lead the prayer. A motion was made that Elder Lloyd Fishburn charge the new church.
The time having arrived for the sermon, “Bringing In The Sheaves,” was sung. Services were turned over to Brother W. T. Russell to bring the message. After some commentary, he read for a lesson Ezekiel 17:11-24. He took for a text I Timothy 3:15. After a fine and soul stirring sermon on the church of our Lord, during which many Amens were heard, “How Firm A Foundation,” was sung as all came forward to give Bro. Russell their hand of approval of the good sermon.
After a bountiful dinner we came together by singing, “Lily of The Valley,” Brother Willoughby led in prayer. At this time, the letters of Charter Members were read. After which, a motion was entered to accept them as genuine. At this time the Articles of Faith were read by Brother L. A. Stewart. The Church Covenant was read by Brother H. C. Vanderpool.
A motion was made on the part of the church members that they adopt the Articles of Faith as read and bound themselves together by the Covenant which was read. At this time the prayer was offered by Brother F. L. Ray during which many Amens were heard. At the close of the prayer, “Victory In Jesus” was sung and a Christian handshake took place and shouts of joy were heard. The charge to the church was given by Brother Lloyd Fishburn. A motion that we recognize this as genuine and the council be dissolved.
At this point the new church took over. A motion was put forth that we call Brother L. W. Smith for our pastor. A motion was made that Brother C. E. Taylor act as clerk.
The day of the church organization brought together seven covenanted charter members of local visible Baptized Believers from Sister Churches of like faith and order. The following Brothers and Sisters were granted Letters of Authorization from Fifth Street (Fairview Memorial Missionary Baptist Church) Bowling Green, KY: Sister Henrietta Belcher, Brother C. E. Taylor; Hillsdale, Franklin, KY: Sister Mallie Russell; Mt. Zion, Holland, KY: Sister Daisy Johnson; Old Union: Sister Gladys Perry, Sister Lena McPeak, and Brother Billy McPeak.
The following members united with the Church after it was organized: Brother J. M. Stinson by letter from Siloam church; Sister Pearl Stinson from Siloam church; Brother Noah Johnson by letter from Greenwood church; Sister Bettie Green experience and baptism; Sister Ella Guffey experience and baptism; Brother Roy McPeak experience and baptism; Brother William McPeak experience and baptism; Brother Aubrey Lee Johnson experience and baptism; Brother George W. McPeak by letter from Olivet church; Sister Gladys Russell by experience and baptism; Elder Edgar Cowles by letter from Hillsdale church. Sister Virginia Cowles by letter from Hillsdale church; Sister Jean H. Clark by letter from Mt. Zion church; Deacon Robert F. Pirtle by letter from Hillsdale church; Sister Mary E. Pirtle by letter from Hillsdale church; Brother Herman Clark by experience and baptism; Brother J. B Clark by experience and baptism; Sister Bell Allen by letter from Beech Bottom church; Sister Orangie Stahl by letter from Old Union church; Sister Barbara Perry by experience and baptism; Sister Della Pippin by letter from Fifth Street church; Sister Goldie Clark by letter from Beech Bottom church on November 1, 1952.
The church has had the following pastors serve: Elder L. W. Smith, April 1951 – August 1960; Elder William Johnson, September 1960 – December 1964; Elder C. B. Huddleston, January 1965 – December 1967; Elder Jimmy Suttle, January 1968 – December 1972; Elder Jesse Farley, Jr., January 1973 – December 1974; Elder Earl Patterson, January 1975 – December 1975; Elder Bernard Skaggs, March 1976 – December 1980; Elder Doug Matthews, January 1981 – December 1988; Elder Tommie Parkhurst, February 1989 – August 1990; Elder Doug Matthews, October 1990 – December 2000; Elder H. C. Vanderpool, January 2001 – July 2005; Elder Ronald G. “Brother Ron” Spurgeon, September 2005 – December 2015; Elder Douglas Skinner, January 2016 - December 2024; Elder Luke Spurgeon, Jan 2024-Present.
In the fall of 1950, Elder L. W. Smith and Elder H. C. Vanderpool came into Woodburn, Kentucky community in search of a place to conduct a revival meeting. There was an old theatre building in the center of the business district where the owner, a Mr. Tresh, showed movies twice a week. This gentleman offered to let the ministers have the theater for the meeting except Thursday and Saturday nights when he would be showing movies.
Some of the brethren who came with the two ministers did not think it would be a good idea to dismiss church services two nights a week for movies to be shown. Elder Vanderpool said, “I’d rather have a place to preach five nights a week than not to have a place at all.” After some discussion the other brethren agreed. The revival was announced around in the community. The meeting began on Sunday night, October 15, 1950. Elder Smith and Elder Vanderpool did the preaching and Elder D.C. Russell led the singing.
On Wednesday night of the first week it was announced that there would not be any services on Thursday night, but for everyone to come back on Friday night which was to be between the two movie showings. To the surprise of the preachers, when they arrived on Friday night, Mr. Tresh, the owner of the theatre, met the preachers outside and told them to go ahead and have services on Saturday night and also all nights next week, that he would not be showing any movies. So, the meeting went on for two full weeks and only one night was missed for the show. During the meeting seven souls were saved including a number of adults.
After the revival Elder Vanderpool began some pastoral work in Overton county, Tennessee and Elder Smith preached part-time in various buildings in the Woodburn Community. There was an interest among the attendants of the mission to organize a church. There was a Methodist church building on College Street in the village and this is where the organizational meeting was held on April 27th, 1951.
On the aforementioned day of the organization, a group of old time Christians came together for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church at Woodburn, Kentucky. A number of churches had been invited and the following were present:
Drakes Creek Missionary Baptist Church: Elder D.C. Russell, Deacon C.R. Gammons, Deacon Obie Cothron; Fifth Street Church (Fairview Memorial Missionary Baptist Church): Elder G. C. Meador; Meadorville Church: Elder W. T. Russell; New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, TN: Elder Albert Crouch, Elder L. W. Smith, Elder H. C. Vanderpool; Union Hill Church: Elder F. L. Ray, Deacon A. G. Gregory; Siloam Church: Elder A. G. Stinson; Plano Church: Deacon M. E. Tuck; Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church: Elder L. A. Stewart, Elder Lloyd Fishburn; Bay’s Fork Church: Elder Odell Willoughby; and Salem Church Elder Everette Scruggs.
The newly seated presbytery moved that Elder L. W. Smith act as Moderator. A motion was made that Elder D. C. Russell act as Clerk. A motion was made that Elder W. T. Russell preach the sermon. A motion was made that Elder L. A Stewart read the Articles of Faith. A motion was made that Elder H. C. Vanderpool would read the Church Covenant. The motion was made that Elder F. L. Ray would lead the prayer. A motion was made that Elder Lloyd Fishburn charge the new church.
The time having arrived for the sermon, “Bringing In The Sheaves,” was sung. Services were turned over to Brother W. T. Russell to bring the message. After some commentary, he read for a lesson Ezekiel 17:11-24. He took for a text I Timothy 3:15. After a fine and soul stirring sermon on the church of our Lord, during which many Amens were heard, “How Firm A Foundation,” was sung as all came forward to give Bro. Russell their hand of approval of the good sermon.
After a bountiful dinner we came together by singing, “Lily of The Valley,” Brother Willoughby led in prayer. At this time, the letters of Charter Members were read. After which, a motion was entered to accept them as genuine. At this time the Articles of Faith were read by Brother L. A. Stewart. The Church Covenant was read by Brother H. C. Vanderpool.
A motion was made on the part of the church members that they adopt the Articles of Faith as read and bound themselves together by the Covenant which was read. At this time the prayer was offered by Brother F. L. Ray during which many Amens were heard. At the close of the prayer, “Victory In Jesus” was sung and a Christian handshake took place and shouts of joy were heard. The charge to the church was given by Brother Lloyd Fishburn. A motion that we recognize this as genuine and the council be dissolved.
At this point the new church took over. A motion was put forth that we call Brother L. W. Smith for our pastor. A motion was made that Brother C. E. Taylor act as clerk.
The day of the church organization brought together seven covenanted charter members of local visible Baptized Believers from Sister Churches of like faith and order. The following Brothers and Sisters were granted Letters of Authorization from Fifth Street (Fairview Memorial Missionary Baptist Church) Bowling Green, KY: Sister Henrietta Belcher, Brother C. E. Taylor; Hillsdale, Franklin, KY: Sister Mallie Russell; Mt. Zion, Holland, KY: Sister Daisy Johnson; Old Union: Sister Gladys Perry, Sister Lena McPeak, and Brother Billy McPeak.
The following members united with the Church after it was organized: Brother J. M. Stinson by letter from Siloam church; Sister Pearl Stinson from Siloam church; Brother Noah Johnson by letter from Greenwood church; Sister Bettie Green experience and baptism; Sister Ella Guffey experience and baptism; Brother Roy McPeak experience and baptism; Brother William McPeak experience and baptism; Brother Aubrey Lee Johnson experience and baptism; Brother George W. McPeak by letter from Olivet church; Sister Gladys Russell by experience and baptism; Elder Edgar Cowles by letter from Hillsdale church. Sister Virginia Cowles by letter from Hillsdale church; Sister Jean H. Clark by letter from Mt. Zion church; Deacon Robert F. Pirtle by letter from Hillsdale church; Sister Mary E. Pirtle by letter from Hillsdale church; Brother Herman Clark by experience and baptism; Brother J. B Clark by experience and baptism; Sister Bell Allen by letter from Beech Bottom church; Sister Orangie Stahl by letter from Old Union church; Sister Barbara Perry by experience and baptism; Sister Della Pippin by letter from Fifth Street church; Sister Goldie Clark by letter from Beech Bottom church on November 1, 1952.
The church has had the following pastors serve: Elder L. W. Smith, April 1951 – August 1960; Elder William Johnson, September 1960 – December 1964; Elder C. B. Huddleston, January 1965 – December 1967; Elder Jimmy Suttle, January 1968 – December 1972; Elder Jesse Farley, Jr., January 1973 – December 1974; Elder Earl Patterson, January 1975 – December 1975; Elder Bernard Skaggs, March 1976 – December 1980; Elder Doug Matthews, January 1981 – December 1988; Elder Tommie Parkhurst, February 1989 – August 1990; Elder Doug Matthews, October 1990 – December 2000; Elder H. C. Vanderpool, January 2001 – July 2005; Elder Ronald G. “Brother Ron” Spurgeon, September 2005 – December 2015; Elder Douglas Skinner, January 2016 - December 2024; Elder Luke Spurgeon, Jan 2024-Present.
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