October 24, 2021
“Looking Forward To Greater Glory”
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Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH PASTORS
EH Blakeman 1921-24
WJ Simpson 1924-29
GW Ellers 1929-32
HGM Hatler 1932-36
EL Edens 1936-41
Leslie Gilbert 1941-47
Glynn Harwood 1947-48
Harold Wainscott 1948-53
J Bill Jones 1954-62
Raymond Lawrence 1962-72
Ray Cummins 1972-79
Don Mathis 1979-92
Terry Williams 1992-96
Joe Leonard 1997-01
Darren Gaddis 2002-10
Chad Fuggitt 2011-20
Josh Pollitt 2021
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LOOKING FORWARD TO GREATER GLORY The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.” - Haggai 2:9
The house the prophet is talking about is the Old Testament temple. The people of Israel were rebuilding the temple after their return from the Babylonian exile. They had neglected building back the temple and were reprimanded by the prophet to get to work and build God’s house. After they’ve rebuilt the temple, they realize that it is not as nice and beautiful as the one the great King Solomon built. They are reminded in this verse that the future glory of the pitiful temple they are looking at will be greater than the one King Solomon built. We too are looking forward to this latter glory. This will be seen upon Christ’s second coming and as the Apostle John puts it in Revelation 21:22, “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” The almighty presence of God will be with us, and the entire earth will be God’s temple. Indeed, there will be greater glory! I hope that as Central Baptist Church builds and brings souls into the Kingdom of God, we will begin to see a glimpse of the glory we will enjoy in our final eternal state.
It is a joy and privilege to be your pastor during our centennial celebration. Unfortunately, this is not the way we wanted to celebrate our one-hundred-year anniversary. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has practically consumed our lives for the past nineteen months. Our Centennial Celebration was scheduled for October 2021 in hopes that the pandemic would be long behind us. No one could have foreseen that the infection rate in Whitley County would force the committee to suspend all the fellowship opportunities originally planned. So, we have elected to be creative. We recognize and celebrate our Centennial with a wonderful worship service on October 24, 2021 with Dr. Don Matthis and Dr. Darren Gaddis opening up to us God’s word. Then in 2022, we will celebrate with a Homecoming full of food and fellowship with all our previous ministers. May God Bless Us All, Dr. Josh Pollitt Senior Pastor October 2021
CBC Interim Ministers
Marty Brooks 1979 & 1996
Fred Roth 1972
Kenny Faught 1992
Bill Whitaker 1992 & 2000
Steven Rice 2020
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Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
In the Beginning...
THE GENESIS OF CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH Our first pastor, E.H. Blakeman (19211924) of Wilmore, KY was called to serve as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Corbin in 1920. Before he preached his first sermon, the previous pastor, J.K. Smith, decided to return after resigning Central Baptist Church under con- earlier that year. hearing struction, about 1921. John Centers, Upon Contractor. Pictured: Willard Elam and that J.K. Smith Ben Kelsay. was willing to return, the majority of members at First Baptist Church voted to call Smith to return as their pastor. This vote caused a severe division among the membership. As a result, sixty members organized Central Baptist Church on Friday, January 7, 1921 at the school building on South KY Avenue and Rev. E.H. Blakeman was called as pastor with an annual salary of $2,400.00. Fortunately, this early division has been mended with both churches having a healthy relationship. One example of this healthy relationship is Central Baptist’s eager support of the “White Flag” Ministry at First Baptist. This ministry provides housing to homeless when the weather becomes unbearably cold in the winter months. The original charter members gathered at the local schoolhouse on January 7, 1921 were as follows: Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Meadors. Mr. & Mrs. R. L. Hughes, Mrs. John W. Root, Mr. Drew Douglas, Miss Artie Meadors, Mr. J. E. Richardson, Mr. M. B. Hodge, Miss Eunice Hodge, Mr. & Mrs. J.
C. Lay, Mr. C. D. Chavis, Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Chappelle, Mrs. Theo Candy, Mrs. Olvia Saylor, Mr. John Candy, Mr. & Mrs. R. Y. Chappelle, Rev. & Mrs. R. C. Kimble, Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Black. Miss Maude Cain, Mr. & Mrs. H. S. Kimble, Mr. James Cain. Rev. & Mrs. John Centers. Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Johnson, Mr. Morgan Cain, Mrs. Charles Sulfredge Sr., Mr. & Mrs. W. M. Samuels, Mr. David Cain, Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Tipton, Mrs. Martha Bishop, Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. E. H Siler, Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Baird. Mr. R. B. Kelsay, Mr. J. M. Jones, Mrs. A. A. Kidd, Miss Nora Cottongim, Mrs. M. T. Brummett, Mrs. J. H. Cromer, Mr. L. R. Reams, Mr. J. M. Jones, Mrs. Doxie Sams, and Mr. A. J. Harber. While biblical churches have qualified pastors to lead and shepherd them, they also have qualified deacons to assist in the work of the ministry. On April 12, 1921, the first deacons of Central Baptist Church were ordained: John Centers, L. R. Reams. R. Y. Chappelle, R. B. Kelsay, and E. H. Siler.
Hand-written minutes from a Deacon’s meeting, November 192 9.
Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years 5
Love one another...
The Steely Terrell Sunday School Class, Early 1950s: Front row, from left, Lou Meadors, Leland Goodin, Ernie Rose, Jim Tolliver, Walter Bird, Robert Higgins, Talmadge Young, Herman Green, Harold Perkins, Randal Barker, and Warren Hale, second row, Clyde Brown, unknown, Jimmy Lockhart, Sidney Strunk, Elza Hibbard, Paul Ramsey, Clarence Mullins, Jack Thurston, Teacher Steely Terrell, Chas Brashear, Bitsy Holman, unknown, L.C. Hibbard, A.K. Masters. Others in back, Bruce Needham, Chas Steely Smith, Norman Clark, Jack Stone, Kenneth Rowland, H.H. Scalf, Vernon Meadors, Willis Smith, Charles Sulfredge, Austin Worley, Leo Hibbard, Kermit Cavins, Marion Dugger, Charles Carter, L.E. West and J.D. Johnson.
DISCIPLESHIP AT CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
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he first gathered assembly at the schoolgroup of Christians in small group Bible study house on January 7, 1921, understood and prayer? Such groups help you grow spirituthe importance of discially and allow you to be sharppleship and systematic ened by other believers. Bible study. It was moved in “Go therefore and make disciples When J. Bill Jones (1954our very first business meeting of all nations, baptizing them in 1962) was pastor, the church that E.H. Siler be appointed the name of the Father and of continued its commitment to superintendent of the Sunday discipleship by building an edthe Son and of the Holy Spirit, School program. Furthermore, ucational building that could teaching them to observe all that it was moved that classes behouse 1,000 attendees. It was I have commanded you.” gin immediately on Sunday, dedicated on April 3, 1960. January 9, 1921. This building project carried -Matthew 28:19-20 Regular Bible study is still on the Central Baptist commitimportant to Central Baptist ment to lead members to sysChurch today and it is our prayer that we retematically study the Bible. Twelve years later, main committed to a systematic approach to the church was able to pay off the loan and discipleship. Do you regularly gather with a burn the loan note.
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Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
A PLACE TO GATHER: FROM A ‘WOODED TABERNACLE’ TO FILLING A CITY BLOCK
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entral Baptist Church would meet in the schoolhouse in our early days, but the congregation desired to have a dedicated place for worship. Therefore, a temporary wooden building was built at the corner of Kentucky Avenue and Fourth Street. The congregation was able to meet in this temporary building during warm weather but was forced to gather at the school building when cold. In 1922 the congregation constructed a permanent church building while approving a budget of $3,500. The first worship service in the original sanctuary was September 13, 1922.
Over the last one-hundred years, the church has grown to encompass an entire city block while also purchasing five additional buildings on adjoining lots which include our Manger Ministry, Matthew Ministry, Youth Corner, Mission House and a vehicle-storage building. The original “wooded tabernacle” in 1921 has grown to be far greater than the original charter members could have imagined. The total seating capacity is now 1,200 and was built with 90,000 bricks and 35,000 concrete blocks. The first service in our current auditorium was held Easter Sunday, April 9, 1992.
Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
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CALLING OUT THE CALLED: HOW GOD HAS USED CBC TO RAISE UP SPIRITUAL LEADERS
SHARING THE GOOD NEWS: Dr. Travis Freeman is among 26 men who have been ordained as ministers at Central Baptist Church. In the photo, he is serving as team chaplain for the Corbin Redhounds high school football team.
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entral Baptist Church has been priviHodge, Hugh Brooks, Harold Mauney, C. L. Disleged by God to raise up pastors, evanney, Cecil Thomas, Joe Moody, Taylor Hampton, gelists, music ministers, Harold LeForce, Johnny Jervis, youth and student minTerrell Bradley, Phillip Majors, “As each has received a gift, use isters, chaplains and missionarDonnie Mathis, Josh Moran, it to serve one another, as good ies are among the many that Jeff Moran, Brian Combs, Will stewards of God’s varied grace.” have been called out from CenZik, Adam Cox, Russell Zik and tral Baptist. Travis Freeman. -1 Peter 4:10 A sign of health and God’s Those who have gone out hand upon a church is the men from Central Baptist Church to God calls out from them to serve as ministers. serve in other areas include W.J. Kelly, Mrs. Don The following twenty-six men have been or(Sue) Searles, Dr. Truman Mays, Mike Smith, dained at Central Baptist Church: Oscar Davis, Dennis Borden, Jim Taylor, Michael Robinette, Luke Mayfield, Howard Meadors, John Centers, J.T. Zik, Holly (Gibbs) Hart, Josh Harp and SteRalph Voris, G. H. Schooder, George Baker, Ralph ven Lowe.
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Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
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CENTRAL REMAINS COMMITTED TO CO-OPERATION AND MISSIONS
n October of 1921, the leadership of Central Baptist knew they needed to be in cooperation with area Baptist Churches to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). We have always been better when we work together with other churches. Hence, Central Baptist sought to be admitted to the local Baptist association on Oct. 5, 1921. In the same month, The Ladies Aid Society was formed (later changed to the Women’s Missionary Union). As can be seen in our history, cooperation with other churches, mission trips, missions giving, and evangelism has always been foundational to the identity of Central Baptist Church. By 1942, church membership had grown from the 60 charter members to 957 members. This growth was due to Leslie Gilbert’s (1941-1947) focus on evangelism and revival. Out of a very generous and grateful heart, the church membership voted to buy their pastor a Ford because of the growth they experienced. But Central Baptist was not merely focused on its own growth. The congregation had a desire to help gospel work in other places. An example of this dedication is seen in our sending out W. J. Kelly to go to the Indian Gap Mission as mission pastor. Harold Wainscott (1948-1953) continued to lead the church in missions through church planting. The church conducted a Sunday School census in 1951 and determined a church was needed in the Park Hill section of Corbin. The first meeting was held in a rented six-room frame residence on April 6, 1952,
with C. L. Disney serving as lay-preacher. It was organized into the Park Hill Baptist Church on April 1, 1962. Our twelfth pastor, Don Mathis (1979-1992), with a heart and passion for soul winning led the church to unprecedented growth by assembling a ministerial staff devoted to evangelism. During his pastorate the church had to have two services on Sunday mornings because of the growth in numbers. Bro. Don led the church in two major building campaigns. One was to build our Christian Life Center and our current auditorium. Countless souls were added to the Kingdom of God under his ministry. A dedication to evangelism and missions continued to flourish under the leadership of Darren Gaddis. In 2004 the entire community was offered the opportunity to see “The Passion”, a movie about the crucifixion of Christ. The was made possible by donations of more than $12,400.00. Central Baptist was moved to go on five mission trips to Mississippi following the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005. Central responded again when the Haiti earthquake disaster occurred in 2009 by collecting an offering over $18,700.00.
Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years 9
A PATTERN OF OUTREACH IN CORBIN
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hen the church constructed the Christian Life Center (CLC) in 1983 we committed ourselves to buildings whose sole purpose was for outreach to the city of Corbin. When the CLC was completed, Central Baptist Church began offering a complete program of fellowship activities for all ages. This included a gymnasium, walking track, weight room and other activities. To oversee this radical outreach ministry, the church called Jim McGee (pictured to the right with Dr. Don Mathis) to serve as the Minister of Education & Recreation. The church became a place where kids and families would come to participate in various activities. This continues today especially in the Tri-County Upward Basketball program that had over 400 kids enrolled in the last league in 2019. Our clothing ministry, the Matthew Ministry (pictured above) began in the basement of the church in 2000, but is now in a building on the corner of Fourth and Poplar Streets. It continues to provide clothing to people in need, and even despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this ministry has continued to serve our community. Our Manger Ministry (pictured above) was
formed in 1997 when a group of ladies met for Bible study. They were burdened for new mothers who did not have essential supplies. The Manger Ministry continues to serve our community by offering baby clothes and supplies, including diapers. Operating on funds provided by member contributions, the Manger Ministry is now located in a building on Fifth Street. Mini-Bible lessons provide the opportunity for the community to learn more about Christ as they receive physical help. Chad Fugitt’s (2011-2020) heart for outreach and evangelism was seen in leading CBC to partner with Immanuel Baptist and other surrounding churches in Love Loud. This was a united effort of to serve our community in various ways for one week each year. These Love Loud weeks usually culminated in a night of worship where the gospel was proclaimed to the community. Additionally, in 2016 he led the church to distribute copies of God’s Word to every household in the city of Corbin leading up to Easter services. Central Baptist Church has a rich history of compassionate outreach to our community. Our earnest prayers are that the next pages of history will continue that tradition. The future of our church is now in your hands!
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CELEBRATING OUR PAST
Top left: JC Cottongim, Lowell Cornelius, Dr. Fred Roth, Pastor J. Bill Jones and Roy Wyrick at a 1972 note burning ceremony. Top right: Another note burning ceremony in 1945 (Leslie Gilbert, Pastor). Middle left, middle right and left: Early CBC congregations. Below: Granny Snyder, Dr. Don Mathis, Paul Rains and Bill Onkst at a 1986 not burning ceremony.
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THROUGH THE YEARS: Central Baptist Church has gone through many changes over the past 100 years, but no matter how the building might look, the congregation always call it “home.” Left, the church as it appears today at the corner of 4th and Poplar Streets. Below left, a look from across the road in the 1950’s. Below right, viewing the building from just down the street in the 1930’s.
FOR 100 YEARS, YOUR CHURCH HOME
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Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
SINGING PRAISE: A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CBC CHOIRS FROM YESTERYEAR
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SERVING THE LORD, AND HAVING FUN: ACTIVITIES AT CENTRAL BAPTIST
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Central Baptist Centennial — 100 Years
INSIDE THE SANCTUARY: THE ROOM MAY CHANGE, THE WORSHIP STAYS THE SAME
“O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.” -Psalm 26:8
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CBC MINISTERIAL STAFF
Jake Hart, Student Pastor | Dr. Josh Pollitt, Senior Pastor | Steven Lowe, Worship Pastor | Heather Hart, Children’s Ministry Director
Centennial Committee The Committee held its first meeting in January 2021. Committee members: Jacob Carr, Lisa Cleary, Gary Combs, Judy Dobson, Gary Elliott, Don Estep, Rose Estill, Larry & Mary Freeman, Linda Hamblin, Helen Pierce, Peggy Bullock, June Curd, Troy Prewitt, Terry Joe Martin, Linda Rowlett and Dr. Josh Pollitt. The committee elected Don Estep as Chairman, Judy Dobson, Vice Chair and Mary Freeman, Secretary. At the first meeting the dates of Oct. 23rd and 24th were approved for the celebration. At the time it was our hope that Covid-19 would be under control which would mean that we could fellowship without fear of spreading the virus. We met monthly and progressed with plans. Letters, invitations, motel reservations, program planning, and everything that would make the 100th anniversary celebration a time to remember were made. Then, at the beginning of September, the Delta variant had progressed to the point that Whitley County was listed in the top twenty counties for infections in the United States. Our committee felt that we had no other choice than to postpone our celebration. Dr. Pollitt suggested that we have a Recognition service on Oct. 24th, followed by a Homecoming to celebrate our Centennial next year. We look forward to seeing you for that event next year. Don Estep Chairman Centennial Committee The committee thanks Trevor Sherman, assisted by Linda Carpenter and Trent Knuckles for their work in the production of this magazine.
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