JST Baptist
Association
Minute Book
2020
Program
5
Tennessee Baptist Reports
Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes Report
6
Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes Report
7
Tennessee Baptist WMU Report
8-9
Tennessee Baptist Foundation Report
10
Baptist & Reflector Report
11
JST Baptist Association Reports
WMU Report
12
MAD Week Report
13
Disaster Relief Report
14-15
Director of Missions Report
16
Assistant Director of Missions Report
17
Budget Committee Report
18
Nominating Committee Report
19-20
Annual Meeting Report
21
Memorial
22-23
Digest of Church Letters
24-25
Summary of Executive Board
27-32
Annual Meeting Minutes 33
Table of Contents
2nd Annual Meeting of the JST Baptist Association Waverly First Baptist Church
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Moderator - Ralph Stone, First Baptist Church Dover
Vice Moderator - David Deavers, Immanuel Baptist Church
Clerk - Ashlinn Turnbow, Administrative Assistant
Treasurer - Carmen Westerman, Pomona Baptist Church
6:00 Meal
6:30 Music Rising Creek
7:00 Welcome Scott Brown, FBC Waverly Pastor
- Call to Order Ralph Stone
- Adoption of Program Ralph Stone
- Recognition Ralph Stone
- TBMB Video from Randy Davis
- Report from TBMB Mark Miller, Harvest Leader, TBMB
- JST Video Report from TBMB
- JST Disaster Relief Director Bill Lowe
- IMB 2020 Video REPORT - Visiting IMB Missionary
Business Ralph Stone
- Budget Committee Report David Deavers
- Nominating Committee Report William Gray
- Annual Meeting Committee Report Ralph Stone Memorial Ralph Stone
Congregational Singing Waverly First Baptist Church
Message Willie McLauren, Vice President at SBC Executive Committee
Congregational Singing Waverly First Baptist Church Closing Prayer Ralph Stone
Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes, Inc. Report to Associations, 2020
I am most grateful to report to you that we have not experienced a single case of Covid-19 at any of our locations! We have much to be joyful about in this regard. The 2020 Father’s Day Offering video expresses my utmost appreciation and gratitude for the men and women who live out their calling to Show What Love Is by serving as our home managers. They are the ones to be credited for us weathering the Coronavirus storm.
As a result of Covid-19 we have observed a quarantine in our homes for much of this fiscal year. The inability to accept new admissions, conduct placement interviews, allow visitors, or allow residents to visit their family homes has made this a very difficult year for everyone. Our faith is that, in the long run, our efforts will prove well worth the struggle. One case in any facility will have a cascading effect so we developed plans for each individual resident should anyone contract the virus. Each individual plan is designed according to the family and other resources an individual has at their disposal. We call them “the plans we plan to never use.”
I am happy to report that we have sold Williams Ferry Pointe in Lenoir City. The transaction took place in a series of closings from June to October 31, 2020. The sale price for WFP was $2.7M. These much-needed resources will be used to help us realize a two-fold vision.
First, it will allow us to establish a significant endowment that will produce operating income. Our Father’s Day Offering has never managed to rise to a level to offset our operating deficit.
Secondly, it is our hope to establish a small senior living community in Humboldt on land we already own where we can provide modest, comfortable retirement living (probably duplexes) for indigent pastors and missionaries who may not be financial able to provide from themselves in retirement. TBAH will own these facilities and rent them on a sliding scale basis. They will be for independent living seniors; we will provide no health care or physical assistance. And, it will be a TBAH in west Tennessee!!
Covid-19 and the sale of Williams Ferry Pointe guaranteed that this past year was not, and next year will not be, ordinary. I am confident, however, thanks to the resources from the sale of Williams Ferry Pointe coupled with the elimination of all expenses associated with the operation of Williams Ferry Pointe, TBAH will be OK through the pandemic and for the foreseeable future. Thanks be to God for his provision!
Thanks, again, for your support and partnership with us. May you all be safe and stay well.
Sincerely,
Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes
Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes welcomes children in hard places with the love of Christ. We are only able to welcome these children into our homes because of the faithfulness of churches, businesses and individuals who have a heart for children and families who are struggling. To those of you who fall into this category, thank you for your prayers, for your service and for sharing your financial resources with TBCH. We are committed as a ministry to operate without the use of government funds relying on God’s people to supply the resources necessary to meet the needs of children and families in crisis.
2020 has presented many challenges for all of us. We have lost hundreds of volunteer man hours due to COVID-19. And while the number of churches that support us financially has dropped significantly, other churches have stepped up in their support of the kids. All in all, the Lord has shown His faithfulness to this 129-year-old ministry by providing the necessary resources for us to provide homes for children. We rejoice in the five children who have been born again. Rest assured that TBCH is Christ centered in our approach to dealing with children and their families. We believe Jesus is the ultimate answer to all brokenness and our team unashamedly points people to Him in age appropriate ways.
TBCH has provided Residential Care for 85 children so far this year in our on-campus homes. Seventeen of these children have been successfully reunited with their families. TBCH is also committed to assisting those who age out of our program. These Independent Living students now transition to our Chattanooga Campus where they receive continued support by our staff and have the opportunity to learn a trade or attend college. We are committed to helping these young people get off to a good start in early adulthood. There are presently ten young people in our Independent Living program.
TBCH’s George Shinn Foster Care program has served 157 children and has 101 foster homes on our team. Fifteen children have been adopted into Christian families so far this year while 31 children are presently in foster-to-adopt situations! Our foster care staff has also seen 15 children successfully reunify with their families.
The foster home in Oakdale is very close to being ready for children to arrive while our foster home in Kingsport is nearing the completion of being remodeled. We are just beginning the search for a family to live in this home who has the heart for caring for sibling groups of foster children. TBCH is grateful for the churches and volunteers who are helping bring this home back into service!
TBCH’s Family Care program exists to assist families as they deal with things like addictions, child abuse, and the need for faith-based foster homes. We want to help families learn to cope and find the answers they need by providing consultation and resources. We are also ready to provide training for your church in child abuse awareness and in how to support your own foster and adoptive families. Please call on us and we will be there to help you help children.
Defending the Defenseless, Greg McCoy
President/Treasurer
Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union 2020 Annual Report
In 2019-20, Tennessee WMU continued to challenge Tennessee Baptists in their unshakable pursuit to know God more, show His love unconditionally, and make disciples who make disciples. This report shares information about some of the state events, ministries, and initiatives that have taken place. Last fall, 698 children and leaders attended three regional JAMs, a missions event for children in grades 1-6 and leaders. Children learned what it means to go everywhere and tell the Good News to everyone, they met missionaries from around the world, and they collected 149 Christmas Backpacks.
Over 500 boys and leaders attended the 2019 RA Camp-O-Ree at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center on October 18-19. This missions camping event for boys grades 1-12 is hosted by Mid-South Royal Ambassadors and Tennessee WMU. Boys participated in a multitude of activities, challenges, and crafts while enjoying the great outdoors, meeting missionaries, and enjoying two action packed worship services.
Missionary Parents Fellowship Retreat:On September 6-7, 2019, 40 parents of IMB missionaries gathered with program personnel for fellowship,
information, prayer, and encouragement at the TBMB Church Support Center in Franklin. The retreat attendees were encouraged to return to their churches and thank them for their support of the Tennessee Missionary Parents
Fellowship through gifts to the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. Christmas Checks – In December 2019, Tennessee WMU mailed Christmas Checks, on behalf of Tennessee Baptists to missionary kids and retired missionaries.
•Checks for $150 were sent to 20 missionary kids whose parents serve
with IMB from Tennessee.
•Checks for $50 were sent to 104 retired IMB missionaries born in
Tennessee.
These gifts are made possible through an allocation from the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions for nurturing Tennessee missionaries and their
families.
In the Spring of 2020, concerns about Covid-19 virus were growing and several 2020 events had to be cancelled like Get-Together & Connection, Tennessee WMU Annual Meeting, and RA Wilderness Challenge. Out of the challenges and changes arose some new ways to utilize digital resources:
•Zoom with a Missionary – scheduled Zoom meetings with missionaries
and children/youth missions discipleship groups hosted by Tennessee WMU.
•LeaderConnect – Zoom meetings for missions and ministry leaders for
training and networking.
•Facebook Pages and Groups – New Facebook groups were started for
targeted missions and ministry leaders to coincide with efforts to utilize all Tennessee WMU Facebook groups and pages to network and resource leaders and participants more.
In March 2020, $34,200 in scholarships were awarded to 29 students attending graduate school, seminary, as well as, undergraduate schools in Tennessee during the 2020-21 school year.
As part of Tennessee WMU's Denver Prayer Advocacy Partnership, over the past three years, 24 ladies have served through six mission teams to Denver. The teams worked with 14 different church planters to prayer walk and engage the communities surrounding the church plants. The two teams scheduled to go in April and May of 2020 had to be cancelled. In June, we partnered with Dave Howeth, NAMB Send Denver Missionary to host three virtual prayer walking tours. Each virtual prayer tour was two hours and participants heard from and prayed for four church planters.
MK Re-Entry Retreat –Two missionary kids from Tennessee were provided travel assistance funds to attend the MK Re-Entry Retreat in Indiana during August 2020 hosted by Indiana WMU, Kentucky WMU, and the International Mission Board.
Literacy Missions ministries are helping bring Tennesseans to Christ. There are 68 “registered” churches/associations English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Reading & Writing (ARW), or Tutoring Children & Youth (TCY) ministry sites. These sites reported having participants from more than 25 countries, speaking 11 different languages who are being taught English and are engaged with the gospel.
Christian Women’s Job Corps and Christian Men’s Job Corps are ministries of WMU that seek to help men and women break the cycle of poverty through job and life skill classes, Bible study, and mentoring. Last year the 21 sites in Tennessee reported serving 2,855 participants. There were 182 men and women who completed the program and 32 recorded professions of faith. Missionary Houses in Mt. Juliet – Mary’s House (WMU
House) and the Missions Mobilization Center (MMC) House continue to be a hub of activity as they provide a place for our missionaries to rest and reconnect with family and friends. The Worthy family arrived at Mary’s House in June 2020 and will stay through May 2021. Frank & Sheri Moran arrived at the MMC House in April 2020 and will stay through October 2020.
The theme for the 2019-20 Tennessee Missions Emphasis was “See
Tennessee, Go Harvest.” The suggested dates for the Week of Prayer for State Missions were September 13-20, and the goal for the 2019-20 Golden
Offering for Tennessee Missions was $2,100,000. As of July 23, 2020, the total amount given to the 2019-20 Golden Offering is $1,859,608.48. The offering year goes from September 1 – August 31.
For we are laborers together with God, Martha Pitts, President
2020 Annual Report to Associations
Since 1938 the Tennessee Baptist Foundation has been of service to Tennessee Baptists and Kingdom causes around the world. The assets under management of the Foundation have grown from $6,577 to $156 million during that time. God continues to bless this ministry and we are pleased to make our report to the associations as to highlights for the fiscal year 2019-20 thus far. The Foundation is pleased to offer the following services to Tennessee Baptists:
• Presenting informational Faith-based estate planning
• Working with individuals, helping them develop distinctively Christian personal estate
• Assisting individuals in their establishment of various Charitable Trusts
• Serving as Trustee of trusts and funds committed to its care
• Providing investment services to Tennessee Baptist churches, associations, etc
• Helping churches establish Legacy Ministries
• Facilitating loans to Tennessee Baptist churches/associations
• Providing grants for qualifying new ministries and projects
Highlights of the Foundation’s stewardship thus far for this fiscal year include:
Funds under management: Over 1,100
Assets under management: $156,413,916 (as of May 31, 2020) New fund additions as of May 31, 2020: $2,763,360 (11 new funds)
Educational scholarships: 228 - totaling $184,748 for 2020-2021 academic year. (Awarded over $5.7 million in scholarships since 1987)
Special Project Grants: $118,300 distributed to assist 67 ministry projects thru May 31,2020. This included helping 55 churches/associations during the Covid-19 pandemic and $10,000 to Disaster Relief for tornado relief that affected Nashville in March.
Cooperative Program: $316,965 as of May 31, 2020. Projected to give over $500,000 by year end.
Baptist and charitable causes: $1,945,310 as of May 31, 2020. Projected to give over $3.3 million by year end.
The Tennessee Baptist Foundation continues its commitment to manage funds with integrity and help Tennessee Baptists leave legacies with a Kingdom focus.
C. William (Bill) Gruenewald, III Christopher L. Kelly, Esq.
President-Treasurer Executive Vice President and
General Counsel
Baptist & Reflector
The Baptist and Reflector continues to strive to produce articles and columns that impact Tennessee Baptist Convention churches. As with the rest of the world, one of our major emphases in 2020 has been publishing articles to help our churches deal with the COVID-19 crisis in our country. In addition, just before the pandemic started to peak in March, we provided extensive coverage of tornado damage through Middle Tennessee and later in the Chattanooga-Cleveland area of East Tennessee.
Also this year, the B&R is focusing on our 185th anniversary as a Baptist
state paper. The paper was established in 1835 by Editor R.B.C. Howell, who also was the pastor of First Baptist Church, Nashville. The first issue of THE BAPTIST was published on Jan. 1 of that year. The paper would eventually become the present day Baptist and Reflector. It is one of the longest, continuously published papers in the United States.
The B&R is mailed to more than 18,300 homes 26 weeks a year, reaching nearly 50,000 readers.
In addition, the B&R website has grown steadily since it was introduced in late 2015. From January through mid-July of this year we have had 167,300 visitors and 343,900 page views. The number of visitors is more than double what the website had at the same time last year and the page views have increased by more than 140,000 over the same time frame.
The goal of the paper is to “tell the story of Tennessee Baptists” through news, feature stories and photographs. As in the past, the paper this year placed a major emphasis on what Tennessee Baptists are doing to reach the world for Christ by focusing on stories related to missions and evangelism. This year the paper has focused on timely topics such as domestic violence that impact Tennessee Baptists and our churches. The Baptist and Reflector continued to utilize social media tools in 2020 such as Twitter and Facebook. Editor Lonnie Wilkey regularly writes a blog that provides information for Tennessee Baptists between print issues.
The staff monitors trends that could affect Tennessee Baptists and prints those stories to keep readers informed. In addition, opinions, both from the editor and others, are printed and are intended to make readers think, reflect, and act.
The paper continually seeks to enlist new subscribers. The Church Trial Plan has been reintroduced. We need more churches to send the paper to their leadership such as deacons, Sunday School teachers, etc. We are asking every reader of the B&R for the next year to consider sending one subscription to someone they know. If just a small percentage of our readers would do this, our print circulation would significantly increase. For more information about subscription plans, call the Baptist & Reflector office at 1-800-558-2090 or (615) 371-2003.
JST Association Annual WMU Report 2020
After a year of COVID 19, our WMU meetings have been few, but the ministry of our churches goes on. Our ladies have servant hearts and are fierce prayer warriors. Thanks for all you do within your communities! Please report to me any events you do as encouragement to our churches across TN.
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019-Trace Creek hosted a WOM Lunch for the Week of Foreign Missions (Lottie Moon) with guest speaker, Sarahn Deloach. Bring a Christmas Ornament for the exchange. Trace Creek WMU will bless us with a lunch of soups, sandwiches,
and desserts. A love offering will be taken to send to our M.K. in a card to wish her a Merry Christmas and for a ministry project, bring a can or boxed food item for a help center pantry. Other events were planned but had to be canceled. Thanks to Jean Middleton and Lynda Hicklen for their efforts.
Carmen Westerman, JST WMU Director
TN.WMU Scholarships are available to TN. Baptist students in TN. Colleges with TN. WMU at 800-558-2090. (Deadline Post mark is January 25.)
2020 -21Calendar:
•September 13-20 Week of Prayer for State Missions with Golden
Offering for State Missions. (See note on September 19th.)
•September 19,2020 JST Ladies Day “Life Matters” at Sylvia Baptist; Golden Offering for Tennessee State Missions will be promoted at this event. Please note that a prayer guide can be downloaded or ordered at www.Golden Offering.org. Baptist Women’s Day of Prayer will be included this day.
•October 11: Global Hunger Sunday
•October 18-24: Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations
•November 29- December 6: Week of Prayer for International
Missions/LMCO
•December -JST WMU to help sponsor Pastor/Wife Retreat at Camp
Linden.
*Mad Week to be arranged for summer. Watch JST Newsletter for update. We encourage projects across our JST Association.
Mad Week Report 2020
MAD Week 2020 was held July 6-10 2020. There were three groups participating- Walnut Grove, New Haven Baptist, Cumberland City Community Church. Morning devotions were held at 8:00 at the association office in Dover. Projects for the week included: Yard work for several senior adults, repairing and staining a deck for senior adults, mulching for senior adults, making and delivering cookies for local law enforcement, making cards for nursing home residents, and making freezer meals for families in need. Each day Walnut Grove and New Haven groups had lunch and Bible study together in the
evenings. On Friday there was a pool party at a home, and an evening worship service and picnic at Walnut Grove. There were 15 youth and several adults participating this year.
Disaster Relief Report 2020
In the fifteen years I have been associated with the associational disaster relief team never has the team been as busy as in 2019-2020.
In September of 2019 Wes Jones, the state director for disaster relief in Tennessee, came to First Baptist Waverly to lead the training of 14 new team members. Afterwards almost immediately the team began working helping others in Christ's name.
In October the team built an access ramp for an elderly lady in Waverly. They
partnered with the Church of Christ in Waverly to remove and replace the shingles for an elderly couple. Some of the team then deployed to Texas to do flood recovery work after a hurricane hit that area. They returned to find their home damaged from the tornado that hit Humphreys and Houston county area while they were deployed. For the next two months the team worked tirelessly and selflessly almost every day except for Sunday and when it rained. During this period they completed over 70 chainsaw jobs, gave Bibles to families they met and shared the love of Jesus each day. Because of gifts to the Golden Offering the state was able to rent a skid steer that allowed the team to complete jobs they normally would not be able to complete.
The new year brought no relief as in January winds storms again hit, this time in Carroll and Houston County. The team worked for two weeks cleaning up debris , sharing the Gospel and showing Christ's love for all. In March a tornado hit Benton County and the team responded the next day working with First Baptist Camden .One family that the team helped had lost all of their possessions and could not believe complete strangers would come out and help stated "We are from Chicago and people up there do not do this." Several team members witnessed with the husband and wife, spending time not just cleaning up debris but trying to show that even in chaos God was still in control and loved them.
March also brought the pandemic. The team donated all of their N-95 masks to a local doctor that was unable to get them during the
shortage. Also during the work in Benton County they made contacts that led to learning of an elderly lady that was unable to get food and groceries so some of the team delivered needed supplies to her.
In April the devastating tornado hit the
Chattanooga area. After a request from the state director the team deployed to work for a week in Hamilton County. Once again because of giving to
the Golden Offering the state rented a much needed skid steer allowing the team to do large jobs that without the equipment would have been left for others to complete.
May the team helped build an access ramp and worked three days removing debris from
another wind storm in Humphreys County. Then a few months respite allowed the team to rest until August. High winds again caused downed trees in Camden and the team removed the debris and witnessed to the unchurched family. Also in August a fire at an apartment complex displaced 12 families and the team spent a day helping them move.
September brought the end of the year and Hurricane Laura. The team deployed once again to be the Hands and Feet of Christ working a week in the humid conditions on Winnfield , LA. As director of disaster relief for JST Association I am so thankful and blessed by all the volunteers that gave of their time and sweat to share the love of Jesus with so many. people. Everytime I reached out the team responded willing to do
whatever was required. Pastors and churches opened their doors to the team making our work easier. The association office staff was always there to give the team the support and money that was required to do the many tasks that was asked of us this year, So thank you to all that supported the team in whatever way that may have been. It takes many people to accomplish the work that God has called us to do. Another training session is planned for November to certify more team
members. If anyone is interested in joining in the amazing way God is working please contact Greg, Ashlinn or me.
Bill Lowe
ASSISTANCE DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS REPORT 2019-2020 Miles Travels……….….……….. 5,899
Revivals Held in The Associations...01 Revivals attended within the associations...….01 Associational Mtgs. / Committee Mtgs. attended…..…..08 Associational Executive Board meetings attended...02 Ministerial meetings attended...10 Good Samaritans Meeting attended………….………..55 State and S.B.C. meetings...…..…01
I had four primary responsibilities, The Good Samaritans ministry, Land Between the Lakes campground ministries, Association Prayer meeting and advisor to the Churches.
The Good Samaritans ministry: I serve as president to coordinate volunteers and minister to people in need. Their Executive committee meet every Thursday at the Stewart association office. I receive calls almost daily from churches and individuals to help them minister to people in need.
Land Between the Lakes campground ministries: I am primarily responsible for Piney campground to schedule chaplains, keep the chaplain camper in working condition. Also, to meet with LBLAM counsel to coordinate all the ministries. Services was canceled due to Covid.
Prayer meeting: I meet every Wednesday at the Stewart association office, to lead a prayer meeting.
Advisor to Churches: Working with our DOM to give advice and direction to the churches.
Thank You,
William Lee Gray, Assistance DOM
16
DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS REPORT
March 2020 – September 2020
Miles Traveled: 10,845 Messages Preached: 7 Churches Visited 28 Ministry Meetings (pastors, ministers, and church members): 82 Associational committee meetings: 6 Executive Board meetings: 2 TBMB Meetings: 3 DOM Meetings & Gatherings: 4 Homecomings attended: 4 Make A Difference Week: 5 days Disaster relief projects: 4 Pastor Fellowships: 1 Covid-19 -
Every pastor/Church contacted during Pandemic.
Assisted and provided pertinent information as requested. Zoom Meetings: • Association: 4 • DOM: 16 • TBMB: 2 • Training: 2 Revitalization
Working towards revitalization efforts in several churches. Bringing a revitalization emphasis to JST Baptist Association. Leadership Development
Leadership training events:
• Mission Team Leader Training: 1
• Expository Preaching: 1 Mobilization
Developing new partnerships: 2
17
Director of Missions Report March 2020 - September 2020
2021 Proposed Budget JST BAPTIST ASSOCIATION REVISED 2020-2021 BUDGET
2019-2020 2020-2021 BUDGET BUDGET
1 DOM Salary & Allowances $ 65,904.00 $ 67,884.00
2 DOM expense reimb. 21,360.00 21,360.00
3 DOM Insurance 14,066.00 33,390.00
4 Assist. DOM Salary 12,360.00
5 Assist. DOM Expenses 6,000.00
6 Assist. DOM Insurance 7,000.00
7 Administrative Assistant 19,158.00 19,733.00
8 TBC Support Replacement 6,600.00
9 Liability Insurance 1,891.00 1,891.00
10 DOM Retirement 7,980.00 7,950.00
11 Assist. DOM Retirement 11,400.00
12 Staff Christmas Gift 3,000.00 2,400.00
13 Staff Mission Expenses 5,620.00 5,620.00
14 Utilities & Phone 3,500.00 4,700.00
15 Office Expense 5,300.00 5,300.00
16 Office Maintenance 7,850.00 2,000.00
17 Building Insurance 900.00 900.00
18 Annual Meeting Expense 600.00 1,500.00
19 AssocIational Treasurer 400.00 400.00
20 Vacation Bible School 2,000.00 2,000.00
21 Sunday School 120.00 120.00
22 Discipleship Training 120.00 120.00
23 Brotherhood (Men's Ministry) 120.00 120.00
24 Music 120.00 120.00 25 WMU 1,200.00 2,400.00 26 Evangelism 600.00 1,800.00 27 Volunteer Missions 3,000.00 3,000.00 28 Stewardship 120.00 120.00 29 Youth 1,000.00 3,500.00 30 Prayer Ministry 120.00 120.00 31 Disaster Relief 3,200.00 3,200.00
32 Pastor & Wives Fellowship 2,400.00 4,000.00
33 Piney Campground 500.00 500.00
34 Miscellaneous 500.00 1,000.00
35 Reimbursed Expense -
-TOTALS: $ 216,009.00 $ 197,148.00
2021 Nominating Committee Report Officers
Moderator
Mark Warren, Trace Creek Baptist Church
Vice Moderator
Jonathan Hardison, Walnut Grove Baptist Church
Treasurer
Shayne Gilpin, Parkers Creek Baptist Church
Trustees
Glenn Harris, Rolling Hills Baptist Church Nick Cook, Big Rock Baptist Church
Tony Keatts, The Rock Reformed Baptist Church Donnie Buchanan, Missionary Ridge Baptist Church
Tim Reece, Immanuel Baptist Church Wayne Woods, Cedar Grove Baptist Church
Department Heads Sunday School Director
Parks Chastain, Three Rivers Fellowship
Discipleship Training Director
Dan Hicks, Sylvia Baptist Church
Music Director
David Davidson, First Baptist Church White Bluff
Brotherhood Director WMU Director
Carmen Westerman, Pomona Baptist Church
Evangelism Director
Scott Brown, Waverly First Baptist Church
VBS Director
Liane Keaton, Sylvia Baptist Church
Volunteer Missions Director
Bronson Morgan, Three Rivers Fellowship
Disaster Relief
Bill Lowe, Trace Creek Baptist Church
Youth Director
Cody Robinson, Sylvia Baptist Church
2021 Nominating Committee Report
Committees
Annual Meeting Committee:
Moderator, Vice Moderator, and Director of Missions Budget Committee
*David Deavers, Immanuel Baptist Church James Parchman, Little Rock Baptist Church Ben Clark, Lakeview Baptist Church Wilson Spencer, Liberty Baptist Church, McEwen Andy Plank, Old New Hope Baptist Church Shayne Gilpin, Parkers Creek Baptist Church Evangelism Committee
*Scott Brown, Waverly First Baptist Church James Wyatt, New Haven Baptist Church Dwayne Tyler, East Oak Grove Baptist Church Wayne Jackson, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Ralph Stone, First Baptist Church Dover
Per the bylaws, the associational youth director, VBS director, WMU director, and brotherhood director serve on this committee. Missions Committee
*Bronson Morgan, Three Rivers Fellowship Misty Wyatt, New Haven Baptist Church Kody Dowell, Cross Creek Baptist Church Lee Lowe, Trace Creek Baptist Church Shawna Cook, Big Rock Baptist Church
Per the bylaws, the associational youth director, VBS director, WMU director, and brotherhood director serve on this committee. Nominating Committee
*Ashlinn Turnbow, Pomona Baptist Church Andrew Allen, Burns Baptist Church Nathan Wilkerson, New Hope Baptist Church William Gray, Bear Spring Baptist Church Natalie Hardison, Walnut Grove Baptist Church Charles Halford, Yellow Creek Baptist Church Doctrine and Credentials Committee
Mark Profitt, First Baptist Church Bon Aqua Ken Brown, Sylvia Baptist Church Dennis Cravens, Bear Spring Baptist Church Dani Bryson, Pomona Baptist Church Beth Vosbien, New Hope Baptist Church Michael Wood, First Baptist Church McEwen Advisory Committee
*Neal Westerman, Pomona Baptist Church Jonathan Hardison, Walnut Grove Baptist Church Kevin Miner, Watershed Baptist Church Andy Plank, Old New Hope Baptist Church Wayne Purcell, Three Rivers Fellowship Kody Powell, Cross Creek Baptist Church Church Growth Team
Skip Youngcourt, Three Rivers Fellowship Scott Brown, Waverly First Baptist Church Steven Head, First Baptist Church Dover Aaron Terlecki, Burns Baptist Church *This is a special appointed committee that was approved at the Executive Board Meeting on September 3, 2020.
*names represent chairman of committee.
Annual Meeting and Executive Board Meeting Dates and Places
Executive Board Meetings
April 1, 2021 at 7:00p.m. Watershed Baptist Church April 7, 2022 at 7:00p.m. First Baptist Church McEwen
Annual Meetings
October 7, 2021 Meal at 6:00p.m. Meeting at 7:00p.m. Sylvia Baptist Church October 6, 2022 Meal at 6:00p.m. Meeting at 7:00p.m. Faith Baptist Church
Memorial
Bear Spring Baptist Church Ms. Verlene Feijo Ms. Linda Byrant Mr. Thomas Claraday
Ms. Jackie Cravens Ms. Dorothy Cottrell
Carlisle Missionary Baptist Church Ms. Betty Pulley
Mr. Jeff Quinn Fairview Baptist Church
Mr. James Luffman First Baptist Church Dover
Ms. Emma Lou Smith Ms. Doris Spiceland
Ms. Ethel Dolan Mr. James Shemwell
Ms. Marjorie Endel Ms. Wanda Faye Wallace Liberty Baptist Church, White Bluff
Mr. Randy Tidwell
Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church Ms. Gail Shumate
New Hope Baptist Church Ms. Lena Judd Oak Grove Baptist Church
Ms. Ethel Hatcher Mr. Robert Lee Hooper
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Ms. Sue Mann Mr. Jack Downs Ms. Tina Green Mr. Joe Griffin Ms. Geneva Melton Mr. Dorris Owen Pomona Baptist Church
Donnie Weiss Sylvia Baptist Church
Mr. Billy Ray Bowker Ms. Margaret Deason Ms. Doris Caldwell Trace Creek Baptist Church
Richard Flowers Immanuel Baptist Church
Mr. Kenneth Dwight Hall
Congregation Year Total Baptisms Other Additions Resident Members Total Members Total SS Enroll SS Avg Attend VBS Enroll Music Ministry Total WMU Men's Ministry Total DT Enroll Undesignated Receipts Cooperative Program
Bear Springs, Dover
2020 7 10 139 163 80 60 0 32 23 25 32 $153,102 $1,440
Big Rock Missionary, Big Rock
2020 5 15 0 350 4,668 102 0 5 54 0 0 $287,422 $2,500
Bon Aqua First, Bon Aqua
2020 2 3 252 283 29 18 0 2 20 0 0 $22,275 $805
Buffalo, Hurricane Mills
2020 0 0 9 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0 $572
Bumpus Mills Missionary, Bumpus Mills
2020 0 0 50 55 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $56,988 $0 Burns, Burns 2020 6 0 235 245 195 165 0 7 0 30 0 $200,000 $50
Calvary, Big Rock
2020 0 0 12 28 12 8 6 0 0 0 0 $16,324 $0
Carlisle Missionary, Dover
2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Cedar Grove, Hurricane Mills
2020 2 0 173 294 44 44 0 0 0 0 18 $46,468 $4,195 Corinth, Dover 2020 1 0 0 153 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 $39,677 $2,475
Cross Creek, Indian Mound
2020 2 0 98 297 87 30 0 5 10 12 0 $61,781 $4,295
Dover First, Dover
2020 6 15 339 527 247 133 118 48 76 0 50 $364,507 $19,289 Fairview, Dover 2020 0 0 0 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 $0 $209 Faith, Vanleer 2020 0 0 50 90 14 10 0 4 6 0 0 $24,713 $407 Grace, Dover 2020 0 0 0 17 8 8 0 1 0 0 3 $19,583 $783 Immanuel, McEwen 2020 1 0 42 64 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 $34,687 $4,800
Lakeview, Tennessee Ridge
2020 3 4 137 239 30 0 0 0 0 0 5 $44,086 $2,203
Liberty Missionary, McEwen
2020 1 1 77 81 28 10 0 0 3 0 0 $6,402 $240
Liberty, White Bluff
2020 1 0 0 65 13 12 0 3 0 0 0 $56,200 $2,600
Maple Grove, Dickson
2020 2 0 164 228 36 28 0 36 0 0 0 $46,865 $600 Maranatha, Dover 2020 0 1 32 103 14 11 0 0 0 0 0 $26,568 $703
McEwen First, McEwen
2020 0 4 102 198 36 36 0 8 0 0 17 $49,877 $3,433
Missionary Ridge, Bon Aqua
2020 0 3 29 145 29 14 0 0 0 0 9 $29,183 $1,600
Mount Sinai, Erin
2020 0 0 36 40 21 18 0 13 8 6 0 $10,500 $0
Mount Zion, Fairview
2020 0 0 10 83 22 9 0 6 0 0 0 $6,857 $0 JST Baptist Association 1 Year Digest
Congregation Year Total Baptisms Other Additions Resident Members Total Members Total SS Enroll SS Avg Attend VBS Enroll Music Ministry Total WMU Men's Ministry Total DT Enroll Undesignated Receipts Cooperative Program
New Beginnings, Dickson
2020 0 0 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 $10,000 $0
New Haven, Dover
2020 5 0 50 50 55 50 30 5 0 0 58 $30,000 $0
New Hope, Bon Aqua
2020 4 13 235 322 91 67 0 0 0 0 0 $145,674 $5,400
Oak Grove, McEwen
2020 0 2 0 86 22 16 0 12 11 14 0 $43,725 $5,526
Old New Hope, Fairview
2020 1 0 150 271 12 10 0 0 0 0 0 $31,175 $1,200
Pleasant Grove, Indian Mound
2020 1 11 205 348 55 50 0 0 0 0 25 $0 $0 Pomona, Dickson 2020 1 3 0 47 38 38 0 2 0 0 0 $109,380 $7,249
Rolling Hills, Lyles
2020 10 9 75 75 40 22 23 1 0 5 5 $28,745 $2,000 Sylvia, Dickson 2020 8 5 690 764 213 138 174 57 157 14 66 $552,206 $54,724
The Rock, Dover
2020 0 0 13 13 9 8 0 1 0 0 0 $23,484 $628
Three Rivers, Waverly
2020 2 4 68 75 120 54 0 6 0 14 59 $149,002 $11,178
Trace Creek, New Johnsonville
2020 0 0 361 596 197 67 0 8 22 0 70 $331,577 $35,857
Walnut Grove, Dover
2020 6 10 171 171 65 0 0 0 14 0 0 $107,436 $2,074
Watershed, Cumberland Furnace
2020 0 0 35 35 29 45 0 1 7 5 0 $49,535 $2,921
Waverly First, Waverly
2020 22 11 361 415 273 153 0 25 74 10 70 $416,451 $57,220
White Bluff First, White Bluff
2020 1 1 0 85 40 0 0 4 0 0 0 $63,554 $0
Yellow Creek, Cumberland Furnace
2020 40 0 0 455 170 172 0 0 0 0 0 $678,848 $41,974 JST Baptist Association 1 Year Digest
Please go to www.jstba.com for a full list of church leaders and contact information in the association.
Special Called Executive Board Meeting for
JST Baptist Association at
Sylvia Baptist Church February 20, 2020
Call to Order: Brother Ralph Stone, Moderator
Budget Committee: Brother David Deavers, Budget Committee chairman, recommending budget revisions, everyone was given a copy. No discussion or questions took place. Everyone gave an amen, no-one opposed. Passes. Revisions are attached.
Advisory Committee: Brother Neal Westerman, Advisory Committee chairman. The committee recommends Brother Greg Ernsberger for the new DOM. Brother Neal read through parts of Greg’s resume which has been available to everyone.
Brother Ralph comes back up and says it’s a motion, so we don’t need a second. Brother Greg was present, so questions can be asked directly to him. Brother Ken Brown from Sylvia BC loves the resume and trusts the committee but would like to hear from the Greg.
Brother Greg feels very humbled to be considered as DOM. He has a burden for the local church and their communities. MAD week and Ecuador is something I’ve been working on for the last 10 years. Brother Greg went on to explain his vision.
Brother Nathan Wilkerson, pastor of New Hope BC asked “Where are you at theologically and do you see the budget for evangelism growing?”
Brother Greg replied with “Anything that comes up needs to come before the executive board, such as the budget.”
Brother Nathan, “Would you like to personally to see that grow?” Brother Nathan, “How did you come to know Christ?”
Brother Greg, "I did not grow up in a Christian home. My parents are still not believers. My parents are heavy on my heart. I went to college to play soccer. It was Hiwassee College. I came to know the Lord then. The campus pastor was more Baptist than Methodist.
I got involved in the BCM at UT. My soccer coach invited me to the Bible Study. I heard the gospel there and I kept coming back.” Brother Ralph, “Any other questions. Move to second. Greg you can leave. On your ballots, circle yes if you want Greg to be your next DOM. Circle no, if you do not. Greg has to win by a majority. Results - 53 voted: 48 yes, 5 said no
Brother Greg Ernsberger was vote in to replace Joe Shannon as Director of Missions for the JST Baptist Association.
Church Announcements
Meeting Adjourned: David Deavers followed with Neal Westerman second.
*These minutes were put together by Ashlinn Turnbow, Administrative Assistant to the JST Baptist Association.
JST BAPTIST ASSOCIATION REVISED 2020 BUDGET
ORIGINAL REVISED
BUDGET BUDGET
1 DOM Salary & Allowances $ 65,904.00 $ 65,904.00
2 DOM expense reimb. 21,360.00 21,360.00
3 DOM Insurance 14,066.00 14,066.00
4 Assist. DOM Salary 12,360.00 12,360.00
5 Assist. DOM Expenses 6,000.00 6,000.00
6 Assist. DOM Insurance 7,000.00 7,000.00
7 Administrative Assistant 19,158.00 19,158.00
8 TBC Support Replacement 6,600.00 6,600.00
9 Liability Insurance 1,891.00 1,891.00
10 DOM Retirement 7,980.00 7,980.00
11 Assist. DOM Retirement 11,400.00 11,400.00
12 Staff Christmas Gift 3,000.00 3,000.00
13 Staff Mission Expenses 5,620.00 5,620.00
14 Utilities 3,500.00 3,500.00
15 Office Expense 5,300.00 5,300.00
16 Office Maintenance 2,000.00 7,850.00
17 Building Insurance 900.00 900.00
18 Annual Meeting Expense 600.00 600.00
19 AssocIational Treasurer 400.00 400.00
20 Vacation Bible School 1,000.00 2,000.00
21 Sunday School 120.00 120.00
22 Discipleship Training 120.00 120.00
23 Brotherhood (Men's Ministry) 120.00 120.00
24 Music 120.00 120.00 25 WMU 1,200.00 1,200.00 26 Evangelism 600.00 600.00 27 Volunteer Missions 3,000.00 3,000.00 28 Stewardship 120.00 120.00 29 Youth 1,000.00 1,000.00 30 Prayer Ministry 120.00 120.00 31 Disaster Relief 1,200.00 3,200.00
32 Pastor & Wives Fellowship 2,400.00 2,400.00
33 Piney Campground 500.00 500.00
34 Miscellaneous 500.00 500.00
35 Reimbursed Expense -
Executive Board Meeting September 3, 2020 Sylvia Baptist Church Call to Order
Ralph Stone, associational moderator, called the meeting into order. Three items of business. Greg Ernsberger, Director of Missions, is going to present the Dover Office Agreement. Greg introduced Steven Head the new pastor of of First Baptist Church Dover.
New Business
1. Dover Office
Greg tells everyone to look at the Agreement that First Baptist Church Dover gave to the association for approval (agreement is attached here). The Dover building is something that has always belonged to FBC Dover. This is just the new lease agreement. No discussion or questions. Agreement passes.
2. Vanleer Baptist Church Building (motions attached) Neal Westerman, Advisory Committee Chairman, presents two
motions (motions are attached). First motion, sell the building that was given to the JST Baptist Association for $100,000. The contents will be offered to churches in the JST Baptist Association. Does not need a second. No discussion or questions. Motion passed. None opposed. Second motion is what to do with all the proceeds. Vanleer Baptist struggled and finally closed. We recommend that the proceeds go to churches who are struggling churches in the JST Baptist Association. The proceeds would serve as a grant called the RPR Grant. The Nominating Committee will nominate a team called the Church Growth Team. This team would oversee the funds and serve as mentors and assessors to struggling churches who request help.
- Question from the Floor:
How would they access or apply for these funds? - Answer from Neal:
It would be up to the team. The team would come up with the guidelines.
- Question from the Floor:
I understand the nobility but shouldn’t a portion be put back for the association since we are not meeting budget?
We are not in debt, we have $100,000 in the bank in the Contingency Fund. The budget committee chairman David Deavers speaks and says the budget is on track. Budget goes from January to January so we still have four months. David say he believes we will meet the budget this year.
No more questions or discussion. Motions passed. None opposed. 3. Slayden Baptist Church Withdraw Letter
Ralph Stone presents this letter. Sadly, in the last six months we received a letter from Slayden Baptist Church requesting they be dropped from the associational roll. Greg Ernsberger speaks on how he has reached out to the Slayden. Greg has ate lunch with him, Dwayne Smith, pastor of Slayden Baptist Church, and it’s been an ongoing issue about them wanting to leave. Greg has talked to him regularly. The church does desire to still pull away. Dwaynes loves us and wishes us the best.
Aaron Terlecki, pastor of Burns Baptist Church, asks what are the reasons they want to pull out? The letter is then put in to a motion first so it can me discussed. Greg says he knows the merge of the three associations had something to do with them pulling out. Ken Brown made motion to accept the motion and explains that baptist churches are autonomous. If they leave the association, it’s up to them. No more discussion or questions. No opposition. It passes.
Church Announcements:
First Baptist Church White Bluff Homecoming Sept. 13 at 10:00. Brother Jerry Duke.
Oak Grove Baptist Church Homecoming with Dwayne Smith on Sept. 13.
Watershed Baptist Church homecoming on Sept. 13. Sylvia Baptist Church Homecoming on Sept. 20th. WMU Ladies event at Sylvia Baptist Church on Sept. 19. October 17 Youth Ministers Luncheon at 11:00.
Meeting Adjourned.
*These minutes were taken by Ashlinn Turnbow, Administrative Assistant to the JST Baptist Association.
Vanleer Baptist Church Motion
I move to sell the Vanleer Baptist Church building that was given to JST Baptist Association in 2019. The Advisory committee recommends the building be placed on the market for
$100,000. The contents of Vanleer Baptist Church will be offered to contributing churches in the JST Baptist Association.
Vanleer Baptist Church Funds Motion
I move to use the money received from the sale of the building and the $37,000 given to the association from Vanleer Baptist Church to serve exclusively as grant, called RPR, money for churches to revitalize within the JST Baptist Association. The Nominating Committee will nominate a team, all from the JST Baptist Association, called the Church Growth Team that will help define the guidelines and oversee the distribution of funds. Besides overseeing the funds, the team will assess churches who request help, assess potential pastors and other leaders for the revitalization needs. This team will be mentors to those leading the revitalizations as well.
Annual Meeting Minutes 10-1-20
First Baptist Church Waverly
Call To Order
- Ralph Moderator present Book of Reports.
Agenda Adoption
- All in favor say praise Jesus. Everyone adopted.
Recognition
- Ralph recognizes new pastors at Grace BC, FBC Dover, Maranatha BC, and
New Beginnings BC. The association still has 3 churches without pastors,
Yellow Creek BC, Mt. Sinai BC, and Corinth BC.
- Brother William Gray is recognized 34 years of serving in the association
- Brother Joe Shannon recognized for 14 years in the association.
Videos Presented and Guest Speakers
- TBMB - Randy Davis, Executive Director of the TBMB, new record in the
Golden Offering.
- TBMB Speaker Mark Miller - “It is a joy to serve you, we are praying for you,
please pray for us. It s worth celebrating that the Golden Offering was at an all
time high. More than most the people in TN is not in church. Let’s tell TN about
Heaven. People need to know the hope in this crisis. Together we can win TN.”
- Video of JST
- JST Disaster Relief Director Bill Lowe - “look on page 14-15 for the report, a
portion of the team will be headed to Louisiana (safety and travel and continue
to be bold in their witness) 14 new people were added to team. Pastors please
spread the work on DR.”
- IMB VIDEO
- IMB MISSIONARY - Unable to share what he talked about due to safety
procedures.
Business
- Budget Report (David Deavers, Chairman) thank you churches for your giving.
Our churches have been challenged but you still continue to support. Our
budget for 2021 is on page 18. This is our third budget. People wanted to see
money go to more programs. We sent word to all the committee directors and
we honored every request. I present this budget for approval. Comes from
committee doesn’t need a second. No comments or questions. All in favor say
praise the lord. None opposed.
- Nominating Committee Report (William Gray) I was put on the report because I knew a lot of people. Recommendation is on page 19. Any discussion? All in
favor say amen. None opposed.
- Annual committee report (Ralph Stone) pg.21. Meetings were read. Doesn’t
need a second. Discussion? NoNE opposed.
- Memorial page 22-23
Message from Willie McLauren. Meeting adjourned.
*Minutes done by Ashlinn Turnbow, Administrative Assistant to the JST Baptist Association
