Connecting People and Changing Lives is in Our History
In 1922, Miss Lillie Judd, a school teacher from Adair County, felt the need to pray for the unsaved souls in Jamestown – her mission field. The answer to Miss Lillie Judd’s prayer was the establishment of our church. A building committee was formed consisting of four dedicated Christian members of the Russell Springs First Baptist Church – Mr. Tom Flanagan, Mr. D.C. Hopper, Mr. Keel Bottom and Mr. Finis Bernard. They purchased a lot for our church from the heirs of Mrs. Nellie Williams for $1800. Mr. T.M. Combest built the original church for the princely sum of $5500. The first pastor was young C.W. Denney. The dedication service was held on October 17, 1926 with the Rev. L.C. Kelly preaching.
In 1927 the church was wired for electricity at a cost of $19.50. The membership of the church grew from 22 in 1926 to 70 in 1937 to 145 in the late 1950’s. In 1961 another building fund was started with $706. A Christmas Day fund drive was held in 1964 – by January 1965, the building fund had grown to $16,031. In June 1965 the L.C. Lawrence property on South 127 comprised of 2.43 acres and two buildings was purchased for $16,000 !! The two buildings on the site were sold and the money added to the remaining building fund. Bids were taken to build a new church - $91,600 from Cumberland Industries was accepted.
On May 5, 1968, a groundbreaking ceremony as held. Mrs. Lillie Judd Rossen turned the first spade of dirt. Judge Kenton Cooper gave the address at the ceremony. The first service at our present location was held on November 10, 1968, Brother Thurman Harris preaching. The first revival in the new church began on Nov. 11, 1968. Donna Coe, Sherriee Miller and Burl Hadley, youth from our church, were the first three baptized in the new facility. In 1981, the church voted to change their name to First Baptist Church.
In 1986, C.W. Denney turned up in the pulpit again in the form of the current pastor, Brother Dan Grider. Dr. Grider felt the Lord was leading our church to yet another growth. The Together We Build fundraising campaign began in 1987. The expansion included additional sanctuary space and another Sunday school wing as well as an addition to the existing Sunday school wing. In September, 1988 a dedication service was held for the newly renovated church. Two charter members, Mrs. Mattie Bertram Stephens and Mrs. Emma Grider Allen were on hand to place the history behind the dedication stone. Mrs. Lois R. Meece was responsible for the landscaping of the church grounds as a special part of the dedication.
Dr. Phil Ellis came to us in June, 2004 from the Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville, KY., and served the church until 2010. The church then had an interim pastor, Dr. Rick Garner for 2 years until our current pastor, D. Scott Russell was called to be the Senior Pastor of Jamestown First Baptist Church in March of 2012. Scott is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a missionary for three years in the Philippines and Poland. For the last eight years, he was a Minister of Education for churches in Tennessee and South Carolina. Scott is married to Debbie Doster Russell from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and has two children, Abby, (13) and Ben (7).
Today our church has approximately 11,000 square feet of floor space and a membership of over 300. A dedicated group of church members serve the Lord in the Friends program – a real outreach for growth. We also have W.M.U., a mens prayer group, children’s church and bed babies. Every member has a place to serve the Lord and the church at the First Baptist Church. We have many ministries that always have a need for more dedicated servants.
“For no one can lay any other foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11
In 1927 the church was wired for electricity at a cost of $19.50. The membership of the church grew from 22 in 1926 to 70 in 1937 to 145 in the late 1950’s. In 1961 another building fund was started with $706. A Christmas Day fund drive was held in 1964 – by January 1965, the building fund had grown to $16,031. In June 1965 the L.C. Lawrence property on South 127 comprised of 2.43 acres and two buildings was purchased for $16,000 !! The two buildings on the site were sold and the money added to the remaining building fund. Bids were taken to build a new church - $91,600 from Cumberland Industries was accepted.
On May 5, 1968, a groundbreaking ceremony as held. Mrs. Lillie Judd Rossen turned the first spade of dirt. Judge Kenton Cooper gave the address at the ceremony. The first service at our present location was held on November 10, 1968, Brother Thurman Harris preaching. The first revival in the new church began on Nov. 11, 1968. Donna Coe, Sherriee Miller and Burl Hadley, youth from our church, were the first three baptized in the new facility. In 1981, the church voted to change their name to First Baptist Church.
In 1986, C.W. Denney turned up in the pulpit again in the form of the current pastor, Brother Dan Grider. Dr. Grider felt the Lord was leading our church to yet another growth. The Together We Build fundraising campaign began in 1987. The expansion included additional sanctuary space and another Sunday school wing as well as an addition to the existing Sunday school wing. In September, 1988 a dedication service was held for the newly renovated church. Two charter members, Mrs. Mattie Bertram Stephens and Mrs. Emma Grider Allen were on hand to place the history behind the dedication stone. Mrs. Lois R. Meece was responsible for the landscaping of the church grounds as a special part of the dedication.
Dr. Phil Ellis came to us in June, 2004 from the Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville, KY., and served the church until 2010. The church then had an interim pastor, Dr. Rick Garner for 2 years until our current pastor, D. Scott Russell was called to be the Senior Pastor of Jamestown First Baptist Church in March of 2012. Scott is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a missionary for three years in the Philippines and Poland. For the last eight years, he was a Minister of Education for churches in Tennessee and South Carolina. Scott is married to Debbie Doster Russell from Lawrenceville, Georgia, and has two children, Abby, (13) and Ben (7).
Today our church has approximately 11,000 square feet of floor space and a membership of over 300. A dedicated group of church members serve the Lord in the Friends program – a real outreach for growth. We also have W.M.U., a mens prayer group, children’s church and bed babies. Every member has a place to serve the Lord and the church at the First Baptist Church. We have many ministries that always have a need for more dedicated servants.
“For no one can lay any other foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11