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East Taylorsville Baptist Church
History
East Taylorsville Baptist Church began in the hearts of several people who desired to follow God’s will in establishing a church that would help reach Alexander County for Jesus Christ. In 1922, a group of men and women began meeting in a two room house in the North State Mill Village. For several months, they held prayer services on Wednesday nights eventually starting four Sunday school classes for children, youth, and adults.
During that year, the small group of around 13 had grown to 50. Then on February 10, 1924 East Taylorsville Baptist Church was organized with 13 charter members: Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Fortner, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. S.G. Earp, Mr. W.J. Fortner, Mr. and Mrs. Ishamel Pennell, Miss Lizzie Robinette, Mr. W.J. Robinette, Mrs. Estelle Chapman, and Mr. Parker Pennell.
The church called their first pastor in 1924, the Rev. A.W. Wilcox. Through the years, East Taylorsville Baptist Church has had 12 pastors: B.F. Peeler, E.V. Bumgarner, A.E. Watts, Sr., C.C. Holland, Maurice Baker, A.B. Bumgarner, Love Dixon, Ernest Banner, Douglas Willett, Gary Jennings, and Craig Hamlin. God has blessed our church with faithful leaders who have preached the Word.
One of the earliest recordings of Association minutes showed that in 1933 Pastor C.C. Holland had a yearly salary of $158.83 and the total yearly expenditures for the church was $240.13. Church services were held on the first and third Sunday each month. A white framed building stood for many years as the only building until a brick building was built in 1949 under the leadership of Rev. A.B. Bumgarner. During those years, the church experienced much growth and went to having services every Sunday.
Within a few short years, additional Sunday school space was needed and with the arrival of a new pastor, Rev. Love Dixon, the plans for a large education building became a reality. By 1959, East Taylorsville had enrolled 428 in Sunday school and averaged 242 in attendance. Many souls came to Christ during the ministry of Love Dixon and he is still loved by the people of this church.
In 1964, the church called Rev. Ernest Banner to be their ninth pastor. Under his leadership the auditorium was completely renovated and a four-bedroom parsonage was built for $28,000 in 1965. After Rev. Banner left to go into the US Military to be a chaplain, Rev. Douglas Willett assumed the duties as pastor in March 1967. With his passion to win souls and a keen musical talent, Pastor Willett started a singing group called “The Teen Crusaders.” Traveling all across the eastern United States, Pastor Willett and the Teen Crusaders saw hundreds of souls come to Christ. During his leadership here, several men were called into the ministry and are still serving today. The church began growing tremendously during those years and Rev. Willett and his wife Mary Ellen are still loved today by so many who knew them.
In November 1971, East Taylorsville called Rev. Gary Jennings to be their pastor. During those first few years, the church experienced a great increase in the number of baptisms and additions. In 1971 membership was 544 and by 2001, it was 1,438. The church expanded their staff to four full-time pastoral staff positions by 1997. Before his retirement in December 2001, Pastor Jennings had baptized over 1,000 souls into the fellowship of the church. During his 30 years of ministry at East Taylorsville, the church built a new recreation and education facility in 1977, a new sanctuary that seats almost 800 in 1984, children’s building in 1990, and a bus garage in 2000. He led the church’s first international mission trip to the Philippines in 2001. Pastor Jennings retired December 31, 2001 with a distinguished reputation in the community and an endearing love in the church.
After serving as Associate Pastor of East Taylorsville since December 1996, Rev. Craig Hamlin became the pastor on January 1, 2002. The church continues to grow and impact Alexander County for Jesus Christ. By continuing the legacy of faithfulness in the pulpit, in the pews, and in the community, East Taylorsville Baptist Church grows stronger. God has blessed this church with unity, love, and a passion to reach people with the gospel of Christ. We are touching generations for Christ through children’s ministries, student ministries, and discipleship for people of all ages. Not only is the church touching generations, but it is reaching a world through global missions that simply is going “Across the Street and Around the World.” May God continue to shine brightly on this church and may we forever be faithful to the call of God on our lives. As we must be proud to be called a Christian, let us also be proud to call ourselves members of East Taylorsville Baptist Church. As we would not want to embarrass the name of Jesus Christ, let us do nothing to embarrass the name of East Taylorsville. May we continue to walk humbly before our God, trusting Him for guidance and relying on His unending, unshakable, and unstoppable power!
East Taylorsville Baptist Church began in the hearts of several people who desired to follow God’s will in establishing a church that would help reach Alexander County for Jesus Christ. In 1922, a group of men and women began meeting in a two room house in the North State Mill Village. For several months, they held prayer services on Wednesday nights eventually starting four Sunday school classes for children, youth, and adults.
During that year, the small group of around 13 had grown to 50. Then on February 10, 1924 East Taylorsville Baptist Church was organized with 13 charter members: Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Fortner, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. S.G. Earp, Mr. W.J. Fortner, Mr. and Mrs. Ishamel Pennell, Miss Lizzie Robinette, Mr. W.J. Robinette, Mrs. Estelle Chapman, and Mr. Parker Pennell.
The church called their first pastor in 1924, the Rev. A.W. Wilcox. Through the years, East Taylorsville Baptist Church has had 12 pastors: B.F. Peeler, E.V. Bumgarner, A.E. Watts, Sr., C.C. Holland, Maurice Baker, A.B. Bumgarner, Love Dixon, Ernest Banner, Douglas Willett, Gary Jennings, and Craig Hamlin. God has blessed our church with faithful leaders who have preached the Word.
One of the earliest recordings of Association minutes showed that in 1933 Pastor C.C. Holland had a yearly salary of $158.83 and the total yearly expenditures for the church was $240.13. Church services were held on the first and third Sunday each month. A white framed building stood for many years as the only building until a brick building was built in 1949 under the leadership of Rev. A.B. Bumgarner. During those years, the church experienced much growth and went to having services every Sunday.
Within a few short years, additional Sunday school space was needed and with the arrival of a new pastor, Rev. Love Dixon, the plans for a large education building became a reality. By 1959, East Taylorsville had enrolled 428 in Sunday school and averaged 242 in attendance. Many souls came to Christ during the ministry of Love Dixon and he is still loved by the people of this church.
In 1964, the church called Rev. Ernest Banner to be their ninth pastor. Under his leadership the auditorium was completely renovated and a four-bedroom parsonage was built for $28,000 in 1965. After Rev. Banner left to go into the US Military to be a chaplain, Rev. Douglas Willett assumed the duties as pastor in March 1967. With his passion to win souls and a keen musical talent, Pastor Willett started a singing group called “The Teen Crusaders.” Traveling all across the eastern United States, Pastor Willett and the Teen Crusaders saw hundreds of souls come to Christ. During his leadership here, several men were called into the ministry and are still serving today. The church began growing tremendously during those years and Rev. Willett and his wife Mary Ellen are still loved today by so many who knew them.
In November 1971, East Taylorsville called Rev. Gary Jennings to be their pastor. During those first few years, the church experienced a great increase in the number of baptisms and additions. In 1971 membership was 544 and by 2001, it was 1,438. The church expanded their staff to four full-time pastoral staff positions by 1997. Before his retirement in December 2001, Pastor Jennings had baptized over 1,000 souls into the fellowship of the church. During his 30 years of ministry at East Taylorsville, the church built a new recreation and education facility in 1977, a new sanctuary that seats almost 800 in 1984, children’s building in 1990, and a bus garage in 2000. He led the church’s first international mission trip to the Philippines in 2001. Pastor Jennings retired December 31, 2001 with a distinguished reputation in the community and an endearing love in the church.
After serving as Associate Pastor of East Taylorsville since December 1996, Rev. Craig Hamlin became the pastor on January 1, 2002. The church continues to grow and impact Alexander County for Jesus Christ. By continuing the legacy of faithfulness in the pulpit, in the pews, and in the community, East Taylorsville Baptist Church grows stronger. God has blessed this church with unity, love, and a passion to reach people with the gospel of Christ. We are touching generations for Christ through children’s ministries, student ministries, and discipleship for people of all ages. Not only is the church touching generations, but it is reaching a world through global missions that simply is going “Across the Street and Around the World.” May God continue to shine brightly on this church and may we forever be faithful to the call of God on our lives. As we must be proud to be called a Christian, let us also be proud to call ourselves members of East Taylorsville Baptist Church. As we would not want to embarrass the name of Jesus Christ, let us do nothing to embarrass the name of East Taylorsville. May we continue to walk humbly before our God, trusting Him for guidance and relying on His unending, unshakable, and unstoppable power!