ColonialView.com is Colonial View Baptist Church.
Colonial View Baptist Church, Cookeville, TN
Colonial View Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist Church located at 1426 West Cemetery Road, Cookeville, TN, 38506. The Church faces the Colonial Estates subdivision and is located near Colonial Market.
As baptists, we are part of Protestant Christendom: we have faith in God; our belief in His holy promise of salvation is a genuine comfort. He is our reason for worship; we seek to glorify the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. Give God a chance; see what He can do in your life!
Colonial View Baptist Church was started as a mission in 1989.
The Late 1980s and "Colonial View Baptist Mission"
The need for new work in the Burgess Falls Road area of Putnam County had long been a desire of various persons within the Stone Association. Among those persons were Rev. Michael Prowse, Dr. Joe Wiles, and Rev. Guy Farris. The Baptist Student Union conducted a survey of the community and on July 24, 1989, the Executive Board of the Stone Association voted to establish a Mission in the Burgess Falls area.
A tract of land consisting of 7.7 acres located on West Cemetery Road became available and the Stone Association purchased this land at a cost of $45,000. The purchase was made possible by a grant of $22,500 from the Tennessee Baptist Convention Missions Department, and by a loan of $22,500 from the TBC Missions Department. This loan was to be paid back in 10 years, with the first three years having no payment of interest occurring.
The property was purchased November 16, 1989, and on December 3, 1989, a group gathered to dedicate the property. The Silver Point Baptist Church voted to sponsor the mission with the mission to be known as "Colonial View Baptist Mission".
Our First Service: February 18, 1990
Rev. Michael Prowse, Director of Missions, Stone Association, obtained the loan of a mobile chapel. This was a 12' x 60' foot mobile home which had been converted for this use. The first service was held on February 18, 1990 at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Joe Wiles preached to 60 persons from the local area, other churches and the sponsoring church. Special guests were Larry Kirk of the Missions Department and Rev. Wilson Parker, a church Planter with the Missions Department. At the invitation, Rev. Guy Farris and then Geneva Farris presented themselves for membership in the mission.
Our First Sunday School: March 18, 1990
Rev. Wilson Parker, as the Interim Pastor, began morning worship services the following Sunday. On March 18, 1990, a Sunday School was begun with the Mission having 4 members and 9 enrolled. Because of failing health, Rev. Parker resigned his duties at the end of May. The next few Sundays, Silver Point Baptist Church secured the services of various preachers to fill the pulpit.
Damon Corley: The Mission's First Pastor
In June 1991, Dr. Wiles met with Rev. Damon Corley and discussed the possibility of him becoming the first pastor of the Mission. After prayer and feeling the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Bro. Corley agreed to serve the Mission, provided it was acceptable to the Silver Point congregation, the Mission, and that services would be Sunday Morning, Sunday Night and Wednesday night, since the only services that were being held at the time were on Sunday Morning.
The Laborers
The call had gone out earlier for workers. Those answering the this call were Kenneth and Rosemary Deweese from Nash Grove Baptist Church and Jennings and Emogene Dyer from Cedar Hill Baptist Church. Kenneth Deweese served as the Adult Sunday School Teacher and Rosemary served as the Youth Sunday School Teacher. Rosemary also led in Mission efforts, although we did not have a WMU at the time. The Dyers filled in from time to time where needed.
There was a need for someone to help with the music during the Worship Service. It was not long until Phillip Farris came to lead our singing. He and his wife, Debbie, would attend their Sunday School at Wilhite Baptist Church, and then faithfully come to our Worship Services and lead the music. He continued helping until his health would not allow him to sing. After that, they continued to support the Mission with their prayers and financial support. With no one playing the piano, it was not long until Jim McCaleb came to play. An organ was placed in the Mission, and several months later Shirley Kirouac began playing for the services.
Our First Vacation Bible School: July 23-27, 1990
On July 22nd (1990) there were 18 in Morning Worship Service. The first Vacation Bible School was held July 23-27, 1990 with one profession of faith resulting. Workers from the mother church, Caney Fork Church (Ramona Hicks, Lola McCormick), and Rev. and Mrs. Michael Prowse helped the Mission sponsor Vacation Bible School.
Contact
- Colonial View Baptist
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- Cookeville Tennessee
- US 38506
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- 931-526-7637
Our First Building Fund
With 8 members August 1, 1990, the Mission voted to start a Building Fund and accept the challenge to reach $10,0000. This challenge was met by July 1991.
Having reached full capacity in the mobile chapel, on July 13, 1991, following months of discussion and preparation, a new building planning meeting was held at Silver Point with people from the Mission. The proposed plan was presented and discussed and changes and options were also discussed. Plans were agreed upon and a decision was made to ask for bids on a 44' x 90' building, complete outside, brick, roof, sub-floor, roughed in plumbing and interior stud walls.
The bids submitted were opened at the Mission on July 26, 1991 at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Wiles presided and there were 3 bidders: Herron Construction, Reliable Builders and Thomas Construction. Following careful comparison of the items bid by each contractor, the low bid of $50,300 was submitted by Thomas Construction, to whom the contract was awarded.
Construction Begins September '91
In September 1991, with $13,000 in out Building Fund, a $15,000 grant from the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and a loan of $21,000 from church members, construction was begun on the building. As the contractor neared completion of his part, we were $800 short of having the finances to pay him his final payment. The Pastor and the men entered the prayer room on Sunday morning with this special request upon their hearts to the Lord. On Monday morning at the Associational prayer time with fellow pastors, Bro. Lester Flatt handed Bro. Corley a check for $1,000 that had been given by a Caney Fork Baptist Church member, designated especially for the mission work.
"...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." - Matthew 6:8 KJV
With the contractor having finished his part, the work was to be completed on the interior. Having no financial means to hire work to be done inside, volunteers began to step forward to finish the work. Junior Roberts volunteered to do all electrical work and stated that an individual had committed to pay for all the electrical needs.
The brotherhood from Stevens Street Baptist Church was committed to finishing 3 rooms. The pastor notified the church that the sheet rock would be in the building on a given day, however, there was a mix-up in the account and the sheet rock did not get delivered; however, Don Wynn from Stevens Street came out with some men to work, and not finding the sheet rock, went and purchased 100 sheets, which was more than enough to finish that day's work. After purchasing the sheet rock for the entire building, the brotherhood from Miracle Baptist Church of LaVergne, Tennessee came and worked one day, hanging over 100 sheets of sheet rock. The brotherhood from First Baptist Church, Cookeville, came the following week and finished hanging the sheet rock.
Having gone as far as possible without heat, prayer went up for $3,300 needed for the heating unit. It did not take the Lord long to provide this through individuals and churches.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." - Mark 11:24 KJV
Bro. Corley was notified that Jim King, Manager of Colormagic Paint Store, wanted him to come by and see him. He gave the church 40 gallons of paint that had been mixed incorrectly, which we took and mixed together for an off-white interior paint.
Now the time had come for the interior finishing work. Knowing this, the church was praying for someone who had this type of skill. The Lord answered the prayer in the form of a man by the name of Gary Clark. Gary had a complete heart transplant in August and therefore had to retire from his profession as a carpenter; however, he still had many professional tools of his trade which he brought to the building and set up, doing much of the work himself and overseeing the finish work of the interior of the building.
Bro. Corley heard of some chairs being sold from the Hartsville, Tennessee Funeral Home. These could be purchased for $6 each. The church was in agreement to purchase 60 of these, taking the money from our Building Fund because of the time element in order to get the chairs, knowing this would set us back in our conquest to get the money for other needed in our building. However, the Lord provided again; when we got the chairs and started to pay for them, we were informed that someone had already stepped forward and paid for them.
The time came for the carpet and there were no funds for that. One Sunday morning Rosemary DeWeese came into church and handed the pastor an envelope and said, "Here, this may help start your day off good." Inside the envelope was $700 that had been sent by her to be put on the carpet of the church. That enabled us to order the carpet.
Our Original Building Dedication: March 22, 1992
Having come this far by Faith and God providing the finances through individuals and churches, a date was set to move from the mobile chapel on March 22nd into the new building with half of it to be finished. However, as the time drew near, the Pastor informed the church that we were some $1,800 shy of finances for the material needed to finish the building to the stage that we could use half of it, plus we owed $850 for the grading work around the building and $350 to the contractor for the extra work he came back and did for us; therefore, we would not be able to meet the March 22nd target date. However, after prayer and trust in the Lord to provide, the members asked the pastor to order the material to finish the work, and be ready to move into the new building on March 22nd.
On the day before we moved into the building, the bills were totaled up and we owed $1,850 plus the grading work and the extra contractor work.
On March 22, 1992, there were over 120 people in attendance. At the close of the services, the Pastor was asked to give a report of the morning offering which had been counted by the Counting Committee, and it was in excess of $2700. That night, more than $700 more was given to the Building Fund. This not only enabled us to pay the bills that would come due the first of the month, but also to begin other phases of the building completion.
The first Sunday in our new building, the Youth were informed they would need to meet in the Nursery room at the present time. The Youth desired to have their own classroom and asked how much it would cost to finish their room to the point they could use it. This amount came to $125, which the Youth raised within 30 minutes. Their room was finished to the point that they painted and moved in without carpet. Then they began asking for support for the carpet and heat to be run to their room. This was done very soon.
Having moved into the first stage of the new building, work did not stop. Cabinets were built, and baseboards, window trims, etc. were painted and put in place. Then we started looking at moving forward and finishing the other half of the building.
The Mission becomes Colonial View Baptist Church: June 14, 1992 As we began to grow, plans were made to constitute into a Church. Therefore, on June 14, 1992, with the blessing of our sponsoring church, Silver Point Baptist Church, the Colonial View Baptist Mission was constituted into the Colonial View Baptist Church, having adopted the Baptist Faith and Message. Furthermore, this body received the Scriptures as its authority in matters of faith and practice.
The first officers of the new church were Robin Vickers, Clerk; Janice Smelzer, Treasurer; and Damon Corley, Moderator/Pastor. The First Deacons were Lloyd Smelzer, Chairman; Jennings Dyer and Ernest Dyal.
There was some concern that moving from mission status to church status would result in our not receiving help to finish our building so greatly needed to worship in. However, this proved not to be the case, as individuals and churches continued to show interest in the Lord's work at this place. As the work progressed, and the need for materials continued, the Lord continued to bless us and met our needs at every turn.
Revival: May 2, 1993
On May 2, 1993, Revival was scheduled. Being that we had outgrown the Fellowship Hall, we decided to move into our (old) Sanctuary on May 2nd, although the carpet was not installed due to the fact we did not have the finances for it; however, the Treasurer informed the Pastor the Sunday before Revival that we could order the carpet as someone had stepped forward and gave money to finish the carpet fund.
Building Complete: November 1993
As of June 15, 1993, the Church was meeting in the entire building, lacking only chandeliers and pews. The chandeliers and pews were installed the first part of November, 1993, at which time that building was complete. The total cost of the building including heating and air was approximately $75,000.
Dennis Gaw, Jr., was the first profession of faith and first baptism in the Mission. Jeffrey Smith was the first profession of faith and baptism when the Mission was Constituted into a Church. Fast Forward into the Twenty-First Century Ten Years after the original building was complete (November 2003), Colonial View had a new pastor, Al Gaspard, and the need for a new Sanctuary was evident.
We were meeting in our Old Sanctuary, and those in attendance filled the pews, as well as a row of folding chairs along the back wall, with the spill over going out into the Vestibule. The existing sound man, Danny Strong, had placed a speaker in the Fellowship Hall, and if the Vestibule overflowed, then people would sit in the Fellowship Hall to listen to the sermon.
Colonial View was in the middle of a new building project, and as of November 2003, the new construction included a basement, concrete foundation, and walls. The Lord blessed us with an abundance of workers to aid us in getting as far as we had gotten:
Alan & Lesa Moore (Kali & Ross) Alvie & Alice Jowers Anthony & Tamela & Colley & Corey Carlson Bennett Blanton Betty Lou Parker Bill Peel Billy Peel Blake McClendan Bruce & Robbie Havens Bubba Loftin Charlie Tillman Coach Billy Rish & Elizabeth Rish David Hatfield Don West and the entire congregation of Camp Creek Baptist Church (Guntown, Mississippi) Dr. Victor Horn (Garth) Eugene & Dannie Watson Floyd & Sabrina & Tanner & Levi Stark Gary & Evelyn Wells, and all those that support our building project from Calcasieu, Louisiana. George & Allison Powell (Hunter, Holly, and Hayden) Grace & Frank James Harvey Lilly Herbie & Oudia Pugh Hinton & Jerri Shempert (Mable) Jack & Anita Falls Jeff & Shann & Kyle Neely Jerrall Dearman Jimmy & Neet Cloud Joe & Libba Cribble John Smith (Eric & Amanda) Joseph & Angela Capps Judy Russell Kenny Blizzard and the whole congregation at First Baptist Church of Houston Mississippi Lawson McCullan Lorene Huffman Martin Falkner Mike Lucas and the congregation of Bay Springs Baptist Church (Bay Springs, MS) Pastor Brian Tillman Pastor Dan Robinson Pastor Martin Jacks Pastor Wayne & Sharon Squyres Randy Carruth Ryan Smith Shirley & Richard Sisk The entire congregation of Merryville First Baptist Church (Merryville, Louisiana). Tommy & Janie Dendy Tony NesSmith Vic Horn Wayne Frederick
New Sanctuary Dedication: September 26, 2004
Colonial View Baptist Church dedicated its new 250-seat sanctuary on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at 2 pm.
Additional Information
Today Colonial View Baptist Church is in a new phase of reaching out to lost souls. At our website you may freely download audio sermons in mp3 format and share them with your friends. Visit us any time at http://www.colonialview.com
