Salem Baptist Church (Kentucky)

Coordinates: 37°17′06″N 86°46′07″W / 37.2851°N 86.7686°W / 37.2851; -86.7686
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Salem Baptist Church
Salem Baptist Church is located in Kentucky
Salem Baptist Church
Salem Baptist Church
37°17′06″N 86°46′07″W / 37.2851°N 86.7686°W / 37.2851; -86.7686
Location6407 Logansport Rd., Morgantown, KY 42261
CountryUnited States
DenominationSouthern Baptist
Weekly attendance40–50 Average
Websitewww.salembchurch.org
History
Former name(s)The United Baptist Church of Salem, Salem Missionary Baptist Church
Founded1838; 186 years ago (1838)
Founder(s)Joshua A. Render
Clergy
Pastor(s)Rev. Derek A. Cain

Salem Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Logansport, Butler County, Kentucky, and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Since 2011, Salem's pastor has been Rev. Derek A. Cain.

History[edit]

Salem Baptist Church Logansport KY c. 1986-1988

The founding of Salem Baptist Church was a result of the Second Great Awakening. Between 1830 and 1910 the number of Baptist churches in Kentucky tripled, from 574 to 1,774 and church membership increased five-fold from 39,975 to 224,237.[1] In 1838 the Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Ohio County, Kentucky granted part of its congregation leave to constitute an independent body, known as Salem, in the Big Bend of the Green River. Although isolated— separated by seven miles of treacherous roads northwest of the county seat of Morgantown, which itself contained fewer than 500 citizens in 1850—the Big Bend was the site of a busy wharf (Borah's Landing) and boasted several ferries. The people had easy contact with the outside world via steamboats on the Green River.

Salem's congregants first met in a log house, but in 1849 they constructed a more commodious structure which accommodated their meetings and a school. The school building is now used for church and community functions, including the Big Bend Rural Development Club. In 1857, the congregation began construction on a new building that was to be used strictly as a church facility. It was completed in 1860. The congregation met on October 1, 1856 and resolved to constitute a Sunday School by electing pro tem officers who would conduct a meeting later in the month to officially organize the school.[2]

Salem Schoolhouse c. 1986–1988

On January 4, 1905, the church purchased the three fourths of an acre from R.L. Render on the south side of the road, where the current church building now stands. It was dedicated in 1915. Minutes include an offer from Monticello Baptist Church in Provo, Kentucky for the use of their church during the construction of Salem. Over the years, new classrooms, a basement, and many other improvements have been made.[3]

100 years later the church broke ground on a new space for ministry. This additional space was completed in the summer of 2016. This new building is adjacent to the sanctuary. Its use is for fellowship meals, bible school, children and adult Sunday School classes, weddings, community use, and youth gatherings.

Partnerships and Associations[edit]

Salem Baptist Church freely affiliates and partners with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Gasper River Association of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Kentucky, and other local churches, ministries, and organizations. We support ministries and missionaries through the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Pastors[edit]

Pastors by Year[edit]

Year Pastor Notes
1838 Joshua Render The church met in homes for a while, until the Salem school was built. The United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ as Salem joined the Gasper River Association in 1839.
1839 Joshua Render
1840 Joshua Render
1841 Joshua Render
1842 Joshua Render
1843 No pastor.
1844 William Childers
1845 James F. Austin The church was meeting in a small, old log house.
1846 James F. Austin
1847 James F. Austin
1848 James F. Austin
1849 James F. Austin
1850 James F. Austin
1851 James F. Austin
1852 James F. Austin
1853 James F. Austin
1854 Alfred Taylor
1855 No pastor.
1856 No pastor.
1857 James S. Coleman
1858 J.M. Peay
1859 Alfred Taylor
1860 Alfred Taylor
1861 Alfred Taylor
1862 Alfred Taylor
1863 Alfred Taylor
1864 James F. Austin
1865 James F. Austin
1866 J.F. James
1867 J.F. James
1868 James S. Taylor
1869 B.T. Mayhugh
1870 B.T. Mayhugh
1871 B.T. Mayhugh
1872 B.T. Mayhugh
1873 B.T. Mayhugh
1874 R. Jenkins
1875 R. Jenkins
1876 B.T. Mayhugh
1877 B.T. Mayhugh
1878 B.T. Mayhugh
1879 B.T. Mayhugh
1880 J.P. Taylor
1881 J.P. Taylor
1882 B.T. Mayhugh
1883 B.T. Mayhugh
1884 B.T. Mayhugh
1885 B.W. Neal
1886 B.T. Mayhugh
1887 B.T. Mayhugh
1888 G.W. Pendley
1889 J.N. Jarnigan
1890 J.N. Jarnigan
1891 J.N. Jarnigan
1892 J.N. Jarnigan
1893 J.N. Jarnigan
1894 J.N. Jarnigan
1895 M.M. Hampton
1896 J.B. Rogers
1897 J.N. Jarnigan
1898 J.N. Jarnigan
1899 J.N. Jarnigan
1900 E.D. Maddox
1901 A.B. Gardner
1902 A.B. Gardner
1903 A.B. Gardner
1904 A.B. Gardner
1905 A.B. Gardner
1906 A.B. Gardner
1907 J.E. Bruce
1908 J.E. Bruce
1909 A.B. Gardner
1910 A.B. Gardner
1911 J.W. Wade
1912 J.W. Wade
1913 J.W. Wade
1914 T.T. Moore Moore pastored 5 churches in 1914. Salem's WMU organized in 1914.
1915 T.T. Moore
1916 T.T. Moore
1917 T.T. Moore
1918 A.B. Gardner
1919 R.B. Neel
1920 L.B. Whitaker
1921 Whitaker/Browning
1922 S.P. Browning
1923 S.P. Browning
1924 Jesse B. Hill
1925 Jesse B. Hill
1926 Z. Ferrel
1927 Z. Ferrel
1928 W.W. Payne
1929 T.T. Moore
1930 T.T. Moore
1931 T.T. Moore
1932 John W.T. Givens
1933 John W.T. Givens
1934 John W.T. Givens
1935 John W.T. Givens
1936 John W.T. Givens
1937 John W.T. Givens
1938 John W.T. Givens
1939 T.G. Shelton
1940 T.G. Shelton
1941 T.G. Shelton
1942 C.L. Hardcastle
1943 C.L. Hardcastle
1944 C.L. Hardcastle
1945 C.L. Hardcastle
1946 Thomas Pope
1947 Fred Wood
1948 Fred Wood
1949 Albert Bolling/Glen Britt
1950 William H. Rogers
1951 William H. Rogers
1952 No pastor.
1953 Thomas E. Lawhorn
1954 R.B. Hooks
1955 R.B. Hooks
1956 Richard Stiltner
1957 Richard Stiltner
1958 Richard Stiltner
1959 Ralph Romans
1960 Ralph Romans
1961 Ralph Romans
1962 Ralph Romans
1963 Ralph Romans
1964 Romans/Hederick
1965 John C. Hederick
1966 John C. Hederick
1967 John C. Hederick
1968 Hederick/Cardwell Hederick to February, Cardwell from November
1969 James Cardwell
1970 James Cardwell
1971 James Cardwell
1972 James Cardwell
1973 James Cardwell
1974 James Cardwell
1975 James Cardwell
1976 James Cardwell
1977 Danny Saunders
1978 Danny Saunders
1979 Kenneth Harris
1980 Kenneth Harris
1981 Kenneth Harris
1982 David Coleman
1983 David Coleman
1984 David Coleman
1985 Coleman/Phelps Coleman to May, Phelps from September
1986 Charles (Pete) Phelps
1987 Phelps/Smith Phelps to May, Smith from October
1988 Bruce Smith
1989 Bruce Smith
1990 Bruce Smith
1991 Bruce Smith
1992 Bruce Smith
1993 Bruce Smith
1994 Murl Gray
1995 Murl Gray
1996 Murl Gray
1997 Murl Gray
1998 Murl Gray
1999 Jim Gifford
2000 Jim Gifford
2001 Jim Gifford
2002 Jim Gifford
2003 Jim Gifford
2004 Jim Gifford
2005 Jim Gifford
2006 Darrell Dockery
2007 Darrell Dockery
2008 Darrell Dockery
2009 Darrell Dockery
2010 Darrell Dockery
2011 Derek A. Cain Pastor Derek Cain became the pastor on October 9, 2011.
2012 Derek A. Cain
2013 Derek A. Cain
2014 Derek A. Cain
2015 Derek A. Cain
2016 Derek A. Cain
2017 Derek A. Cain
2018 Derek A. Cain
2019 Derek A. Cain

Biographies of Pastors[edit]

Joshua Render[edit]

Joshua Render was a brother to George Render who was an early member of Beaver Dam church. George was ordained to the ministry in 1813. George was highly esteemed for consistent piety, rather than for any superior ability. Joshua was also a longtime member of Beaver Dam church. He was like his brothers, a very moderate preacher. He represented Beaver Dam church in the Association for 15 years. He was pastor of Salem from its constitution, in 1838, until 1842. The time of his death has not be ascertained.[4]

Alfred Taylor[edit]

Alfred Taylor often preached in private houses in the community before the constitution of the church. He first became pastor of the church in 1854 and returned in 1859 and served until 1863.[5] Previously he was pastor of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church and served there 2 years.[6]

Rev. William H. (Bill) Rogers[edit]

Rogers was married to Martha Louise McPherson on January 15, 1944, and in September 1944 enlisted in the US Army, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant and serving with the Occupation forces in Japan. After working in home construction for several years, he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1949 and resumed his college education. While studying at Western Kentucky College, he was pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Logansport KY, then in 1954 moved to Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green KY as its founding pastor. In 1961 he became pastor at Melbourne Heights Baptist Church in Louisville KY and completed his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 1964. He joined the Kentucky Baptist Convention staff in 1971 and served as Director of Interracial Relations, Director of the Minister/Church Support Division, and post-retirement as Pastoral Consultant on the Leadership Development Team. He also served as an interim pastor for many churches and on the staff at Cedar Creek Baptist Church. Rogers, 95 died peacefully on Tuesday, December 25th, 2018. He lived a long, full life as a father, pastor, mentor and friend to many.[7]

Rev. Derek A. Cain[edit]

Rev. Derek A. Cain is the current pastor of Salem. He became the pastor at Salem on October 9, 2011. Cain is from Pulaski County, Kentucky. He graduated from Berea College in 2005 with a B.A. in Education. He attained his M.Div. from the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky in Georgetown, KY in 2015. He was ordained to the work of the gospel by the authority and order of the Berea Baptist Church, Berea, KY on July 15, 2012. Along with pastoring Salem Baptist Church, Cain began working as the Chaplain and Director of Spirituality at Morgantown Care and Rehabilitation Center in Morgantown, KY in January 2014.

Other Data[edit]

Clerks, Association Messengers, and Other Data, 1838-1988[8][9]
Year Clerks Association Messengers Attending Total Members Sunday School Enrollment Superintendent
1839 G.M. Borah G.M. Borah, Theophilus Petty 24
1840 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Lee Borah, Theophilus Petty 23
1841 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Theophilus Petty, V. Borah 19
1842 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Theophilus Petty 26
1843 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Theophilus Petty, V. Borah, L. Borah 24
1844 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Theophilus Petty 25
1845 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Theophilus Petty, G.M. Borah, Noah Borah 24
1846 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render Theophilius Petty, G.M. Borah 20
1847 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render B. Clark, Theophilius Petty, J.F. Austin 35
1848 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render No messengers. 44
1849 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render B. Clark, L. Borah, J.F. Austin 43
1850 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, J. Borah, B. Clark 44
1851 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, B. Clark 40
1852 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, B. Clark, G.M. Borah 39
1853 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, Bl. Clark, N. Borah 64
1854 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Rogers 64
1855 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, J.M. Hampton 64
1856 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Hampton 61
1857 G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Hampton 59
1858 T.M. James J.F. Austin, T.M. James, W. Wade 54

Related Topics[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Kleber, John E., 1941-, Wymer, Scott A., Kmetz, Thomas P., University Press of Kentucky., Morehead State University. Camden-Carroll Library., Morehead State University. Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. 1992. p. 49. ISBN 9780813159010. OCLC 900344833.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ "Minutes of the Salem Sabbath School, 1856-1859 (SC 350)". Ms. Manuscripts & Folklife Archives.
  3. ^ "Salem Baptist Church". Records of the Gasper River Association of Baptists.
  4. ^ Spencer, John H. (1885). A History of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 1800 Biographical Sketches, Volume 2. Library Reprints, Incorporated. ISBN 9780722249253.
  5. ^ Taylor, William Carey Sr. (1878). Biography of Elder Alfred Taylor. Louisville, KY: Caperton and Cates. (Revision and Reprint Wendell Homes Rone, Sr., 1983)
  6. ^ Masters, Frank Mariro (1953). A History of Baptists in Kentucky. Kentucky Baptist Historical Society; First Edition. pp. 102–3.
  7. ^ "Obituaries: William H. 'Bill' Rogers". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Welborn, Frank (1876). "Gasper River Associational Record". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Salem Baptist Church". Gasper River Association Records.