By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Phil Lovelace, pastor of Allen Baptist Church, Brownsville, reads the names of churches and associations that sent bags of soil for the groundbreaking of the Church Support Center, held April 23 in Franklin. – Photo by Chris Turner
FRANKLIN – Approximately 275 Tennessee Baptists from every geographical area of the state gathered April 23 to break ground for the new Church Support Center.
The event featured soil from churches and associations statewide, including Sinking Creek Baptist Church, the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s oldest church.
The soil from more than 170 locations “is a single reminder that we serve a great state and a host of wonderful churches,” said Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
The Church Support Center will house the offices of the TBC’s Executive Board that have been located in rented office space since 2014. The former building, located at 5001 Maryland Way in Brentwood, was sold in late 2013.
The new location is just off I-65, south of Franklin on a former farm owned by the Berry family of Franklin for about 100 years. Davis noted that the site is located about 35 miles from the geographical center of Tennessee.“We don’t come here without anything but the hope that we have in Jesus Christ,” he told attendees. We must be good stewards of what God has placed in our hands.”
The new facility will enable the Executive Board to walk alongside Tennessee Baptists in reaching the state with the gospel of Christ. “We have the privilege of washing the feet of the local church. This is what this is all about,” Davis added.
TBC President Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, echoed Davis. He stressed the new building will not be a place to “camp out.”
“It’s a launching pad to reach our state for Christ,” he affirmed.
Randy C. Davis, left, executive director of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention,with shovel, is surrounded by members of Generation Z (children born since 9/11) who helped break ground for the Executive Board’s new Church Support Center. – Photo by Chris Turner
Steve Freeman, chairman of the Executive Board, reminded those in attendance that God’s people must have a vision. “This building will be a reminder of the vision that God gave to Tennessee Baptists,” he said.
The process of selling the former facility on Maryland Way in Brentwood and looking to relocate began under the direction of retired TBC executive director James Porch.
Porch reminded those in attendance of how the tribes of Israel removed 12 stones from the Jordan River after Joshua led them into the Promised Land. The 12 stones would be a reminder to future generations of how God delivered His people.
Porch challenged Tennessee Baptists to not forget “the stones on which we are built. … It was by the mighty hand of God,” he said.
The program also featured greetings from Franklin Mayor Ken Moore and Wood Caldwell, representing the project management team.
Several groups participated in the actual groundbreaking including Church Support Center construction representatives and the longest and newest tenured TBC staff members.
The final group involved in the groundbreaking represented the next generation, children and teenagers under the age of 16. A large number of Generation Z’ers (the largest generation in history) grabbed the rope tied to shovels and helped break ground for the new facility.
Davis said he keeps pictures of his grandchildren in his office to remind him “why I want to give the best of my life and the rest of my life to do what we’re doing.”
He cited statistics that if current trends continue, nine out of 10 children will grow into adulthood without a relationship to Christ.
In building the Church Support Center, Davis noted it is not a tribute to the past. “We are pitching our tent toward the future.”
