Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church to Celebrate 175 Years Sunday

July 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church is turning 175 years old in August and the congregation plans to celebrate the milestone on Sunday, August 4.

The morning worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. with hymns, a welcome and later a message by the pastor Ric Lee, a time of reflection on the 175 year church history by Jenny Cantrell, special music by the Calvary Trio, a recognition of the oldest and youngest members as well as the longest serving and newest members, and a greeting from former pastors and ordained ministers. Hymns for the service will be taken from the dedication ceremony for the present building on June 12, 1949 and the 150th anniversary celebration on August 7th, 1994. Following the service, a lunch will be served in the fellowship hall for all to enjoy. Everyone is invited to attend.

The following is a summary of the history of Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church provided to WJLE by church member Sue Puckett-Jernigan.

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY

“Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church enjoys a rich heritage and history. Indian Creek was organized in August, 1844, by the labors of Nathanial Hayes and Archmac Bass, with nine charter members: David Taylor, B. John Taylor, Jake Taylor and wife, Linda Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hendrixson, Betsy Taylor, Rachel Taylor and Zeak Taylor. It is an offspring of Salem Baptist Church, Liberty, Tenenssee, and was received in Salem Association the following year when it convened at Hickman Church. The membership had then increased to 20. It has continuously been represented in this association.

For the first four years the church was known as Caney Fork Church. In 1848 the name was changed to Indian Creek.

There have been three church buildings, the first being constructed of logs and was used for some 50 years. This building was moved to the farm of Mat Allen, where it was used for both educational and singing schools. The second building was erected about 1900 and was used until 1947 when it was forced to move due to the building of the Center Hill Dam. The church settled with the government for $2300. The salvage was bought back and much of the lumber was used in the building we occupy today. The oil-fueled chandelier used in the old building today occupies a prominent place near the pulpit.

The third and present building was reestablished on Hurricane Ridge on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Shelton Hendrixson, parents of Geraldean Hendixson Cook, Clarene Hendrixson Hendrixson, T. J. Hendrixson, and Yvonne Hendrixson Bonner. The first service was held on Sunday, September 26, 1948, and the official dedication on June 12, 1949. As the church grew, several additions have been added to the main structure.

Indian Creek helped to organize the Snow Hill Baptist Church in March, 1897, with six of its 13 charter members coming from Indian Creek. Also, she is the mother of the Dale Ridge Baptist Church (now Memorial Baptist Church) organized in 1949.

Over the past 175 years there has been a rise and fall in membership. In 1857 membership was down to 18 and up to 85 in 1896. There is a present membership of 308.

A total of 34 different ministers have served as pastors during the past 175 years, with some returning as pastor for the second, third and even fourth time. Bro. Richard (Ric) Lee is our present pastor. Former living pastors are: Tommy Curtis, James Terry Fesler, James T. Gibbs, and Michael Carpenter. The church has sent out several ministers. Records indicate that at least six men were ordained to preach the gospel while the church was on Indian Creek, among them two brothers, W. H. Nixon, ordained on November 3, 1940, and Haskel Nixon ordained on May 3, 1946. Four men have been licensed to preach and one, Ben Chapman, ordained since the church was moved to its present location.

The Indian Creek Baptist Church has always believed in missions, even though the support was meager at times. However, we now average about 25% of total offerings to missions. In addition to the giving, our Acteens have participated in 12 Activators’ mission trips, and many of the church members are involved in community and local missions. Also, our church has been the drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child for the past 11 years.

On June 10, 2012, a new picnic pavilion was dedicated in memory of Carl Edward Jernigan, which has proven to be very useful.

A new addition to our Fellowship Hall was completed in 2016, which doubled the size and was very much needed.

Most of these facts were taken from the History of the Indian Creek Baptist Church and Related Events, authored and published by W. H. Nixon in 1965. In celebration of the church’s 150th anniversary in 1994 the history narrative was dedicated to him and was concluded with one of his favorite verses, Isaiah 40:31: “. . .They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Also, a cookbook was published in 1994 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the church, a few copies of which are still available. A little booklet of hints, shortcuts, etc. entitled Make Life Easier was published in 2016 as a fund raiser for Operation Christmas Child, copies of which are also available.
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY

July 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

After being stranded for three days following a one car crash, a 54 year old Silver Point woman was discovered by the side of the road on highway 141 in the Wolf Creek community Sunday morning.

Sharon Law, who had plunged down a steep embankment into a creek bed in her 2017 Toyota Corolla sometime Thursday, went unnoticed until Sunday. The car could not be seen by passing motorists from the road.

In order to get help, Law pulled herself up to the top of the hill to the side of the road and was spotted by a passing motorist there early Sunday morning, She was taken by EMS to Cookeville Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

According to Trooper Brent Collier of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Law was traveling west when her car plunged off the embankment and struck a tree before coming to rest in a creek bed. Although her family had been searching for Law, they had not reported her missing, thinking they had to wait 72 hours to file a report.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was also on the scene.

July 29, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Sparta man was airlifted Saturday after his dump truck loaded with top soil overturned on Cookeville Boat Dock Road in the Austin Bottom Community.

Sergeant Tracy White of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 53 year old Johnny Jones was driving down a steep grade in his 1982 Ford dump truck for the Top Soil Company of Cookeville, when he went off the left side of the road and struck an embankment causing the truck to rollover onto its top in the roadway. Of course, the load of top soil spilled out as well.

The DeKalb County Fire Department’s Extrication and Rescue Team was called to the scene because Jones was entrapped in the truck and the Putnam County Rescue Squad was also summoned to render mutual aid support. They were able to gain access to Jones with their extrication equipment and removed him from the truck. He was treated at the scene by EMS and airlifted by helicopter ambulance to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville. The DeKalb County Fire Department set up the landing zone for the airlift. Jones claimed his brakes failed, causing him to lose control of the truck.

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