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The Lord sent in
people who had a mind to work and build the House of God. The
first meeting was probably held in the new building the last of
August, 1942. Reverend T.T. Lewis was called to be the first
pastor of the church and was there five months. Mr. Lewis began
preaching in the church by using a large oil drum for a pulpit
stand until one was build. Ernest Warwick was called and pastored
for six months. The Lord had called Mr. Spencer to preach about
five years before, but he was trying to do everything but preach.
He was the first deacon and also the first Sunday School
Superintendent of Highland Church. After he became obedient to the
call God had given him, the church called him as their pastor and
he was ordained July 4, 1943. He pastored for five years
until God called from House Mountain Church. He went there as
their pastor and after three years at House Mountain Church,
Highland called again and he pastored for another three years.
 
There has been many a problem and many hills to climb and many
valleys, but God has been with the church through them all. And
the mountain tops have been so wonderful, you forget the valleys
and press on to the mark of the High calling in our blessed Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ who is the head of the church and also
knowing our labor is not in vain in the Lord, I Chronicles 28:20,
And David said to Solomon his son, be strong and of good courage
and do it; fear not nor be dismayed; for the Lord God even my God
will be with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until
thou hast finished all work for the service of the house of the
Lord.
Philippians
1:6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ. Ephesians 5:27, That he might present it to himself a
glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but
that it should be holy and without blemish. Revelation
14:13, And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and
their works do follow them.
On Sunday, December
10, 1967, the members of Highland Baptist Church, dedicated the
brand new Church building to service for Jesus Christ. See picture
below of old and new Church buildings. The article was published
in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Saturday, December 9th, 1967.
On November 2,
1975, Highland Baptist Church received a new pastor. The
first Sunday that Rev. Charlie Lynch preached to our church there
were 36 persons attending Sunday School. In the first year Bro.
Charlie served as pastor we received 128 new members, 36 of those
were by Baptism. Bro. Charlie remained at Highland Baptist for
10-years, until the Lord moved him to pastor another church in our
community.
On January 26,
1986 the Lord called Rev. Jerry Copeland to pastor Highland
Baptist church. For the next 20-years the church experienced
fantastic growth and saw many souls saved and lives changed. Bro.
Jerry was much loved and he watched over and cared for the church
with great love and compassion. On May 14, 2006, the Lord told
Bro. Jerry it was time to move on to pastor another church. He was
greatly missed at Highland Baptist.
After much
prayer and seeking God's will for our church, on November 8, 2007,
Rev. David Hutchison was called as our new pastor. Bro. Dave is a
true God-send to Highland. He and his wife, Sis. Carol, have
blended right in with the members of Highland Baptist just as if
they had been with us for years. Bro. Dave expounds the Word of
God from the pulpit as the Lord intends and he shepherds our flock
in a Christ-like manner.
 In the history of
Highland Baptist, the Lord has blessed our church more than could
ever be numbered. A new fellowship building was built in 1976.
The Lord made a way that we could pay off the church loan two or
three years later. Many other things have been accomplished for
the Lord and we have learned that all things do work together for
good to them that love God. We just thank the Lord for what
He has done.
The greatest
thing that we rejoice about is the lives that the Lord has added
to our church. We feel that every person was sent our way
the the Lord Jesus Christ. We are proud of our past, because we
can look back and see that Christ was always there to help us. By
looking back and seeing what God has done we can look to the
future and go with assurance that Christ will never leave us or
forsake us.
Thank you Jesus for
loving us, and not giving up on us when everyone else had.
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early church minutes
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