On June 15, 1924 the Baptists of South Irvine, KY convened at 2:30 in the afternoon for the purpose of organizing a Baptist church.  The following brethren were called to council with us:

Bro. J.W. Turpin                                 Bro. T.P. Edwards

Bro. W.S. Daniels                               Bro. W.L. Sheanes

Bro. J.S. Ray                                       Bro. V.R. Davidson

Bro. W.J. McLemore

   After a song service, J.T. Turpin led in prayer.  On motion by W.L. Sheanes, J.W. Turpin was elected moderator, and J.W. McLemore was clerk. Bro. W.S. Daniels was elected to preach the afternoon sermon.  His subject was “A New Testament” from the last part of the second chapter of Acts. The charter members received by letter were as follows:

Benjune Henderson                 Susan Jane Fox

Mrs. Ina Lunsford                   Miss Vera Miller

Miss Anna Henderson             Miss Eva Henderson

Miss Minnie Harris                  Miss Pocahontas Pace

Miss Dixie Ingram                   Miss Louise Hunley

Miss Beatrice Flynn                 J.S. Ray

Rosie Ray                               Nanville Ray

Delbert Ray                            Ruth Ray

George W. Lunsford               Miss Hallie Miller

   After the organization, Bro. Turpin was chosen moderator until the close of the service. The Eighteen Articles of Faith recorded in Pendleton Church Manual were read and accepted by the church.  The Church Covenant was also accepted. Bro. J.S. Ray was called for half-time preaching for an indefinite period of time. After giving the right hand of fellowship, the newly organized church was dismissed by Pastor J.S. Ray. The early years of the church were difficult, in fact, they were downright hard.  The people were few and living conditions for remote mountain life were far from being favorable. The big oak tree that used to stand in the front yard of the parsonage is where those who were blessed enough to have a horse or mule hitched their animal while attending services, Most of the folks walked to church and it was much better for the community since they no longer needed to cross the river now that a Baptist Church was in S. Irvine.

   Even tougher times were ahead.  In 1936, the building burned leaving little hope for the continuation of the congregation.  The people worked together and rebuilt in a remarkably short span of time.  At present (1991), the congregation occupies the same structure other that an addition on the back and the kitchen and dining room in the basement.  (These were built on while Bro. Homer Crain was pastor.)

   South Irvine Baptist has always been a mission-minded church which was evident in one of the first business meetings in the year 1924 when they voted to give one half of all offerings to mission work. 

The Lord has richly blessed the church down through the years.  Great preachers have stood in the pulpit and preached the whole council of God:

1.   Bro. J.S. Ray: June 15, 1924

2.   Bro. Tuttle:

3.   Bro. Pearson:

4.   Bro. Bates:

5.   Bro. Gaines:

6.   Bro. Smith:

7.   Bro. Baker: 

     
  
   In 1964, during the pastorate of Berlin Hisel, the Lord saw fit to instill in this great man of God a desire to begin a work of missions in the mountains of Kentucky.  Bro. Hisel and his wife, Dora, had a zeal for mission work.  Bro. Hisel was a graduate of Lexington Baptist College.  Pastor Clarence Walker of Lexington, and many others had greatly impressed upon him the need for mission work in the Kentucky Mountains. He asked the church to pray about a missionary work in Eastern Kentucky.  The church and pastor prayed diligently for several months and both felt this endeavor to be the Lord’s will.  They received a specified offering to start the work.  On the appointed day, they received a grand total of $7.00.  In the late summer or early fall, Mountain Missions was started.  Their statement:

“We the members of South Irvine Baptist Church, and with the aid of other churches of like faith and order, and by the grace of God, combine our efforts to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the mountains of Eastern Ky.”

   Early missions included Lower Wolf Creek, Levi, and Beattyville, Ky.  Early missionary salaries started in March, 1964 at $25.00 a month.  The first month, Mountain Missions received $116.00 in total offerings.  In April of the same year, the church moved out in faith and raised the salaries to $25.00 a week.  The first missionary was moved to the field and rent paid for a total of $95.63.  The same month, their offerings nearly doubled to $208.31. Early missionaries included: Louie Carver, Kenneth Rupe, Don Baker, Harold Becknell, Joe Lonney, and Addis Byrd.

   In Aug., 1969 they received a total offering of $902.40, and spent $775.19. Other missionaries include:  Clarence Grigsby, Andy Sexton, Roy Humble, Don Scott, Lonnie Badger, Tom Byrd, William Johnson, Ron Dotson, James Murriner, Sid Bishop, Tim Works, Johnny Clem, William Younger, Ron Rogers, David Swallom, Mike Powers, Troy McGahan, Jayson Minix,  and James Courts. 

   Through the years, several missions have been organized into New Testament Baptist Churches:

First Baptist Church – Island City, Owsley Co.

Barnes Mt. Baptist Church – Irvine, Estill Co.

Hilltop Baptist Church – Beattyville, Lee Co.

Stillwater Baptist Church – Wolf Co.

Grace Baptist Church – Beattyville, Lee Co.

Bradshaw Hills Baptist Church – McKee, Jackson Co.

So. Jackson Baptist Church – Jackson, Breathitt Co.

Faith Baptist Church – Quincy, Lewis Co.

Grace Baptist Church – Leburn, Knott Co.

Grace Baptist Church – Science Hill, Pulaski Co.

Manchester Baptist Temple – Manchester, Clay Co.

Harvest Baptist Church – Berea, Madison Co.

Updates:

1991 – God has blessed charter member, Mrs. Hallie Miller Hoover,

with health to still attend services here at So Irvine Baptist Church.

At the present time, we have three mission works, and three full-time missionaries.  They are:  Bro. Andy and Sis. Cleo Sexton at the Grace Baptist Mission in Somerset, Pulaski Co. Bro. Roy and Sis. Margaret Humble at the Manchester Baptist Temple in Manchester, Clay Co. Bro. Lonnie and Sis. Joyce Badger at the Gospel Baptist Mission in Campton, Wolf Co. We are thankful to the Lord for our newest missionaries, Bro. Johnny and Sis. Mary Lee Clem.  They have located a building for their mission, and will begin the Lord’s work in Waco, Madison Co. in the very near future.  With the help of supporting churches, the So. Irvine Baptist Church is able to carry on this great mission work.

This church has recently experienced an outbreak of revival, as several souls have been saved within the past few weeks, and saved folks have been strengthened and encouraged.  It is our prayer that we’ll always be a lighthouse in our community.

Dec. 26, 2009 –

Charter member Sis. Hallie Hoover 

Went home to be with the Lord on May 1st, 1993: at the age of 88. (born July 14, 1905) 

Sis. Cleon Sexton, A faithful servant and Missionary Wife of Bro. Andy Sexton

Went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 11th, 2008.                                               

Our missionary Bro. Andy Sexton

While still preaching the Word of God and sharing His kindness to everyone he met, went home to join his wife Cleo and be with the Lord on Nov. 22nd, 2009.  To his dying day, Bro. Andy insisted he never retired as a missionary, but continued to help however he could in the works of Kentucky Mountain Missions. 

After much repair on our old church building, trying to keep water out of the basement, which kept destroying the baseboard and walls, and because of a need for more space and bathrooms, the members voted to build a new church building. 

While Bro. Michael Brandenburg was pastor, the church hired Bro. Leonard Hardy as contractor.  After the church was built, many of the members helped paint the walls and floors and cleaned.  
   
 

They worked hard to finish the building in time for their dear brother, J.B. Fowler to attend a service.  While battling cancer, he worked diligently on the building, even while very ill.  He attended with his entire family the first service held in the new building in Nov., 2004.

The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful building that we can use for His glory.  As of 2009, the mortgage has been paid off, and the parking lot has been blacktopped.