CHURCH HISTORY
On May 27, 1964, a group of Christians met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Wolfenbarger, 942 Luttrell Street, Knoxville, Tennessee, to discuss the possibility of beginning a new Free Will Baptist church. On the following Sunday, they met at the same place for their first Sunday School services. “Faith Free Will Baptist Mission” was adopted as the temporary name for this work.
As plans progressed for a future Free Will Baptist church, a committee was elected to locate property on which to erect a new building. The committee consisted of I.L. Stanley, S.C. Wolfenbarger, Dorthy Wolfenbarger, Jack Dalton, James Wilson and Dewey Kitts. On July 20, 1964, the committee took option on a 3.83 acre lot at 4531 Bruhin Road. This property was purchased in July, 1965 for $7,500.00. During this year between the option and purchase, the group met at Inskip school. Rev. Thomas Lilly conducted the first revival in May of 1965. Ministers who conducted services in the school were Carl White, Dewey Kitts, Harold Pitts, Wayne Smith, E.M. French and Thurman Pate.
In the fall of 1965, an “A” frame structure was purchased for $7,900.00 and erected on the Bruhin Road property. The church was officially organized on February 27, 1966, with 22 charter members. The first elected pastor was Rev. Wayne Smith. He served from February to October of 1966. During this time, $1,500.00 was borrowed from the National Home Mission Department to add three Sunday School rooms to the “A” frame building. Rev. Smith and Rev. Thurman Pate, along with other volunteers, worked daily until the rooms were completed. Rev. Pate was elected pastor in October 1966.
On November 12, 1972, the church conducted a ground-breaking for the construction of the present brick building. The building was estimated to cost over $80,000.00. A bond program was launched to raise the funds. Construction began in January, 1973 and the new building was dedicated on August 19, 1973. A mortgage burning was held on May 31, 1987.
On November 16, 2008, the church voted to elect Rev. Gerald Fender pastor and Rev. Thurman Pate associate pastor.