the vision: a beginning

From its modest beginning in a house in the middle of a subdivision on Winesap Drive, to its newly expanded worship facility on Colonel Road overlooking one of the nation’s busiest interstates, White Hall Baptist Church can trace its origin to the outreach and church planting efforts of First Baptist Church, Richmond.

In 1988, seeing an opportunity to reach a rapidly growing area of northern Madison County, Brother Curtis Warf, pastor of First Baptist Church, proclaimed his vision to the congregation and challenged the Missions Committee to pursue plans for establishing a church in the area. It was another opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission… by reaching people in Madison Village and the surrounding areas with the gospel message.

In March 15, 1989, a motion was approved by First Baptist Church, and the trustees were instructed to purchase a 7-acre tract of land on the corner of Colonel Road and Bill Eads Road. The $42,000 purchase was made possible by both a grant and loan, conferred through the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s missions department. Two months later a recommendation by the deacons of First Baptist church was approved – the new church would be known as the White Hall Baptist Mission.

The Missions Committee and Finance Committee of First Baptist Church recommended that an estimated $70,000 – a generous contribution received from the Mary L. Kunkel Million Estate – be used for the White Hall mission project. As various financial resources continued to become available, a Mission Building Committee was formed and tasked with identifying structural plans relating to size, use, and seating capacity of the new church. Enthusiasm for the project grew as plans were made to begin basement construction after January 1, 1990.

Growth Begins With Sunday School: 1990 - 1999

A rental house, located at 111 Winesap Drive in the Madison Village subdivision, would be used for Sunday school while the White Hall Baptist Mission church was being constructed. By organizing the mission project in this manner, an established Sunday school would be ready to move into the church when the building was completed. On Sunday, January 28, 1990, the first Sunday school service was held in the mission house.

In a partnership between the SBC’s Home Mission Board and First Baptist Church in association with the KBC, Bro. Lamar Lyon was approved as the first pastor of the White Hall Baptist Mission.

With persistent plans to build a permanent facility, a groundbreaking service for the new structure was held on March 18, 1990. Construction costs were minimized as people came from Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Frankfort, Kentucky; working in all phases of the construction. Many of the men from First Baptist Richmond worked on the building, with several on site every day of the construction process.

On December 23, 1990, the first services were held in the new building. The partnership with First Baptist continued until November 1996, when the congregation was constituted and became known as White Hall Baptist Church.

Bro. Lamar Lyon departed in December 1997; Bro. Curtis Warf, served as interim pastor from January 1988 through July 1998. Bro. Roger Lipe became the church’s second full-time pastor, standing in the pulpit on Sunday, August 2, 1998.

And the Lord added to His church! In response to a growing need for space, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 28, 1999 for a new sanctuary designed to seat 325 worshipers. Although plans were in place to renovate the old sanctuary into Sunday school classrooms and a nursery, a concentrated effort was made to finish the new sanctuary addition first.

Shaping an Identity: 2000 - 2009

The first Sunday morning services in the new sanctuary were held February 6, 2000. Following Bro. Lipe’s resignation as pastor June 2000, Bro. Bill Carter served as interim pastor through December. In this interim period, Randy Worley was approved as the first minister of music; and the budget for 2001 was increased to include funds for additional staff positions.

In a special called business meeting on November 26, 2000, the church overwhelmingly approved the call of Bro. Timothy Beard as its third full-time pastor. Bro. Tim’s shepherding role in shaping the spiritual identity and mission of White Hall Baptist Church’s future began on Sunday, January 7, 2001, when he delivered his first sermon as pastor.

Compassion and faith in God’s provision guided decisions to extend missions support beyond the local benevolence program. White Hall’s mission support made its way to other areas of the state and beyond to the Philippines, Romania, Haiti, El Salvador, New Guinea, Czech Republic, and New Tribes Ministry locations.

Our children and youth had several opportunities to grow and learn through missions’ education programs like RAs and GAs, or the AWANA curriculum emphasizing scripture memorization. The youth engaged in biblically based learning programs and became active participants in community and missions’ projects. Collecting supplies for hurricane victims’ relief and organizing a “post office” to encourage giving to Lottie Moon Christmas offering were two timely undertakings.

This decade witnessed many events and triumphs. Ordination services were conducted for the licensure of Bro. Michael Barnes and Bro. Chris Buck into the gospel ministry. Bro. Zach Rice served as second full-time minister of music. Several amendments to the constitution were completed. With careful planning and good stewardship, the building loan was paid off and celebrated with a note burning ceremony.

A Nurturing Ground: 2010 - 2019

Sound biblical teaching and preaching, age-appropriate spiritual education, compassion and responsiveness toward the needy were indeed characteristics that accurately described the ministry and missions of WHBC. It continued to be a nurturing ground for personal and spiritual growth.

On the first Saturday of May 2010, a celebration to honor its 20-year heritage began with a fellowship meal and concert. Notably implanted within the commemoration was a three-day spring revival, starting on “20th Anniversary Celebration Sunday.”

Woven collectively in the church’s history is a ministry of service, characterized with one word…MISSIONS. Every age group within the church was somehow engaged in a missions’ endeavor. The congregation not only gave generously with grateful hearts, but also went with willing hands to serve…in local mission centers and on overseas trips to Romania and Haiti.

In December 2010, the congregation approved establishing a “Master Plan” to assist with the church’s vision for future development. An architect was retained to work with the Long-Range Planning Committee. The financial goal set by the church in Phase I was met in less than three years.

Actual construction had begun earlier in the year, and the church voted on June 1, 2016, to borrow funds from the Baptist Church Loan Corporation to complete the building project. The newly constructed building, an expansion of facilities which included a fellowship hall, additional class, and office space; stood with an esthetically pleasing exterior design, enhancing the overall appearance of the church campus.

On the same weekend that the Spring revival began in May 2017, the congregation stood again to celebrate the faithfulness of God and dedicate White Hall Baptist Church to His service and the spreading of spiritual truth in all the activities of Christian life.

Path Through Adversity: 2020

On January 31, 2020, the Secretary for the US Dept of Health & Human Services declared a public health emergency for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The protection of life, public health and safety, and the prevention of undue loss and suffering was paramount. By executive order on March 6, 2020, Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for Kentucky.

Governmental and leading health organizations issued guidance on how best to prepare and respond to the COVID-19 emergency. Crowd gatherings, known to present the most unsafe environment for catching and spreading the virus, were discouraged, and even forbidden in some settings. With caution, the church considered the impact of the pandemic on normal congregational worship, programs, and fellowships. A pause for providing in-person Sunday School and Worship Services began following March 15.

Live-streaming technology would provide a temporary setting for the members to remain connected through worship. With mandated limited attendance, our pastor stood in the pulpit bringing God’s message, not to a congregation present in the sanctuary, but instead to an audience and community listening from the safety of their homes.

On May 9, 2020, governmental guidance was issued on how to hold in-person worship services more safely. The term “social distancing” and the practice of “wearing face coverings” had long become familiar phrases. With limited attendance, assigned seating accommodated social distancing and minimized anxiety due to the on-going pandemic. Based on an update by Governor Beshear on June 10, 2020, worship services resumed as we continued a path leading back to normal congregational worship.

Although experiencing restrictions for in-person gatherings due to COVID-19, there was never a pause or waver in the faithfulness of the members to honor God with their tithes and offerings. This expression of respect for the gospel would continue to open doors of blessing and opportunities to express God’s love. We looked to the path ahead with renewed hope and appreciation for the benefits of spiritual education, the joy of community, and the richness of fellowship with other believers.

Persevering & Staying True: 2021 - Present

Although challenges of the prior year had tested the resilience of the congregation, devoted individuals continued to gather with a steadfast desire for spiritual growth and a persevering commitment to serve, spreading God’s message of hope and redemption.

In the late summer of 2022 during a moment of recognition, individuals who had joined the church over the previous 12-13 months stood before the congregation and formed a line stretching across the front of the sanctuary. This was a testimony that congregational membership and the timeless truths of the Bible remained the nucleus for shaping hearts, renewing minds, and winning souls.

Sharing information about our church and extending an invitation for others to join us in worship continues to be the organized focus of our Outreach Team. It is one way of staying true to the mission that began years ago as one man’s vision for reaching the northern end of Madison county for Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission.

Prompted by pastoral leadership, a new ministry of conducting a monthly Sunday worship service at Dominion Senior Living began in November 2022.

For more than three decades “The Greatest Gift,” a live outdoor drama of the Nativity, has been presented on multiple nights prior to Christmas. This holy, evangelistic performance, drawing and watched by hundreds each year, has become a traditional occasion for remembering and celebrating Christ’s birth.

On September 10, 2023 members voted to erect a 60’ cross on church property, physically changing the landscape of our church campus. It was a ministry opportunity envisioned and presented by our pastor, following a return trip from the southern part of the US, where he had observed several white crosses marking the landscape. A special ceremony was held on April 28, 2024, celebrating the exposure of a bedrock foundation upon which the cross would stand.

Today the cross stands tall as a symbol of redemption and a beacon of hope to millions of people who will pass by this church campus each week as they travel on I-75. It stands as a sentinel, joining the stars in lighting up the night sky and pointing toward Heaven.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”  (Psalm 19:1) We pray that all who pass this way will pause, recognize, and receive the “Message of the Cross.”