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Our History
Central Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Elkhorn Association. Rev. Dan Russell has been our pastor since December 2000. Our Minister of Music, Ernie Trosper, has served the church in this position since 1972. T.J. Wright serves as our Minister to Students.
A Look At The Past
“Having been led by the Holy Spirit and in response to the great need, the Central Baptist Church of Paris, Kentucky was organized on June 23, 1946”. This in a letter to the Elkhorn Association signified the beginning or our church. Fred W. Hilke donated the house used as the original church building. 55 members grew to 111 by the end of the first year.
J. Bill Jones was the first pastor of Central and served from 1946 to 1954. Our congregation grew to almost 500 members and the new auditorium was dedicated in August 1954 under the leadership of Pastor Harry Wainscott. Renovations to our church followed and the new building was dedicated in March 1963, during the tenure of Bro. Don Carroll.
Many improvements and renovations were made during the 60’s and 70’s. We started our bus ministry in 1973 and completed the chapel in 1977. Reverend William Cubine was pastor when we celebrated our 30th anniversary in 1976.
The 80’s and 90’s saw more building improvements and new buses purchased. Our Willing Hands Quilters group began in 1986 and the Young at Heart group started in 1988. Pastor’s and their dates of service during this time are as follows: Gary Coltharp, 78-81, Drew Martin, 82-87, Jim Abernathy, 88-91, Jay Robison, 92-98 and our present pastor, Dan Russell.
Central Baptist celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1996 and all former pastors visited us during that year. Total membership today is around 900.
We remember and give thanks to God and those who remain faithful in the service of the Lord and His church, and we look forward with great anticipation to the future, wondering what great things God has in store for Central Baptist Church. May we continue faithful to the word of God as written in Nehemiah 4:6 and as imprinted in the cornerstone of our church, that it may continue to be said of the people of Central Baptist Church, Paris, Kentucky, that “the people had a mind to work.”
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