Salem Baptist Church (Kentucky)

Salem Baptist Church
Salem Baptist Church
	Salem Baptist Church
	37°17′06″N86°46′07″W / 37.2851°N 86.7686°W
Location	6407 Logansport Rd., Morgantown, KY 42261
Country	United States
Denomination	Southern Baptist
Weekly attendance	40–50 Average
Website	www.salembchurch.org
History
Former name(s)	The United Baptist Church of Salem, Salem Missionary Baptist Church
Founded	1838;185 years ago
Founder(s)	Joshua A. Render
Clergy
Pastor(s)	Rev. Derek A. Cain

Last updated November 04, 2023

Salem Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Logansport, Butler County, Kentucky, and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Since 2011, Salem's pastor has been Rev. Derek A. Cain.

History

The founding of Salem Baptist Church was a result of the Second Great Awakening. Between 1830 and 1910 the number of Baptist churches in Kentucky tripled, from 574 to 1,774 and church membership increased five-fold from 39,975 to 224,237.^[1] In 1838 the Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Ohio County, Kentucky granted part of its congregation leave to constitute an independent body, known as Salem, in the Big Bend of the Green River. Although isolated— separated by seven miles of treacherous roads northwest of the county seat of Morgantown, which itself contained fewer than 500 citizens in 1850—the Big Bend was the site of a busy wharf (Borah's Landing) and boasted several ferries. The people had easy contact with the outside world via steamboats on the Green River.

Salem's congregants first met in a log house, but in 1849 they constructed a more commodious structure which accommodated their meetings and a school. The school building is now used for church and community functions, including the Big Bend Rural Development Club. In 1857, the congregation began construction on a new building that was to be used strictly as a church facility. It was completed in 1860. The congregation met on October 1, 1856 and resolved to constitute a Sunday School by electing pro tem officers who would conduct a meeting later in the month to officially organize the school.^[2]

On January 4, 1905, the church purchased the three fourths of an acre from R.L. Render on the south side of the road, where the current church building now stands. It was dedicated in 1915. Minutes include an offer from Monticello Baptist Church in Provo, Kentucky for the use of their church during the construction of Salem. Over the years, new classrooms, a basement, and many other improvements have been made.^[3]

100 years later the church broke ground on a new space for ministry. This additional space was completed in the summer of 2016. This new building is adjacent to the sanctuary. Its use is for fellowship meals, bible school, children and adult Sunday School classes, weddings, community use, and youth gatherings.

Partnerships and Associations

Salem Baptist Church freely affiliates and partners with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Gasper River Association of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Kentucky, and other local churches, ministries, and organizations. We support ministries and missionaries through the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Pastors

Pastors by Year

Year	Pastor	Notes
1838	Joshua Render	The church met in homes for a while, until the Salem school was built. The United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ as Salem joined the Gasper River Association in 1839.
1839	Joshua Render
1840	Joshua Render
1841	Joshua Render
1842	Joshua Render
1843	No pastor.
1844	William Childers
1845	James F. Austin	The church was meeting in a small, old log house.
1846	James F. Austin
1847	James F. Austin
1848	James F. Austin
1849	James F. Austin
1850	James F. Austin
1851	James F. Austin
1852	James F. Austin
1853	James F. Austin
1854	Alfred Taylor
1855	No pastor.
1856	No pastor.
1857	James S. Coleman
1858	J.M. Peay
1859	Alfred Taylor
1860	Alfred Taylor
1861	Alfred Taylor
1862	Alfred Taylor
1863	Alfred Taylor
1864	James F. Austin
1865	James F. Austin
1866	J.F. James
1867	J.F. James
1868	James S. Taylor
1869	B.T. Mayhugh
1870	B.T. Mayhugh
1871	B.T. Mayhugh
1872	B.T. Mayhugh
1873	B.T. Mayhugh
1874	R. Jenkins
1875	R. Jenkins
1876	B.T. Mayhugh
1877	B.T. Mayhugh
1878	B.T. Mayhugh
1879	B.T. Mayhugh
1880	J.P. Taylor
1881	J.P. Taylor
1882	B.T. Mayhugh
1883	B.T. Mayhugh
1884	B.T. Mayhugh
1885	B.W. Neal
1886	B.T. Mayhugh
1887	B.T. Mayhugh
1888	G.W. Pendley
1889	J.N. Jarnigan
1890	J.N. Jarnigan
1891	J.N. Jarnigan
1892	J.N. Jarnigan
1893	J.N. Jarnigan
1894	J.N. Jarnigan
1895	M.M. Hampton
1896	J.B. Rogers
1897	J.N. Jarnigan
1898	J.N. Jarnigan
1899	J.N. Jarnigan
1900	E.D. Maddox
1901	A.B. Gardner
1902	A.B. Gardner
1903	A.B. Gardner
1904	A.B. Gardner
1905	A.B. Gardner
1906	A.B. Gardner
1907	J.E. Bruce
1908	J.E. Bruce
1909	A.B. Gardner
1910	A.B. Gardner
1911	J.W. Wade
1912	J.W. Wade
1913	J.W. Wade
1914	T.T. Moore	Moore pastored 5 churches in 1914. Salem's WMU organized in 1914.
1915	T.T. Moore
1916	T.T. Moore
1917	T.T. Moore
1918	A.B. Gardner
1919	R.B. Neel
1920	L.B. Whitaker
1921	Whitaker/Browning
1922	S.P. Browning
1923	S.P. Browning
1924	Jesse B. Hill
1925	Jesse B. Hill
1926	Z. Ferrel
1927	Z. Ferrel
1928	W.W. Payne
1929	T.T. Moore
1930	T.T. Moore
1931	T.T. Moore
1932	John W.T. Givens
1933	John W.T. Givens
1934	John W.T. Givens
1935	John W.T. Givens
1936	John W.T. Givens
1937	John W.T. Givens
1938	John W.T. Givens
1939	T.G. Shelton
1940	T.G. Shelton
1941	T.G. Shelton
1942	C.L. Hardcastle
1943	C.L. Hardcastle
1944	C.L. Hardcastle
1945	C.L. Hardcastle
1946	Thomas Pope
1947	Fred Wood
1948	Fred Wood
1949	Albert Bolling/Glen Britt
1950	William H. Rogers
1951	William H. Rogers
1952	No pastor.
1953	Thomas E. Lawhorn
1954	R.B. Hooks
1955	R.B. Hooks
1956	Richard Stiltner
1957	Richard Stiltner
1958	Richard Stiltner
1959	Ralph Romans
1960	Ralph Romans
1961	Ralph Romans
1962	Ralph Romans
1963	Ralph Romans
1964	Romans/Hederick
1965	John C. Hederick
1966	John C. Hederick
1967	John C. Hederick
1968	Hederick/Cardwell	Hederick to February, Cardwell from November
1969	James Cardwell
1970	James Cardwell
1971	James Cardwell
1972	James Cardwell
1973	James Cardwell
1974	James Cardwell
1975	James Cardwell
1976	James Cardwell
1977	Danny Saunders
1978	Danny Saunders
1979	Kenneth Harris
1980	Kenneth Harris
1981	Kenneth Harris
1982	David Coleman
1983	David Coleman
1984	David Coleman
1985	Coleman/Phelps	Coleman to May, Phelps from September
1986	Charles (Pete) Phelps
1987	Phelps/Smith	Phelps to May, Smith from October
1988	Bruce Smith
1989	Bruce Smith
1990	Bruce Smith
1991	Bruce Smith
1992	Bruce Smith
1993	Bruce Smith
1994	Murl Gray
1995	Murl Gray
1996	Murl Gray
1997	Murl Gray
1998	Murl Gray
1999	Jim Gifford
2000	Jim Gifford
2001	Jim Gifford
2002	Jim Gifford
2003	Jim Gifford
2004	Jim Gifford
2005	Jim Gifford
2006	Darrell Dockery
2007	Darrell Dockery
2008	Darrell Dockery
2009	Darrell Dockery
2010	Darrell Dockery
2011	Derek A. Cain	Pastor Derek Cain became the pastor on October 9, 2011.
2012	Derek A. Cain
2013	Derek A. Cain
2014	Derek A. Cain
2015	Derek A. Cain
2016	Derek A. Cain
2017	Derek A. Cain
2018	Derek A. Cain
2019	Derek A. Cain

Biographies of Pastors

Joshua Render

Joshua Render was a brother to George Render who was an early member of Beaver Dam church. George was ordained to the ministry in 1813. George was highly esteemed for consistent piety, rather than for any superior ability. Joshua was also a longtime member of Beaver Dam church. He was like his brothers, a very moderate preacher. He represented Beaver Dam church in the Association for 15 years. He was pastor of Salem from its constitution, in 1838, until 1842. The time of his death has not be ascertained.^[4]

Alfred Taylor

Alfred Taylor often preached in private houses in the community before the constitution of the church. He first became pastor of the church in 1854 and returned in 1859 and served until 1863.^[5] Previously he was pastor of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church and served there 2 years.^[6]

Rev. William H. (Bill) Rogers

Rogers was married to Martha Louise McPherson on January 15, 1944, and in September 1944 enlisted in the US Army, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant and serving with the Occupation forces in Japan. After working in home construction for several years, he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1949 and resumed his college education. While studying at Western Kentucky College, he was pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Logansport KY, then in 1954 moved to Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green KY as its founding pastor. In 1961 he became pastor at Melbourne Heights Baptist Church in Louisville KY and completed his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 1964. He joined the Kentucky Baptist Convention staff in 1971 and served as Director of Interracial Relations, Director of the Minister/Church Support Division, and post-retirement as Pastoral Consultant on the Leadership Development Team. He also served as an interim pastor for many churches and on the staff at Cedar Creek Baptist Church. Rogers, 95 died peacefully on Tuesday, December 25th, 2018. He lived a long, full life as a father, pastor, mentor and friend to many.^[7]

Rev. Derek A. Cain

Rev. Derek A. Cain is the current pastor of Salem. He became the pastor at Salem on October 9, 2011. Cain is from Pulaski County, Kentucky. He graduated from Berea College in 2005 with a B.A. in Education. He attained his M.Div. from the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky in Georgetown, KY in 2015. He was ordained to the work of the gospel by the authority and order of the Berea Baptist Church, Berea, KY on July 15, 2012. Along with pastoring Salem Baptist Church, Cain began working as the Chaplain and Director of Spirituality at Morgantown Care and Rehabilitation Center in Morgantown, KY in January 2014.

Other Data

Clerks, Association Messengers, and Other Data, 1838-1988^[8]^[9]
Year	Clerks	Association Messengers	Total Members
1839	G.M. Borah	G.M. Borah, Theophilus Petty	24
1840	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Lee Borah, Theophilus Petty	23
1841	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Theophilus Petty, V. Borah	19
1842	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Theophilus Petty	26
1843	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Theophilus Petty, V. Borah, L. Borah	24
1844	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Theophilus Petty	25
1845	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Theophilus Petty, G.M. Borah, Noah Borah	24
1846	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	Theophilius Petty, G.M. Borah	20
1847	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	B. Clark, Theophilius Petty, J.F. Austin	35
1848	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	No messengers.	44
1849	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	B. Clark, L. Borah, J.F. Austin	43
1850	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, J. Borah, B. Clark	44
1851	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, B. Clark	40
1852	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, B. Clark, G.M. Borah	39
1853	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, Bl. Clark, N. Borah	64
1854	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Rogers	64
1855	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, J.M. Hampton	64
1856	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Hampton	61
1857	G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render	J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Hampton	59
1858	T.M. James	J.F. Austin, T.M. James, W. Wade	54

Citations

↑ The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Kleber, John E., 1941-, Wymer, Scott A., Kmetz, Thomas P., University Press of Kentucky., Morehead State University. Camden-Carroll Library., Morehead State University. Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. 1992. p. 49. ISBN 9780813159010. OCLC 900344833.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
↑ "Minutes of the Salem Sabbath School, 1856-1859 (SC 350)". Ms. Manuscripts & Folklife Archives.
↑ "Salem Baptist Church". Records of the Gasper River Association of Baptists.
↑ Spencer, John H. (1885). A History of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 1800 Biographical Sketches, Volume 2. Library Reprints, Incorporated. ISBN 9780722249253.
↑ Taylor, William Carey Sr. (1878). Biography of Elder Alfred Taylor. Louisville, KY: Caperton and Cates. (Revision and Reprint Wendell Homes Rone, Sr., 1983)
↑ Masters, Frank Mariro (1953). A History of Baptists in Kentucky. Kentucky Baptist Historical Society; First Edition. pp. 102–3.
↑ "Obituaries: William H. 'Bill' Rogers". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
↑ Welborn, Frank (1876). "Gasper River Associational Record".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
↑ "Salem Baptist Church". Gasper River Association Records.

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[1] The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Kleber, John E., 1941-, Wymer, Scott A., Kmetz, Thomas P., University Press of Kentucky., Morehead State University. Camden-Carroll Library., Morehead State University. Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. 1992. p. 49. ISBN 9780813159010. OCLC 900344833.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

[2] "Minutes of the Salem Sabbath School, 1856-1859 (SC 350)". Ms. Manuscripts & Folklife Archives.

[3] "Salem Baptist Church". Records of the Gasper River Association of Baptists.

[4] Spencer, John H. (1885). A History of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 1800 Biographical Sketches, Volume 2. Library Reprints, Incorporated. ISBN 9780722249253.

[5] Taylor, William Carey Sr. (1878). Biography of Elder Alfred Taylor. Louisville, KY: Caperton and Cates. (Revision and Reprint Wendell Homes Rone, Sr., 1983)

[6] Masters, Frank Mariro (1953). A History of Baptists in Kentucky. Kentucky Baptist Historical Society; First Edition. pp. 102–3.

[7] "Obituaries: William H. 'Bill' Rogers". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 16, 2019.

[8] Welborn, Frank (1876). "Gasper River Associational Record".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[9] "Salem Baptist Church". Gasper River Association Records.

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