Celebrating Twenty Years of Ministry

On September 12, 1999 the church celebrated Dr. Robert Whitmire’s twentieth anniversary of the beginning of his ministry. The image to the left is the cover of a brochure and Order of Service (image is futher down in the post) that was handed out at the service. Pictured with “Dr. Bob” are his wife, Roxann, and their two sons, Rob and Ryan.

The brochure also included a timeline of Dr. Bob’s service with First Baptist of Lithia Springs. The timeline is presented below.

Twenty Years of Dedicated Ministry

1979-Bob and Roxann begin their ministry at First Baptist. Joan Mercer begins as Pastor’s Secretary.

1980-Guy Wilson begins as Minister of Music; Record Sunday School attendance (582) in October, Church letter reports 45 for baptism, 70 by letter, and 1348 church members and $256,573 in offerings.

1981-Jay Vineyard serves as Summer Intern; Crowded sanctuary prompts plans for a new sanctuary. Church letter reports 19 for baptism, 64 by letter, 1381 church members and $278,772 in offerings.

1982-Deacon Family Ministry begins; Record Sunday School attendance (638) in April; Christian Aid Center established. Church letter reports 59 for baptism, 48 by letter, 1424 church members and $330,832 in offerings.

1983-Together We Build receives commitments of $505,000 towards a new sanctuary; Record Sunday School attendance (734) in March; Calvin Quinn serves as Summer Intern; Teresa Barnes begins as general office help; Liz Dinning comes as Financial Secretary; Mike Sinyard comes as Associate Pastor/Education in November. Church letter reports 46 for baptism, 47 by letter, 1450 church members and $410,925 in offerings.

1984-Record Sunday School attendance (751) in April; Morgan Green serves as Summer Intern; Steeple raising on new sanctuary in December. Church letter reports 41 for baptism, 51 by letter, 1485 church members, and $538,799 in offerings.

1985-First Masterlife group begins; Pastor travels to Holy Land; Calvin Quinn serves as Summer Intern; Buildings named in honor of former pastors J. Arnold Patterson and Marion H. Beaver; Betty Spencer begins as CDC (Child Development Center) Director; Building Together in Love receives commitments of $1.2 million. Church letter reports 28 for baptism, 51 by letter, 1487 church members, and $655,002 in offerings.

1986-Church Vocation Scholarship Fund established; Ron King comes as Associate Pastor/Youth in February; Dedication of New Sanctuary in April; The Jewell Room is named for Jewell Patterson, first pastor’s wife; Record Sunday School attendance (762) in March. Church letter reports 39 for baptism, 84 by letter, 1551 church members and $812,723 in offerings.

1987-Chuck Frazier begins as Associate Pastor/Singles in June; Lorene McLeroy begins as Church Receptionist. Church letter reports 44 for baptism, 94 by letter, 1639 church members and $783,052 in offerings.

1988-Marion Beaver returns as Associate Pastor/Senior Adults in January; The Godfrey-Rice Music Suite is named for Lurene Godfrey and Eunice Rice; Mission team to Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Keeping the Dream Alive begins where Building Together in Love ends; Renovation of the Patterson Building begins. Church letter reports 54 for baptism, 81 by letter, 1719 church members, and $793,646 in offerings.

1989-Keith Chandler comes as Associate Pastor/Music in February; James Lee comes as Associate Pastor/Singles in February; Record Sunday School attendance (834) on March 19; Mission ’89 team goes to Trenton, Ohio. Church letter reports 45 for baptism, 84 by letter, 1803 church members and $711,438 in offerings.

1990-Opening of New Life Building in March; Mission ’90 team goes to Greensboro, North Carolina; Chestnut Log mission constituted; Adult choir presents Dinner Theater. Church letter reports 36 for baptism, 76 by letter, 1880 church members, and $782,259 in offerings.

1991-Mission ’91 team goes to Mad River Township, Ohio; Our church hosts a Commissioning Service for US-2missionaries; First Pumkin Patch Jam on October 31; Ron King moves from Associate Pastor/Youth to Associate Pastor/Singles. Church letter reports 41 for baptism, 80 by letter, 1893 church members and $835,780 in offerings.

1992-Louis Codone begins as Associate Pastor/Youth, Music Reunion Day in February; Mission ’92 crew to Dadeville, Alabama; Ray Woolridge is called as Mission Pastor. Church letter reports 39 baptisms, 62 by letter, 1943 church members and $845,354 in offerings.

1993-Marion Beaver Day in May; Mission ’93 team to Cullman, Alabama; Dr. Marion and Jerry go to Holy Land; Crossroads’ first worship service in September; Church letter reports 59 baptisms, 75 by letter, 2017 church members and $854,576 in offerings.

1994-Mission ’94 to Waldorf, Maryland; First Camp Meeting Days in August; Crossroads enters into a new building and renovations project; Billy Graham Crusade in October; Buddy Lamb is called as Associate Pastor/Youth in January; Bob Greene is called as Associate Pastor/Singles in January. Deenie Cook begins as staff secretary. Church letter reports 31 baptisms, 61 by letter, 2054 church members and $912,048 in offerings.

1995-Record Sunday School attendance (843) in January; Building Committee recommends that we enlist Cargill Associates to lead a capital stewardship program called Vision 2000; Mission ’95 to Iowa; Youth Mission Trip to Germany; Kay Lynn Estes serves as Summer Intern; Commitments to Vision 2000 exceed $1.1. million. Church letter reports 48 baptisms, 75 by letter, 2139 church members and $1,050,092 in offerings.

1996-Ken Johnson begins ministry as Associate Pastor/Singles in February; 50th Anniversary Celebration in March; Mission ’96 to Georgetown, Indiana; Rhonda Yarbrough serves as summer intern; Dorie Jones begins as Youth Minister in June; Miracle Day – countdown to pay off indebtedness begins in September and successfully concludes in November. Church letter reports 36 baptisms, 68 by letter, 2197 church members, and $1,340,268 in offerings.

1997-Groundbreaking for Activities Center; Record Sunday School attendance (919) in March; Mission ’97 to Beaufort, South Carolina; Robin Smart begins as Children’s Minister in February. Church letter reports 34 baptisms, 59 by letter, 2227 church members and $1,370,415 in offerings.

1998-First Wild Game Dinner in February; Mission ’98 to two churches in Colorado; Distinguished Ministry Recognition of Irene Leavell – Sr. Adult day; Betty Spencer retires as CDC Director; Acteens to National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky; First churchwide ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ in August; Journeymen Grace Robinette and Jennifer Whatley are commissioned for mission service in December; Sherri Bartlett comes as CDC Director in December. Church letter reports 39 baptisms, 22 by letter, 2254 church members, and $1,624,946 in offerings.

1999-Forward by Faith campaign, led by Dr. Bob Whitmire, results in commitments of $1,944,287.44; Activities Center Dedication Day in April, Marion Beaver Drive is dedicated; Mission ’99 to Las Cruces, New Mexico; Sean Durity begins as Associate Pastor/Students in August. Church letter reports 43 baptisms, 40 by letter, 2292 church members, and $1,697,821 in offerings.