Great Trees from Little Acorns Grow: A History of Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, Tennessee 1927-2022

By John Orndorff

Humble beginnings and perseverance describe the history of Grace Baptist Church. Church history is valuable. Think of Peter; bold, prone to error, yet never giving up, and faithful in his calling. He is a pillar of the Church. Without the history of the Gospels and Acts, we would know none of this. Bible history teaches us the application of faith to equip us in our walk with God. The fascinating aspect of this is that the history of God’s mighty acts continues to this very day, and this includes Grace Baptist Church. The beginning of our Church is inspirational. Pastor Floyd Carroll, the founder, and the pastor was the very image of godliness and self-sacrificing love. Not only did he look after the spiritual needs of the newly formed congregation, but he also worked with his own hands to build the physical structure. He shepherded the Church through the great depression and the second world war. Because of his initiative, many young soldiers went to war confident of their salvation. The same was true of Elmer Mason, a model pulpiteer, administrator, and shepherd, who surrendered to the Lord’s call after much spiritual struggle. Pastor Mason took over the Church at its lowest point to rebuild it as a spiritual body and to complete the physical structure. Though we recognize people for these achievements, we must never lose sight of the fact that it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to achieve. To God be the glory!

The following pages are a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness in our Church. Our hope is that it will be an encouragement to you. God has raised up pastors and missionaries in our Church. He has stirred His people to respond to significant needs. Moreover, the Lord has taken care of every need and because He was faithful in the past, we know He will continue to be faithful in the days ahead. This is a history of real people connecting real faith with real life. As you read the history of our Church, may it inspire you to greater involvement in the Kingdom of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Orndorff
• Release date: Oct 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005661571

John Orndorff

John C. (Chris) Orndorff is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He began his military career serving four years during the Vietnam era as a Navy Hospital Corpsman working in neuro-psychiatry. In the Air Force he served in a number of positions ranging from administrative officer, commander, special agent academic instructor and acquisition officer. As a faculty member at Air Command and Staff College he was broadly published in the military community, and taught futurist techniques. Chris has also done future related research for the Air Force and emergency planners. He has consulted for industry and worked with the US State Department providing antiterrorism support for US Embassies in over 30 countries. Based on his antiterrorism experience, he has designed and presented training on techniques to prevent high school violence. Chris is now retired after teaching Air Force Junior ROTC for twelve years. He and his wife Debi have been married 40 years and have three children and five grandchildren. His website is http://johncorndorff.com. His books are: Prince Michael and the Dragon Prince John's Quest Princess Mary and the Prophet How Have the Mighty Fallen Terrorists, Tornados and Tsunamis: How to Prepare for Life's Danger Zones The Gilgamesh Epic Watching for the future The Enduring Art of War: A Paraphrase and Commentary on Sun Tzu From the Mouths of Babes: Growing Closer to God Through Children

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Great Trees From Little Acorns Grow:

A History of Grace Baptist Church,

Springfield, Tennessee

1927-2022

John C. Chris Orndorff

Great Trees From Little Acorns Grow:

A History of Grace Baptist Church,

Springfield, Tennessee

1927-2022

Published by Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Copyright 2022, by John Christian Orndorff

Sketch of the Church by Louise Osborne.

The book title, Great Trees From Little Acorns Grow, is a quote used by Pastor F.T. Carroll found in the historic sketch in the 1933 Grace Baptist Church directory. Apparently, it comes from an ancient proverb of different variations that in the nineteenth century was phrased, Great oaks from little acorns grow.

Dedication

To

Brother Bob Carroll

Thank you for your faithfulness.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Lost History

Chapter 1, In the Beginning

Chapter 2, Evangelistic Spirit

Chapter 3, Change

Chapter 4, For A Time Such As This

Chapter 5, Testing

Chapter 6, Growth

Chapter 7, Faithfulness

Chapter 8, The Steadfast Church

Chapter 9, Fighting The Good Fight

Chapter 10, Something New

Chapter 11, The New Millennium

Chapter 12, Arise And Anoint Him

Chapter 13, More Than Sunday Go To Meeting

Chapter 14, This Is The Way

Notes

About the Author

Foreword

Historiography, the writing of history, is a telling of the factual story about a given time in past days. Good historians write in such a way that the reader understands the facts and hopefully understands the storyline. Great writers of history, however, write in such a way that you believe that you are living the story yourself. This is how I found myself while reading Great Trees from Little Acorns Grow. The author, my dear friend and Christian Brother Chris Orndorff, is a great writer of history. Chris leads his readers to wonder if we are simply reading the history of Grace Baptist Church or if we should really call it the history of revival at Grace Baptist Church. He takes us inside the hearts of the men and women who founded and sustained this magnificent church and shares with us the evangelical spirit that drove this church along. Likewise, we could call this the history of the great men of God and their wives who pastored Grace Baptist Church. It was they, who led by the Spirit of God, did the most important work in the world, the work of propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sharing it with generation after generation of residents of Robertson County, Tennessee so that it could be said, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth in Springfield, Tennessee as it is in Heaven. While this work is history writ large, this story of the Gospel being preached to the four corners of the earth is the ongoing story of Grace Baptist Church.

Great Trees from Little Acorns Grow is one of the best researched books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Chris Orndorff has spent hours upon hours sifting the written artifacts of Robertson County, Tennessee to find these wonderful details of events, that in some cases happened nearly a hundred years ago. Chris is also a master interviewer and has brought to this work the personal testimonies of people who have lived a large portion of this almost century of Gospel work. Further, Chris has intertwined the events of world history into the story in appropriate chronological sequence so that one can see that most of the time Grace Baptist Church was thriving spiritually, the rest of the world was in darkness.

For anyone who loves the Church of Jesus Christ, this book will rivet your attention to a story about how the Lord expects His Church to live in the World. One need not look any further to see that the story of Grace Baptist Church is HIStory.

Dr. Jim Parker

Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Archaeology

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Lost History

William Shakespeare wrote, There is a history in all men’s lives.¹ The truth of this observation is profound. However, as Solomon wrote, There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.² Our concern for the here and now prevents us from realizing the legacies that are ours to cherish, and the contributions of those who went before us. While our focus on the present and future is important, the past is just as vital. Consider that the history presented in the Bible provides us with a reliable roadmap for navigating the current age. From it we know how the saints of old lived and how they pleased God. Trying to please the Lord without it would be futile. As the prophet Hosea wrote, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:³ In the case of New Testament, the Book of Acts presents the dynamics of the early Church and serves as a model for us. Nevertheless, Acts is merely the beginning of the Church, and the movement of the Holy Spirit in God’s people. What began 2,000 years ago continues to the present age. This includes Grace Baptist Church.

The following pages are an attempt to present the formation and growth of our fellowship. For 95 years faithful saints from Grace Baptist Church have served our community, and indeed the globe, in the name of the Lord, and have made a difference. As you will see, the world, national, and local cultures have changed since June 1927, but the mission remains the same, to teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:⁴ This work is, essentially, an overview of Grace Baptist’s work to fulfill the Great Commission. The missing part of this history, however, would comprise many volumes. Thousands of lives have been changed and each life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. I sincerely wish I could include at least a small snippet of each life changed in this account. While lost to us at this time, every one of these is a book in itself that will be revealed when we stand before the Lord’s glorious throne.

Writing this history has blessed me in ways I could not have imagined. For one, I feel a tremendous kinship with Brother Bob Carroll because of all I have learned about his grandfather F.T. Carroll-a mighty man of God. Finding and sharing with Brother Bob accounts of Pastor Floyd Carroll that were new, even to him, was like finding a goldmine. Words cannot express my appreciation for his encouragement and the valuable information he provided to get this story started. I’m especially grateful to Brother Steve Freeman, our pastor, for granting me the opportunity to dive into the founding and growth of our Church. When he first mentioned this project to me it was clearly at the direction of the Holy Spirit. I have never doubted it. His recollections and insights were a window into the heart of a man of God. A very special thanks goes to my friend, Dr. Jim Parker who so graciously wrote the foreword and meticulously edited this work. I sincerely hope he will return to minister in our Church. I have been astounded by Brother Caleb Lewis’ attention to detail in his own review of the Church’s history. Brother Caleb, you, and Dr. Parker made a big difference in the finished product! If any errors remain, they are my fault entirely. While every member of the Church has contributed to this project, I must say I am deeply indebted to Mrs. Helon Bridges whose memory of the Church filled in many gaps. I’m also thankful for the excitement we shared when we learned of mission work that began nearly 30 years ago because of the Women’s Missionary Union, that continues to this day. Mrs. Marian Bibb, daughter of Pastor Elmer Mason, provided invaluable information and personal recollections that made completion of this project possible. David Bolton, son of Pastor John Bolton, was a tremendous help in adding his personal experiences to the history. Otis Swallows has been a special blessing to me as he has provided personal recollections and been a great encouragement. Thank you, Brother Odis! Abby Pratt was also a huge help in getting me started on this project, directing me to resources that were of great use. I have pestered several people in the last year seeking information. Don Osborne has been a great help and I’m very grateful for the beautiful sketch of our Church his mother Louise drew which is in the center of the acorn on the book’s cover. Others have been Alan Pratt, Charley and Melanie Strickland, and Brother Jim Lassiter. Another source I have relied on is Bill Jones, who is something of a Robertson County historian. Kevin Ragland and Janet Palmore of the Robertson County Museum were also helpful in getting started. The majority of this history would not have been possible without the help of the Robertson County Archives. This is where many of the hidden gems were discovered. The director, Jailyn Grogan, Tonia Allen, Gracie Pitt, and Jonathan Fann patiently provided invaluable assistance as I spent countless hours poring over local papers. The history that might have been lost was safely tucked away there. If I have overlooked anyone, please forgive me. Finally, and first among all of the above is my family. My wife Debi patiently waited for me as I neglected other things to pursue the next lead. Moreover, she was a constant encouragement, proofing my work and praising what I had found. My daughter, Mary Allen, and grandchildren, J.J., and Ella Allen also took second place many times. Thank you for your patience.

My prayer is that the results of this undertaking will be a blessing to you the reader and in some way encourage and stimulate you to greater involvement in the kingdom of God. Keep in mind also that this history is not complete, for you will write the next chapter with your life.

Chapter One

In the Beginning

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:" Psalm 127:1

There is a context for every event and to the establishment of all organizations. Writing to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul described the coming of our Lord as being in the fullness of time.⁵ The establishment of the Second Baptist Church, later to be named Grace Baptist Church was no different. There was a need and the Lord raised up the right people to act at the right time to fulfill what was lacking in Springfield and Robertson County. This is a remarkable story and a clear example of what the Lord will achieve through those who love and trust in Him.

The 1920’s in the United States was a time of boundless optimism and a sense of overcoming. The First World War, the war to end all wars, officially ended June 28, 1919, with the Versailles Treaty. The United States’ part in the conflict had been a key reason for the Allied victory and therefore cause for tremendous national pride. This was a time of inventiveness and adventure, from the mass production of automobiles, telephones, films, radio, and electrical appliances for everyday use, to Charles Lindberg’s historic solo transatlantic flight. Along with increased production and enrichment, there was a marked emphasis on entertainment with jazz music and dancing gaining widespread popularity. Though Tennessee itself was a dry state, and national prohibition was in effect, the use of alcohol still flourished due to the efforts of moonshiners. Moreover, the advent of moving pictures made the 1920’s a remarkable period of social change. Prosperity and good times seemed to be the watchwords during this period of United States history contributing to the name, the Roaring Twenties. The spirit of the age was making its mark on Robertson County as well.

Like the rest of the United States, this was a time of great prosperity in Robertson County. Tobacco was king and brought in significant revenue for the area as did the woolen mill on North Main Street. In terms of culture, Springfield and the surrounding county were enjoying some of the benefits of the age. For example, the Princess movie theater on Main Street brought the rest of the country and the world a little closer to Robertson County. Though there were some moonshiners in the area, the county itself remained relatively conservative.⁶ Still, especially in the best of times the need for Gospel preaching remained and there was a widespread hunger for it.

In the book of Esther, following her selection as queen, when the Jews were threatened Mordecai appealed to her for help saying, "and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"⁷ This was the case in the efforts to found a new Baptist Church on May 4, 1927. Grace Church had its birth out of conviction and prayer of Brother [Pastor] L. S. Ewton and some consecrated members of the Springfield Baptist Church.⁸ Apparently there was concern for the spiritual wellbeing of residents in the southern portion of Springfield, South Main, but the members of Springfield Baptist did not want these people in their Church.⁹ Pastor Ewton had tried to establish a Second Baptist Church two or three times before without success, but did not give up praying for the building of a new and separate congregation. Like the Lord telling King David he was not the person to build the temple, there are times when God says no to one and appoints another unique person to fulfill His will.¹⁰ In this case, Pastor Ewton must have realized he was not the man.

While traveling to a Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in the Spring of 1927, he shared his concern with Pastor Floyd T. Carroll and invited him to conduct a tent revival in South Springfield. The reason Ewton called upon Carroll is because, of Carroll’s impressive record of establishing Churches; two in Evansville Indiana, which was soon after his conversion, and one in New Orleans, while a student in the Baptist Bible Institute.

Pastor Carroll’s life is itself a testament to God’s faithfulness and ability to work mightily through those who surrender to Him. There is a noticeable difference in those who have been with the Lord. As the book of Acts records, when standing before the priests in the temple, they [the priests] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.¹¹ Such was the case with Pastor Carroll. As a young man of 15 or 16 years old, while felling trees with his father, one of the trees fell on him crushing his hip. Brother Bob Carroll recalled of his grandfather that his family did not expect him to live and just placed him on a bed expecting him to die. However, the Lord knew His plans for young Floyd Carroll, and miraculously, he recovered. The only lasting result was that one leg was shorter than the other causing him to require one shoe to be built up higher than the normal shoe and he walked with a limp.¹²

Though Pastor Carroll grew up in Robertson County he began his ministry in Evansville, Indiana. Initially, while there, he was not a believer in the Lord and labored in a railroad shop where they manufactured boilers for steam engines. It was when he was around 30 years old, that his believing wife took him to a cottage prayer meeting, held by a neighbor lady that he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Indeed, the seed of the Gospel fell into fertile soil, for soon after his conversion, he felt the call to preach. Though he could neither read nor write, he pressed forward in this calling, having his wife read the Bible to him so he could prepare his sermons. Those who are called to God’s service will let nothing stand in the way of the Lord’s mission, for while in Evansville, this self-taught evangelist founded two Churches, one of which was Grace Baptist Church!¹³

At the time of Ewton’s request of Brother Carroll to conduct the tent revival, Carroll had lived in Greenbrier for close to one year, pastoring three Churches, Bethel, Oakland and Mt. Carmel. As Pastor Carroll recorded in his historical sketch of Grace Baptist Church, The writer [Carroll] believing this to be a Macedonian call of God, accepted the invitation of the committee and immediately went to work of the field.¹⁴

The first step for Pastor Carroll was to find a suitable location for the tent revival and the new Church. This began as a frustrating endeavor, but as he wrote,

Finally late one evening after the committee and myself had nearly exhausted our efforts to secure a suitable location, I was walking down Batts Boulevard praying and searching for God’s spot on which to erect the tent, and all at once it seemed that I was stopped and turned facing the beautiful lot cornering on Batts Boulevard and Sixteenth Avenue. And God seemed to say, This is where I want My Church built. Well, I did not even know who lived there or who owned the property; so pausing a bit to ask God if it was His spirit speaking, the devil seemed to butt in and say, Now you know whoever owns that beautiful lot would never sell it." But by that time the Lord had well assured me that it was His leading me to go, so in spite of the devil I pushed on and up that beautiful slope to the house and knocked at the door. An aged woman responded and I asked to see the owner of the property. She informed me that he was already in bed; but knowing God was leading me, I asked her to show me to his room and she gladly did so. It proved to be Mr. and Mrs. Lige Pope, who later became staunch friends of the writer [Pastor Carroll] and also of the new Church, and Mrs. Pope is now a member of the Grace Church. After telling