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Sometimes, when I am alone, I think of all the influences, both good and bad, which have made me who I am. I grew up in a family which believed in stern moral principles and, by most standards, adhered to a code of strict personal discipline. Almost all of my ancestors were devout Christians, especially my parents and my grandparents. Neither rich nor famous, they were individuals to be proud of because of their deep commitment to what they believed in. Their very lives exemplified the sort of Christian walk that Christ asked us to lead. Indeed, most of them were Biblical scholars in their own right. They sought what was just in all their dealings with one another. They sought truth and avoided sin. Although they valued being right with God, they were never vain about their service of him; humility was their most respectable virtue. They were slow to take offense yet quick to forgive. Perhaps the most significant thing that our generation of Christians could learn from the past is that our forebears seemingly were more capable of dealing with problems than we are today.
My maternal grandparents were but two of the founding members of New Clover Creek. Throughout the years I knew them, I never heard either of them speak a harsh word. For that matter, I cannot recall either of them becoming angry, yet their personal discipline, and the discipline they taught their children, reflected deep respect for others. They understood the concept of respect. I certainly never knew of either of them to lie or cheat. Full of fun and horseplay, they knew how to enjoy life without resorting to sin. In any event, our founders knew what God expected of them as His loyal servants.
Their influence has crept down through the generations. Several of their descendants are now deacons, Sunday School teachers, and officers in our church. All of them attend church regularly. Being one of the grandchildren, I ask myself whether our generation's devotion to God was as strongly founded as our grandparents. I ask myself other questions: Do we share a similar devotion to Christ? Are we as committed as they were? Are we a fulfillment of their dreams, or a disappointment to them?
While I have more knowledge about the Miller family, the contributions of the Taul, Brickey, and Morton families to the young church cannot be overstated. Most remarkable among the Tauls is their willingness to serve when called upon. Literally dozens of them have served in various church offices, including everything from moderator or clerk to Sunday School teacher and church janitor. The grand patriarch and matriarch of the Taul family, of course, were Homer and Myrtle Taul. Their very lives exemplified profound commitment.
The Mortons and Brickeys, though less familiar to me personally, also had their strongholds at New Clover Creek. Most of them have now moved their memberships elsewhere or have died with the passage of time. Parrish Morton, a carpenter who helped reassemble New Clover Creek at the present location, served as deacon for several years.
My earliest recollection of New Clover Creek Baptist Church comes from a time when I was no more than two years old, about 1964. I remember being in the small church before services started. Someone in the back of the sanctuary wanted to hold me, so I was passed over the varnished pews several times until I reached my grandfather, Hubert "Pap" Miller. Over the last thirty-one years, my parents have insisted that my brother and I regularly attend worship. Strangely enough, the simple exposure to those who are morally just has kept me from a great deal of trouble. In fact, the things that were sometimes great temptations to my peers were of no concern to me. While I am certainly far from being a perfect person, I think it significant that, at least, I have a heartfelt desire, instilled within me by generations of righteous men and women, to do no wrong, to truly love others, to seek that which is just, and to avoid sin.
It seems to come as a surprise to many that I would have subtitled this book, Founded on Failure, Built on Faith, but it is noteworthy that New Clover Creek Baptist Church was actually founded as the result of the failure of two other Baptist Churches in our community. An historian must understand that it took the failure of old Clover Creek Baptist Church, as well as the failure of Cave Spring Baptist Church, to inspire members of our community to bring about the fellowship of Jesus Christ which we now call New Clover Creek. The failure of Cave Spring brought the building to its present site; the failure of old Clover Creek brought membership to New Clover Creek.
Records prove that Clover Creek Baptist Church, or "old Clover Creek," as we now call it, had one of the largest memberships of any church in the Goshen Association. Those who attended old Clover Creek recall that it was once a dynamic mission for Jesus Christ. When it finally closed its doors, its membership scattered across the countryside to various other churches, mostly to Corinth.
So very little else can be learned about old Clover Creek Baptist Church. The church was founded early in the nineteenth century and thrived. Several charter members at New Clover Creek were actually baptized at old Clover Creek. One record shows that the Breckinridge Baptist Association's annual meeting was held at Clover Creek on September 7, 8, and 9, 1910. The minutes reflect that the members of old Clover Creek practiced church discipline. Frequently, members were summoned before the church body to answer charges such as dancing, drinking, and uttering profanity.
The church began experiencing problems early in the twentieth century, for one entry in the minutes notes a motion and second was made to call a meeting to determine whether she would disband, but there was no mention of any action taken at the next meeting held August 2, 1919. On September 6, 1919, Hazel Hawkins Miller was elected organist. The last entry in the minute book was that of February 12, 1921, but several of the last pages in the minute book were torn out. Why they are missing remains a mystery.
According to Scott Smart the end of old Clover Creek resulted from the onslaught of the Great Depression. For many years, the Hendrick and Miller families of Clover Creek were the best of friends. Several members of both families married members from the other family, and they even named their children after one another, e.g. "Miller Hendrick" and "Hendrick Miller." The membership of old Clover Creek was primarily Hendricks and Millers.
However, Cleave Hendrick was a teller at the Farmers Bank in Hardinsburg. The stock market crashed October 29, 1929, thus marking the beginning of the Great Depression. Cleave Hendrick knew that the Farmers Bank would have to close as a result. Although he forewarned his own family as well as the treasurer of old Clover Creek, he refused to discuss the impending danger with the Miller family. Consequently, when the Farmers Bank closed in January of 1932, the Hendricks were able to save their money, but the Millers lost theirs. Several of the Miller family were furious with the Hendricks, and old Clover Creek, caught in the middle, was forced to close its doors. Ironically, the Farmers Bank reopened in 1934, and all of the customers' money was eventually returned.
Scott Smart says that he was present when the ministers of some local churches were disingenuously pleased at the fact that Clover Creek had dissolved, apparently because the other churches obtained new members after the dissolution. The three he named were Garden Craig Sandusky (who served from 1920 to 1959 at Cloverport); H. A. Aklin (who served from 1924 to 1926 at Hardinsburg); and Harve S. English (who served at Hites Run from 1930 to 1938 and at Corinth from 1924 to 1936). Scott Smart states he heard one of them say, "Clover Creek Church will get back together." He then heard Bro. English say, "Let's sell Clover Creek and tear it down." The three ministers then "conspired" to ensure that old Clover Creek would never be resurrected, so they took steps to have the church property and building sold. What was once known as old Clover Creek Baptist Church would never hold services again.
Less is known about Cave Spring Baptist Church. It stood in the Tar Fork community of Breckinridge County. Though once it had an active membership, for some reason, it began to fade away until its building became vacant.
The members of both churches held revivals, celebrated picnics and homecomings. They regularly attended services, witnessed to the unchurched members of the community, conducted baptisms, and won others to Christ.
Eventually, both churches died, and their ministries came to a gallant halt, yet the failure of both churches contributed to the establishment of New Clover Creek. For this reason, those who think that failure is something new to New Clover Creek should study the history of New Clover Creek.
One summer night in 1934, less than five years after the Great Depression began, Bro. William Varble was visiting the home of William and Margaret Taul, when he leaned over a chair arm and spoke to Bill Taul, "You all need a church up there."
So began the glorious history of New Clover Creek Baptist Church.
The first service of New Clover Creek was held on November 14, 1934, at Taul's Schoolhouse. According to the minute book, there were eighteen individuals present, although two had not been baptized.
Shortly afterward, discussions were had about obtaining a building. Several members were aware that Cave Spring Church, located in the Tar Fork community, had disbanded. Members of New Clover Creek spoke with the few surviving members of Cave Spring, which brought about permission to move the Cave Spring Church to the Clover Creek community.
Charter member Homer Taul asked two brothers, Frank and Walter Patterson, to donate one acre of land for New Clover Creek Church. Agreeing, the two brothers retained a reversionary interest in the property in the event the church discontinued.
Once the acre was secured, the Cave Spring church building was dismantled, and the boards were carefully marked and numbered for reassembly at the new site. A wagon team of mules hauled the dismantled building from Tar Fork to its present site.
The new building, however, needed a new roof. Homer Taul discussed this matter with the owners of Conrad & Payne, a Cloverport hardware store. It being in the midst of the Great Depression, the owners were dubious of the young church's ability to repay. Homer Taul learned that they would not sell the roofing to the new church on credit, but that they would sell the roofing if Homer became personally responsible for the debt.
The cost of the roof amounted to $3.50 per square. A "square" was equivalent to ten square feet. Scott Smart was one of several folks who donated $3.50 to purchase one square of roof.
The new sanctuary was dedicated June 30, 1935. The tiny church consisted of four walls, six windows, and a door. It had no electric wiring, no air conditioning, no restrooms, and only a coal stove to maintain heat. Yet the great ceiling within the church and the simple wooden floor inspired its members and visitors alike.
The young church survived with only a few members. Although Bro. Varble was pastor, worship services were conducted only once each month, and Bro. Varble served as pastor at at least three other churches most of the time. The members at New Clover Creek could afford to pay him a mere $150 per year. Most of the gains made from baptisms were offset by the losses of members to other churches, so the church membership really did not grow very much. He made certain that the church observed an annual revival in September.
As the Great Depression was nearing its end, on December 7, 1940, the Japanese Imperial Air Force bombed American ships stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The result was that the United States was plunged into World War II. The small church of New Clover Creek was forced to send several of her young men into battle. Although there is no exhaustive list, some of the members who served their country were Robert Brickey, Sherman Taul, John N. Taul, Carl Miller, Bob Miller, and Maurice O'Connell. Sadly, among the number, Maurice O'Connell, died at the hands of the Nazis on August 27, 1944, while serving his country in Normandy, France. During the war, families at New Clover Creek, like all Americans, were forced to ration such commodities as gasoline, tires, and sugar, in order to support the war effort. As the war neared its end, on May 20, 1944, Bro. Varble's salary was finally increased, but only to $200 per year.
With the conclusion of World War II in the summer of 1945, the soldiers returned home, and the small church continued to survive. John N. Taul married Irene Keenan. Sherman Taul married Margaret Ann DeJarnette. In the Miller family, Bob Miller married Mabel Mingus on August 1, 1945, and Carl Miller married Imogene Fentress on September 16, 1948. Several children were born to the returning soldiers, and this gave rise to what was known as the "baby boom."
Although the 1950's brought prosperity to the nation, the young church still had trouble surviving. The church was wired for electricity in late February and early March of 1950, at a cost of only $15. Bro. Varble's salary was finally increased on November 26, 1950, to $1,300 per year. However, Bro. Varble felt the need to go elsewhere, and he resigned his eighteen-year pastorate at New Clover Creek in January of 1952.
The church then set out to find a new pastor. A young seminary student from the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Gordo, Alabama, named James Leon Elmore took on the job, but he was not a full-time pastor. He pastored Bewleyville Baptist Church at the same time, and he never became a member at New Clover Creek. He was called April 16, 1952. He was a popular pastor with progressive ideas. For example, as early as October of 1953, he recommended that the church use an "envelope system" to keep better account of the offerings, a policy which the church later abolished. Few problems occurred during his pastorate. The church added the first addition to the sanctuary; three Sunday School rooms and a small basement were placed at the south side of the building and dedicated June 27, 1954. Bro. Elmore resigned October 9, 1954, and his last Sunday was October 10, 1954. He removed to the First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa.
Bro. Henry Walton Grady, also a seminary student, was elected pastor in May of 1955. During his pastorate, some conflict arose. Bro. Grady had a rather demanding style. At his insistence, the church purchased a new piano, although several members felt it was too expensive. The controversy which ensued caused some of the members to leave New Clover Creek, either permanently or temporarily. This was probably the first major crisis at New Clover Creek. Bro. Grady resigned shortly afterward on February 5, 1956, effective immediately.
On February 19, 1956, the church called another seminary student, Bro. Kenneth Wilson. His wife took over playing the piano while the impending conflicts began to subside. Although no particular problems arose, he resigned only seven months later in September, 1956.
Then in September, 1956, the church called Bro. Kenneth Stibbins, another seminary student from Van Buren Baptist Church, in Louisville. Bro. Stibbins resigned April 13, 1958, effective May 4, 1958.
Perhaps the first hint at physical growth came when several members were sent as a pulpit committee to Bewleyville Baptist Church, where they listened to Bro. Ross Covered Jones, Sr. He was called May 10, 1958, and he was the first pastor to actually live on the field. Bro. Jones had two mischievous boys, Ross, Jr. "Kicker" and Walter "Skipper." The church grew during his tenure, and his boys enjoyed the fun and games of the Tauls and the Millers. He resigned August 12, 1961, having served only three years as pastor, and his last Sunday was August 20, 1961
On September 12, 1961, New Clover Creek called Bro. Ocie Colley from the Clear Spring Baptist Church in Clear Spring, Indiana. Though a good pastor, he remained only about a year and then resigned September 8, 1962. His last Sunday was Sunday, September 30, 1962, at the conclusion of the revival.
On November 19, 1962, the church called Bro. Joseph Francis Wheatley, a converted Catholic. Bro. Wheatley was a well-liked, fundamentalist preacher with little formal theological training. Bro. Wheatley helped spearhead the building of the vestibule, a small foyer-type room at the entrance of the church which was completed about February of 1964, at a cost of about $600. On October 9, 1965, he declined church's annual call, due to a previous injury which was causing him problems, but his last Sunday was November 14, 1965. Even after his resignation, Bro. Wheatley was a friend to New Clover Creek, and, in fact, returned his membership here in the 1970's.
After Bro. Wheatley resigned, on January 8, 1966, the church called Bro. Bill Almond, another seminary student. Bro. Almond had a rough time as pastor because he was not a resident in the field. He drove to Hardinsburg every Sunday morning, delivered the message, and then went home with some church member for lunch. He would stay at the member's house all afternoon, sometimes adding final touches to the evening sermon. He would then return to church for the evening service, and afterward, he would drive back to Louisville. After two and a half years, he resigned in May of 1968.
Bro. Ray Hartley was called as pastor on July 14, 1968. Bro. Hartley had the identical plight that his predecessor, Bro. Almond had endured, because he had to drive back and forth to Louisville for each Sunday service. His last Sunday, September 14, 1969, was the last time he preached. Although he was a devoted Christian, Bro. Hartley decided to leave the ministry after he left New Clover Creek.
Bro. Paul Minton was an announcer who worked at WHIC Radio in Hardinsburg, from the day it began broadcasting on July 6, 1968. He was called from Mt. Campbellsville Baptist Church in Campbellsville, Kentucky, on October 5, 1969. New Clover Creek ordained him on August 7, 1970. Bro. Minton was known for his willingness to tackle challenges. He resigned effective October 25, 1970,
Some of the most significant periods of physical growth occurred during the pastorate of Bro. Robert E. Hughes, who was called January 20, 1971, from McGrady Creek Baptist Church, in Grayson County. Bro. Hughes had strong-held beliefs that were at times inflexible, yet he was a devout Christian. A man with a loving, caring heart, he was not hesitant to express emotion. Bro. Hughes had a terrific voice, and he could bellow out songs without reserve; he could sing baritone, tenor, and bass. Several young members returned to Breckinridge County during this time, and the church membership grew a great deal. During his pastorate, two Sunday School rooms and a pastor's study were added to the west side of the sanctuary. Construction began about November of 1973. A controversy of sorts arose in 1974, when the church began to revise its constitution. Bro. Hughes did not like the "annual call," as he felt that a man called of God to preach the gospel should be called as God led, and that an annual call limited God's will to only once each year. When all was said and done, the church elected to retain the annual call, but Bro. Hughes elected to pastor elsewhere. The annual call continued to be the subject of controversy until the adoption of the new constitution and bylaws in July of 1986.
While the church was without a pastor, Bro. Joe Wheatley was elected interim pastor from July 7, 1974, through August, 1974.
Bro. Dennie Calhoun, a native of Arkansas who was the father of four boys, was elected pastor on September 1, 1974. Bro. Calhoun was a theological fundamentalist, though he had attended classes at the seminary. During his pastorate, Mr. Egbert donated a house for the church to use as a parsonage. That building was moved, in its entirety, by a moving crew in November of 1975 Bro. Calhoun resigned February 6, 1977, effective February 26, 1977.
The church, on March 27, 1977, then elected Bro. Leon Eskridge, a native of Breckinridge County. Only a few years earlier, Bro. Eskridge had suffered a debilitating injury. While sitting on a tractor and operating a mowing machine, he accidentally kicked the gear shift, causing the tractor to lunge forward. Unable to get clear of the mower, it ran over the top of him, severing his right arm near the elbow and his right leg near the knee. The experience led him to become a minister. Bro. Eskridge lived in the parsonage and also taught school. During his tenure, the church music program began to blossom. Linda Shultz, the church pianist, developed her potentials to an extraordinary degree. The church began having music programs of exceptional quality, attracting the attention of several other churches and inspiring new members. The growth in membership spawned yet another addition to the church sanctuary. Two more Sunday School rooms were added to the east side, but construction was underway when Bro. Eskridge resigned on March 5, 1978, effective June 1, 1978.
Bro. Robert Brown Setzer, Jr., a twenty-one-year-old, brilliant seminary student was elected pastor on May 7, 1978. He and his wife, Mary Ruth "Bambi" Setzer, had been members of a song group while in college, and the two of them sang together marvelously. The church music program exploded. His first Sunday was June 4, 1978. A theological moderate, most church members were refreshed by his intellectual approach to scripture. New Clover Creek ordained him minister of the gospel on November 26, 1978. He resigned December 7, 1980. His last Sunday was December 21, 1980, which was the Christmas Program.
On February 1, 1981, the church called Bro. David Matthews, another seminary student, from deep, Southern Georgia. Bro. Matthews had a terrific Georgia accent. Having grown up in the rural South, he fit in with the congregation amazingly well. One of the first interactions with church members was that of frog gigging in some of the community ponds. His pronounced humility and tender heart made him one of the most loved of New Clover Creek's pastors. During his tenure, partly through his witness, some very active new church members were added to the membership rolls. Among them were David and Sherry Payne, Bob and Regina Purcell, Billy and Betty Harper, and Dr. Dan and Carol Walker, Patty Jackson, and Cheryl Edge Taul. Much to the regret of the congregation, he resigned April 18, 1984, after three years of service, in order to pastor the First Baptist Church of Tallapoosa, Georgia.
Undoubtedly, the most significant physical growth of New Clover Creek occurred during the leadership of Dr. Paul Moore, who was called June 3, 1984, and his first Sunday, was June 24, 1984. At the time he was called, he was enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Southern Baptist Seminary. He earned his degree while at New Clover Creek, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation entitled, Using Guilt Constructively. Mrs. Moore was a speech pathologist. The two of them contributed a great deal of money to the church treasury. With an excellent education, he was a capable speaker with innovative ideas and thought-provoking messages. It was during his tenure that the church adopted its new constitution and bylaws in July, 1986. The church budget soared to an astounding figure of over $50,000 per year. During his pastorate, the church added the new Fellowship Hall, several Sunday School rooms and a dining hall in the basement. Quickly afterward, the church then expanded its sanctuary, doubling its size to its present capacity, adding a baptistry, the balcony, new light fixtures, a new belfry, and other rooms. Although it took awhile to accomplish, the church began and ended construction of the new parsonage under Dr. Moore's leadership. However, he and his wife stayed in the new parsonage for a few nights, for he resigned in November, 1989, to pastor the Grace Baptist Church, in Toccoa, Georgia.
After Dr. Moore left New Clover Creek, the church seemed to have trouble recovering. The past four years, from 1990 to 1994, have been marked by struggles and conflicts of various kinds.
Most church members were impressed with the capabilities of their former pastor who had earned a doctorate. Consequently, when Dr. William Cecil "W. C." Campbell was elected pastor on February 10, 1990, many were quite enthused. His first service was held in March, 1990. Dr. Campbell's pastorate was short-lived, however. His temperament was unpredictable, and, among other things, his experience in churches so much larger than New Clover Creek seemed to render him unable to adjust, and he resigned effective July 29, 1990.
Bro. Steve Boyd was called from Hempridge Baptist Church, in Waddy, Kentucky, and his first Sunday was October 21, 1990. Bro. Boyd began as a very energetic pastor, a trait which sometimes overwhelmed his church members. He aspired to improve the church youth program and visited the unchurched. He later concluded his ministry had stagnated, so he resigned January 12, 1992. His last Sunday was January 26, 1992.
The church remained without a pastor for several months, and Bro. Truman E. Johnson, former pastor of the Cloverport Baptist Church, served as interim pastor from February 2, 1992 until October 4, 1992.
On September 6, 1992, the church elected Bro. Patrick Wren, whose first Sunday was October 11, 1992. He was a capable speaker. During his tenure, in October, 1993, Bro. Scott Reed was elected as the first minister of youth. Bro. Wren resigned February 6, 1994, and his last service was February 27, 1994.
Our current pastor is Dr. J. Dean Peterson, who was elected May 1, 1994. His first Sunday as pastor was June 5, 1994. Dr. Peterson, a former chaplain from the U.S. Navy, retired with the rank of captain. He supervised the Navy's chaplains in the Orient. In addition, he has a background in psychotherapy and has done extensive counseling during his years of military service. He brings with him several years of experience in the ministry, as well as an excellent education. His dignity, combined with his maturity, will no doubt be of benefit to New Clover Creek. Having been at New Clover Creek only a short time, there can be no doubt that he is a very capable pastor. His abilities should serve as an admonition to those who are perpetually dissatisfied, for no other pastor could be more mature or more experienced.