Twelfth Article in 90 Days of Praise Series

For the past 12 weeks, I have sought with the help of many good people and the historical minutes of this church, to provide you with a factual look at Stones River Baptist from the moment of her inception through today.   I would like to continue in this article to unfold our past so that we might more fully appreciate our present and look more longingly to the future.

On the first Sunday in August of 1988, I began a wonderful, spiritual journey, alongside of what I consider to be some of the most wonderful and precious people in the world, you the dear people of Stones River Baptist Church.   Sara and I came here reluctantly, because our move to Smyrna meant leaving our two sons behind in Alabama.   Sonny, our oldest, was in Birmingham, and Donnie would remain in Huntsville.   Joy, our youngest, wasn't thrilled about leaving her boyfriend and school friends in Fayetteville, TN.   And to be honest, I was experiencing a crisis of belief, myself.   I loved the people of Lincoln Baptist, and felt I was letting them down because they needed a pastor desperately to lead them.

Yet, when God speaks, what you do next proves what you really believe about God.   I knew that God was leading mightily as on that first Sunday night, we received a 100% call to become the under shepherd of this congregation.   I can tell you there has never been a shadow of doubt from that moment to this.   That isn't to say our ministry together has been easy; but it certainly is to say that it has been and is a divinely appointed ministry.

We started with just a handful of faithful members, yet over the past 14 years God has allowed us to reach countless numbers of souls for His glory, and for the increase of His kingdom.

We have shared in the remodel of our sanctuary in 1990, putting down carpet on the tile floors, and pads on the hard pews, plus adding a sound room, and a crying room for parents to sit in to listen and watch the service while caring for their children.   We added a Mother's Day Out program in 1993, two nursing home ministries, one residential care ministry, a ministry to the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center, apartment ministry, prison ministry, a noon day radio program: "Streams of Living Water", a shut-in ministry, tape and video ministry, sr. adult ministry: The Young at Heart, The Gospel Four and The Inner Circle quartets, Outreach evangelism, children's church, puppet ministry, a volunteer orchestra, we hired a paid nrsery worker, a full time secretary, and a full time custodian.   We began a Civil Air Patrol ministry and police ministry, just to name a few of the joys of service God has allowed us to begin and be a part of over these past fourteen years.

One of the things I am proudest of, is that you have allowed me to be pastor not only to this church, but to minister to the community, and even the world at large.   In 1997, you paid my way to serve as a volunteer missionary to Israel, as I went there to share the gospel and to weld the steel frame for a church we were building on the Baptist assembly grounds, just outside of Tel-Aviv.   Just the other day, a woman from another denomination said to me,  "Brother Ross, you're not just a pastor, you're Smyrna's pastor."   And that is a tribute to you as a church, for all I do, I do in His name and the name of Stones River Baptist, the best and most blessed church I've ever had the honor of serving.   To God be the glory for the great things He is doing!
~ Brother Ross ~