David Bridges shows judges a mock-up of what his proposed shuttle would look like once outfitted with the Battlefield Outdoors and Walker Rocks logos. (Staff photo by Myron Madden)Ooltewah Baptist Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary with three days of festivities planned for Sept. 28-30.
The celebration begins with a co-ed golf outing, which is open to the public, at Waterville Golf Course in Cleveland, Tennessee, Friday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The $50 fee includes golf, cart and lunch.
On Saturday, Sept. 29, the church is hosting a free block party on its property from 2-6 p.m. The celebration includes a "Vision of the Decades" antique car show, games and fun for the kids, free food and live music from Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band and the Scott Brown Band.
Everyone is invited to attend OBC's 150th Anniversary Homecoming Service Sunday, Sept. 30 from 10:30 a. m. to noon. A special service will commemorate the church's history and honor those who played a role in its legacy. Former pastors, staff and local dignitaries are being invited to join the celebration, and music will feature hymns from the church's beginning up through the modern day.
Following the service, a meal will be served in the adjoining Burl McMillan Activity Center to allow guests time to mingle and reconnect.
The church is located at 5514 Main St. in Ooltewah, For more information, call 238-4831 or visit ooltewahbaptist.org. Those interested in attending the golf outing must reserve a spot by contacting Scott Harrington at Harrington.scott13@gmail.com or 865-583-9309.
Church History
Shortly after the Civil War, in 1868, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was re-established as Ooltewah Baptist Church. It originally shared the Cumberland Presbyterian Church building, located on the corner of Ocoee and Main streets in Ooltewah, along with the Methodists and the Presbyterians, each church meeting on different Sundays. In 1882, construction began for Ooltewah Baptist's first church building at the corner of Main and Church streets, across the street from its current location. The church completed the building in 1886, and membership was recorded to grow from 32 to 81 members.
Ooltewah Baptist Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a weekend of special events.By the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the church's membership grew to 157 members. Ooltewah Baptist's church building underwent numerous additions, property acquisitions and reconstructions over the years. One significant change occurred on a Sunday night in 1961, when the church burned to the ground. It was believed that the baptistery was being drained and the heating element had not been turned off, causing the unit to overheat and start the fire.
The deacons met that night and immediately went to work. The church never skipped a service, with members meeting the following Sunday in an educational building across the street using a borrowed organ and piano, pulpit and hymnals. The building committee went into action and blueprints were drawn for a new sanctuary, which was dedicated on July 15, 1962. It's still in use today, along with additions and upgrades.
Ooltewah Baptist's average attendance is now between 230-250 people each week, said church administrator Eddie Ingle. The church gained a new pastor, Jeremy Colloms, several months ago, and is currently working on a strategic plan for the next two years, he said. Part of that plan is to become more involved with the community, Ingle said.