Our Church History

• Earl Martin, a young Lynchburg College graduate and seminarian at Garrett School of Theology, became the first minister
• August 7, at 11:00 A.M. –Thirty –one persons attended and heard the first sermon at the Timberlake Tavern
• The first sermon was entitled “The Good News”
• August 14 – Sunday School and MYF began
• September – Earl Martin returns to school, Richard Martin (no relation) became the minister
• October 4 – fifty-eight persons officially joined the church

• Morgan Smart became the minister
• Mr. & Mrs. Hughes gave the site on which the church presently stands
• October 31, Ground-breaking took place
• Timberlake Scouting program began

• Reverend Smart married Miss Nancy Perkins – who became the first minister’s wife of Timberlake
• Easter Sunday – April 10, was observed in the new Sanctuary

• Dr. and Mrs. Basil Truscott became the first pastor family to occupy the “new” parsonage.

• The TMC congregation outgrew the facility, the building was expanded.
• Dr. and Mrs. Truscott retire

• Rev. George Wesley Jones, his wife Rachael, and children, Carolyn & David came to Timberlake.
• The first joint religious holiday church service was celebrated in the community.

• Dr. and Mrs. J. Melvin Trower helped Timberlake to celebrate its 10^th anniversary

• Dr. C. A. Turner, III and his wife Ann became the first family to occupy the parsonage that is located just west of the church.
• The MYF grew under the leadership and motivation of the Turners.

• Rev. & Mrs. C. Douglas Pillow came to Timberlake with their children, Dona and Ricky.
• Growth of the congregation inspired expansion of the facility

• Ground was broken for a new addition

• Building program was completed – 3 classrooms, a new fellowship hall, and two lavatories.
• Members of TUMC prayed, planned, and executed a “do it yourself” project of enlarging the sanctuary.

• The TUMC Early Learning Center was established

• The Rev. Paul C. Bailey, his wife Rosalie, and their children, Beth and Cathy became the ministering family.
• The church grew to its largest membership up to that time

• The Rev. Jim Ward, his wife Donna, and their children Mike & Angela, came to Timberlake in October
• The church’s outreach in mission gained support under his leadership.

• The Rev. John and Jane LeGualt, Evan and Anna came to Timberlake
• The church’s first full time youth director was added to the staff.
• Renovation to the church was continued and the grounds were fully landscaped

• The Rev. Jim and Judy Tongue,  Sarah, Elizabeth, and James came to Timberlake
• Through the church’s Vision 2000, the church expanded in evangelism, worship, education, under the theme of “Reach, Relate, Equip, Send.”
• The land adjoining the eastern boundary was purchased
• Building a church – one brick at a time- The family life center and the new children’s wing were built.

• Larry E. Davies and his wife Mell came to Timberlake.
• Lawyers Missionary Baptist Church held services at TUMC after their building was destroyed by a tornado
• The $10 challenge helped Timberlake rebuild Lawyers Missionary Baptist Church
• Membership and attendance grows steadily
• Staff grows to include – visitation minister, international minister, adult coordinator, family ministries coordinator, youth coordinator, children’s coordinator, office coordinator, business coordinator, volunteer coordinator, director of music, two organists, many nursery workers, and early learning center staff.
• International Bible Fellowship becomes a part of Timberlake – offering two services
• A new sanctuary, seating 600 is dedicated
• A third morning service is added, a fourth (evening) service is added
• Sunday night youth and children attendance approaches 200
• Mission projects reach to Sri Lanka, Russia, Jamaica, Mozambique, and our own Hurricane Relief projects
• Nurture Night dinner and programs are implemented
• Breakfast Café provides coffee and fellowship between Sunday morning services