December 9, 2024
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Broadway Baptist Church in Gainesville was established in 1964. It was one of ten new churches planted in the Chattahoochee Baptist Association in the years following WWII. The church later changed its name to Trinity Baptist. In early 2021, the church voted to disband and sell its property. The question of what to do with proceeds from the sale is one that other churches who have disbanded have faced. In the case of Trinity Baptist, members chose to make those resources available to other existing churches with a focus on strengthening and renewal.
Working with the leadership of the Association, the CBA Strengthening Churches Foundation was established. By allowing their resources to be used in this manner, the work and legacy of Trinity Baptist lives on. Other churches in the past have taken a similar approach including the Atlanta Baptist Tabernacle. Among other ministries, a grant from their foundation helped establish Eagles Landing Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga.
This is the second foundation established by the Chattahoochee Baptist Association. In 2007, a New Work Foundation was established. To date, $700,000 has been granted to help establish 23 new church plants in the Association. The new foundation followed the same basic organizational structure as the previous one.
Each of these foundations is overseen by a board that is elected by the Association. The purpose of the grants from the new foundation is to strengthen churches. Mission Strategist Jojo Thomas said the grants are “for projects that promote growth and are not passive in nature. The preference is for grants to be made to small and medium-sized churches.” Typically, money will not be granted for debt payments, maintenance, or general repairs. The funds are to be used to reach people. The grant proposals must include a specific plan spelling out how the grant will help them “grow and move forward.”
The first grant of $32,000.00 was awarded to Oak Grove Baptist Church in Gainesville at the annual fall meeting of the association. Oak Grove was established in 1885. It reached its peak numerically in the early 1970s when it baptized over 50 in 1972. In the years since, the community has been in transition and the church graciously bore with its previous pastor who experienced major health issues before having to take an early retirement.
As a part of a Transitional Interim Process, the church chose to revert to a part-time status, maintaining part-time pastor, music, and youth ministers. Tommy Hunt began serving the church as senior pastor in November 2020. He is also employed by the Hall County Government with one of his primary responsibilities being grant writing.
Hunt said that since his arrival the church has primarily focused on internal issues. He said, “The grant will help us turn the corner from an inward focus to an outward focus.” This includes support for their NexGen Ministry and related space issues.
Hunt said they had already planned to move in this direction, but “the funds will help them expedite the process.” He also said some people might be hesitant to apply for a grant due to pride, thinking “the Lord will provide.” He continued, “He (the Lord) may provide by someone writing a grant proposal!” Furthermore, he said, “I appreciate them considering us, and I appreciate them giving us the opportunity, and I appreciate them believing in us and supporting us!”
Thomas said because of delays in finalizing the sale of the property there was two hundred thousand dollars available to grant this fall. But he said he didn’t think most churches really believed it would be available. Only Oak Grove submitted a grant proposal by the deadline. He said, a part of the grant process “should help churches begin to think evangelistically and not just focus on maintenance.”
The goal is to make grants twice a year in conjunction with the fall and spring meetings of the association. Churches, like Oak Grove, may not receive all that they request with a single grant proposal, but they are free to apply again in the future. There are various channels through which the funds can be invested, including the Georgia Baptist Foundation. In the end, Hunt said, “It's great that the legacy of Trinity can continue through this ministry.”
