About Us

5270 Marion Road

Cunningham, TN 37052

Phone: 931-387-3879

Fax: 931-387-3848

Email: contactus@gsbaptist.com

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History

Of

Gum Springs Baptist Church

“Connecting People To Christ”

     Gum Springs Baptist Church was founded in 1885. The original location of the church was along Biter Road. There was a spring that flowed from the base of a large black gum tree, which the church received its name. The original church building burnt, and it moved to its present location in 1892.

     Four men of the community, Tom Clark, Jo Batte, John Shelton and John Morrison, purchased the land where the church currently resides along Marion Road, from a gentleman by the name of J.R. Ussery for $10.00.

     Gum Springs was originally apart of the Hudson Association, which was formed in 1849; however, Baptist records have the church being associated with the Judson Association, as early as 1889. The following pastors served at Gum Springs, according to Judson Association historical documents: I.N. Debusk 1889 – 1898, J.B. Mathis 1899, J.M. Givens 1901, A.G. Williams 1904 – 1906, J.B. Mathis 1907, C.N. Hester 1908 – 1909, R.B. Beasley 1910 – 1916, E.H. Greenwell 1917 – 1920, T.W. Luther 1921 – 1927, R.M. Hastings 1928 – 1938, Lloyd Ashby 1939 – 1946, Chester Moore 1947 – 1948, and Fred Dies 1950.

     Gum Springs withdrew from the Judson Association in 1951, and applied for membership of the Cumberland Baptist Association. In 1951, the church had 222 resident members, 36 non-resident members.

     After the church was relocated to its present location, the church remained unchanged until 1940. Pastor Lloyd Ashby led the congregation to tear down the original building and built a new church building by its members. Services during construction were held in a grape harbor until the construction was completed. In 1953, Pastor J.D. Coltharp led the church to build a basement under its existing facility. L.H. Wannamaker served as pastor 1955 – 1956. Norton Burke, who served as pastor from 1958-1960. Pastor Burke and members Robert and Naomi Trotter, Jake and Verble Black, and Calvin and Pearl Hodges left Gum Springs to form its first missionary church. The meetings were held in the old Slayden lodge building with Lawerence Stines as pastor. The missionary church known as Slayden Baptist Church is still present today.

     In 1961, under the leadership of Pastor Mack Brooks, the church constructed its first Sunday School rooms. Pastor Brooks served until 1962. J.L. Bryant served as pastor 1963 – 1964, Clifton Green 1968 – 1974, and under his pastorate, the church added a foyer, bathrooms and additional Sunday School rooms. David Hoffman served as pastor 1975 – 1977. Under his leadership the church built the baptistry, which Pastor Hoffman painted the mural. Delbert Homol served as pastor 1978 – 2000. Under his leadership, the church added the fellowship hall, additional land and the Family Life Center, which was named in his honor, The Delbert Homol Family Life Center, April 21, 2004.

     Monty Flanigan was called as pastor July 23, 2000 as the bi-vocational pastor. Pastor Flanigan served in the United States Army until he retired in January 2004, in which he was subsequently called as full time pastor. Pastor Monty Flanigan served as pastor of Gum Springs Baptist Church until March 5, 2006. He currently serves as the pastor of Liberty Point Baptist Church in Cadiz, Kentucky. He is married to Rhonda, and they have two children; Derek and Kristen.

     On June 10, 2007, Gum Springs Baptist Church called Dr. Jimmy E. Westmoreland, DMin.,ThD to pastor. Dr. Westmoreland earned his Doctorate degrees at Covington Theological Seminary. He was a professor for them and also registrar and professor at Foothills Theological School in Landrum, South Carolina. He is married to Patti and has two children: Joe and Mary Lou.

     On October 27, 2007, Dr. Jimmy Westmoreland passed away. He will always be in our thoughts and we will never forget the impact he had on our lives in the short period of time he served as pastor at Gum Springs Baptist Church.

Dr. James E. Westmoreland (right)

Gum Springs Baptist Church