Tennessee history

Tennessee

The assembly at Grace Gospel Chapel in Memphis began in 1934 at the corner of Trigg and Azalea Streets, started by two itinerant preachers, one of whom was a Mr. Curry. The other may have been Dr. W.A. Jetter, who was listed as a contact in 1936. In 1951, Grace Gospel Chapel moved to 1591 Peabody; in 1958, the Christians sold that property and rented space at 10 S. Second Street. In 1961, the assembly moved to its present location at 3680 Rhodes. Active in leadership have been A.W. Worley, Fred G. Chambers, Lee Tallent, Bob Chambers, Mike Blake, Russ Horn, Chris McCoy, Frank Buck, Louis Sides, Eddie Schwartz, and Gordon Humphreys. Grace Gospel Chapel has commended several to the Lord’s work. About 55 adults and youngsters are in the assembly.

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The Nashville Gospel Chapel has its origins in tent ministries. In 1951, John Phelan and Harold Greene, with the help of William MacDonald, secured a tent, erected it on what seemed a desirable lot, and preached the gospel with little apparent success. But when they moved later in the summer to a less desirable location at 55th and Louisiana, they saw souls saved. With a group of young believers now, and little money, they decided to put a floor in the tent, erect temporary walls, and use it as a meeting place through the winter, amidst many hardships.

In the spring, the Lord arranged for them to purchase this lot and they constructed a simple shelter, consisting of one large room and no facilities. Phil Clarkson preached the first message in the new building. In 1955, and again in 1964, they added to the building. Each week they passed out 500 handbills in the neighborhood. Early in the work, Hal Greene left his secular employment and went full time in the assembly. Ruth Graether moved to Nashville in those days and was of great help in music and Sunday school teaching. Jack and Pat Linscott also moved to Nashville and became active in the assembly. Jack later had a major involvement in the beginning of Mid-South Bible Conference.

In 1964, Hal Greene moved to Cape Girardeau, MO to help establish a new work there. About that time, John Phelan left his secular employment and devoted his full time to the work of the Lord, including the Gospel Chapel in Nashville. Many people have given themselves to the work of the growing assembly, including John Everding, who for nine active years, before the Lord took him home at the age of 36, had special meetings for the children, and donated two buses for this ministry.

In 1957, the Lord burdened Harold Earthman to see a Bible Conference in Middle Tennessee, and the Nashville Gospel Chapel has maintained active involvement with this ongoing annual Mid-South Bible Conference. In 1975, Horton Haven Christian Camp at Chapel Hill, south of Nashville, was established through the efforts of John Phelan, David King, and others. The Mid-South Bible Conference now has its home there.

In 1979, the Nashville Gospel Chapel relocated to six acres at Old Hickory and Sonya Drive. An existing house was renovated and enlarged to a seating capacity of 200.

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In the early 1970s, George and Amanda Martin began a Bible study in the home of Phil and Delcie Moore in the Donelson area on the east side of Nashville. After a period, Dave and Teresa King were asked to help with a study on Friday evenings. In 1976, with the encouragement of the elders at the Nashville Gospel Chapel, four families began meeting on Sundays at the Lions Club in Donelson.

In early 1978, a house and two acres were purchased at 2209 Whipple Place in Donelson for the meetings of the assembly the Christian Believers Fellowship. In 1990, after much prayer and growth, an addition was made to the house, which then could seat over 100 persons.

The assembly has commended three couples to the Lord’s work to the Wycliff Bible Translators in Mexico and to Horton Haven Christian Camp in Tennessee. Christian Believers Fellowship has six elders who take the active leadership in expository Bible teaching ministry. The believers reach out into the community with an Awana program.

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T.B. Gilbert set up a tent for Gospel meetings in Murfreesboro in the 1950s. This was followed by Bible studies in the Earthman home. The College Heights Chapel in Murfreesboro developed from that in 1955, meeting initially in a rented building one block from the current location at 1601 E. Main Street. Mr. Gilbert, with Harold H. Earthman, Ben M. Earthman, Oscar Johns, and Neslie Underwood, were those who initiated the assembly. Christians from the Bible Chapel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and the Gospel Chapel in Shelbyville, TN were helpful to the new assembly.

The men mentioned, plus Dan Decker, Tom Naylor, Ben Wallace, Frank Couch, and Jack Weatherford, have been the leaders of College Heights Chapel, which has commended several to the Lord’s work in the states and abroad. About 250 adults and youngsters attend the assembly.

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Cumberland Bible Chapel in Tracy City, in southern Tennessee, began in 1971. Everett Pickett, who had grown up in the area, had worked in New Jersey and became acquainted with the assemblies while there. When he and his wife moved back to Tracy City, he encountered a barber, James Sargent, who asked Mr. Pickett, after some conversation, if he might be with the ‘brethren.’ This led to their families Breaking Bread together in each other’s homes.

This continued for about three years, during which time others joined them, including the families of John Stadt and Chris Roberts. In 1974, they purchased, restored, and moved into a building three miles east of nearby Monteagle, at which time they took their present name. Laurence McClung helped in this phase of the assembly. Additions have since been made to the building. Leaders have been those mentioned above, with Alvin Pickett and Dan Sargent. About 50 adults and youngsters attend the assembly.

Sources

• Questionnaire Responses
• The Gospel Chapel, 40th Anniversary Celebration, by John Phelan, 1991