TBC CHURCH SUPPORT CENTER GROUNDBREAKING

April 27, 2016

Baptists from across the state gathered April 23, 2016 for the official groundbreaking of the new Church Support Center that will serve as the offices of the Executive Board Ministries of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. More than 270 people attended the event that included dozens of children who participated in the ceremony and represented the “Next Generation” of Tennessee Baptists. The following series of photos are a sampling of the day’s event.

The groundbreaking at the Berry Farms location was a historic event. It has been nearly 50 years since Tennessee Baptists have broken ground on such a project as the new Church Support Center.
More than 275 people attended the groundbreaking for the Church Support Center.
Randy C. Davis, executive director/treasurer of the Executive Board, reminded those gathered that the Church Support Center is to be a location from where Tennessee Baptists and Tennessee Baptist churches will be served.
Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist, Kingsport, and current president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, addressed those gathered for the groundbreaking, sharing that he was excited about what "God was going to do in the future" through Tennessee Baptists.
Tim Bearden, director of Linden Valley Conference Center, pours soil from one of the bags gathered from across the state. More than 175 bags containing Tennessee soil were collected to represent Tennessee Baptist churches and associations, and served as a symbol that the future Church Support Center is intended to serve all Tennesseans.
Steve Holt of the Executive Board Ministries hangs bags as they arrive. The bags contained soil gathered from opposite ends of the state and everywhere in between.
Some of the Executive Boards longest-tenured employees take a turn "breaking ground" during the ceremony. There were several "waves" of ground breakers, including the newest employees and children under 16, representing the next generation of Tennessee Baptists.
Dr. James Porch, former executive director/treasurer of the Executive Board, shared a few words of encouragement. The journey to sell the former property and relocate began as an idea under Porch's tenure and he expressed how delighted he was to see that dream become a reality.
Churches sent their bags of soil to mix with others from across the state. Some, like this bag brought from FBC Tullahoma by Andy Stallings, minister of education/administration. were decorated by children in the church.
Dr. Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver, president of Union University (Jackson), deposits soil from the campus to mix with soil brought from churches across the state.
It wasn't just a great day for a formal ground breaking. It was also a great for kids to play in the dirt prior to the ceremony.
More than 175 bags of soil from churches and associations from across Tennessee were sent or brought to mix together. The mixing of the soil represented that the new Church Support Center belongs to all Tennessee Baptists.
Church Support Center Groundbreaking, Berry Farms, April 23, 2016.