Leaders involved in the ministry of White Oak Baptist Church’s “Access Campus) are, from left, John Trewhella, associate pastor at White Oak; Timothy Li, pastor of the Chinese Christian Church of Chattanooga; Tony Wilson, pastor of White Oak Baptist Church, Chattanooga; and Dennis Culbreth director of missions, Hamilton County Baptist Association.
CHATTANOOGA — When the membership of Chamberlain Memorial Baptist Church in Chattanooga began to decline, the 30 or so remaining members contacted White Oak Baptist Church and pastor Tony Wilson eight years ago about a possible merger between the two congregations.
Wilson was well acquainted with Chamberlain Memorial, having served as their youth minister nearly 30 years earlier.
“I loved the people there and God worked in a sweet way,” Wilson recalled.
Wilson took the proposal to the leadership at White Oak and after much prayer and consideration, the two churches merged with Chamberlain Memorial giving its buildings and property to White Oak to use as a satellite campus, now known as the Access Campus of White Oak Baptist Church.
White Oak has continued to provide services at the campus. For about two years, Wilson preached at both locations. Today, associate pastor John Trewhella and lay pastor Erick Swallows handle the preaching at the satellite campus.
Wilson, who has been pastor of White Oak for 15 years, noted that when considering taking on the additional campus, “we prayed that God would help us steward it well.”
God has answered that prayer. Instead of the campus sitting empty during the week, it is used basically every day of the week.
A few years ago, after Hamilton County Baptist Association sold its building, the church offered to allow the association to move its offices to the former Chamberlain Memorial campus.
Dennis Culbreth, director of missions for HCBA, said that White Oak provides the space to the association as a ministry. The association does not pay rent but helps with utilities.
Culbreth said their relationship with White Oak is a good model for other associations. “Many associations work on lean budgets,” he noted. White Oak’s generosity “has helped us to not be building poor, but enables us to use those funds for ministry.”
The arrangement has allowed HCBA to be better stewards of the funds they have, the DOM affirmed.
In addition, White Oak also has allowed the Chinese Christian Church to use its facilities at the satellite campus rent free, Culbreth said.
The Chinese Church, led by pastor Timothy Li, is very evangelical and is reaching out to the community, he added.
He noted that the Chinese Christian Church is grateful to White Oak. “They do some work on the building and help keep it clean and nice,” Culbreth said. White Oak’s generosity has been “ a blessing” for both the church and association.”
Wilson said the feeling is mutual. “It’s been a wonderful journey and a blessing to be able to provide our facilities to other ministries,” he said. B&R