Long-Range Planning Committee
Recommendations June 7, 2000

from the First Baptist Church Vertical File, Everett Horn Library, Lexington, Tennessee

History/Background

Beginnings

First Baptist Church of Lexington was established in January, 1842 in the home of Reverend Elisha Collins. Membership consisted of seven persons. The church met in homes for three years until a new facility was built in 1845. Although struggling through the Civil War, the church grew from seven members to seventy-six members shortly after the war. In 1883 the church built its second house of worship on Fielder Street.

A third church building was completed in 1912 during the leadership of pastor Fleetwood Ball. During his pastorate, the church grew to 300 members. After his retirement in 1936, First Baptist was led by two other pastors for the next nine years.

Dr. E. E. Deusner

In 1945 the church called Dr. E. E. Deusner who served until 1977. Under his leadership, fourth and fifth building programs were completed. In 1952, the church moved into a new facility where it is presently located on the corner of Stanford and Main Street. Under Dr. Deusner's leadership a three story educational building was completed in 1973. The Sunday School grew as the church averaged approximately 300 per Sunday in the 1960's and 350 in the 1970's.

Dr. Hoyt Wilson

In 1978, First Baptist Church called Dr. Hoyt Wilson to serve as pastor. He has served from 1978 to the present. During his pastorate the church has grown dramatically. In 1999 the Sunday School averaged 701 and the Sunday School membership bad grown to 1850 members. In addition, two major building projects have been completed and one renovation of the sanctuary.

Long-Range Planning - 1985

In 1985, a long range planning committee was selected. Many of the goals recommended by this committee were adopted by the church and met. Recommendations that were completed included additional educational space, a fellowship hall, a kitchen and office space. In 1999 the building phases were completed with the expansion of the sanctuary. A food closet was also started which serves the needs of the economically disadvantaged. Goals for Sunday School were set at 800 and discipleship training was set at 300 for the year 2000. Although these two goals have not been met, the church has had a good increase in attendance in both of these services.

Long-Range Planning Committee: Year 1999

The long range planning committee was selected in March, 1999 with the purpose of recommending a 10 year long-range plan for First Baptist Church. The committee was divided into two groups: a community survey group and a church survey group At the initial meeting both groups listened to a tape on the sequence of events that should take place during a long-range planning study. The group also discussed the church's mission statement and objectives for the planning committee. At the second meeting it was agreed that the church's mission statement was appropriate at this time and should be used going into the twenty-first century. The mission statement is as follows:

Mission Statement and Objectives

The mission of First Baptist Church is to worship in unity as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, live by the authority of the word of God, seek to make disciples for Jesus, promote fellowship without regard to boundaries, and conduct ourselves with discipline and integrity by the power of the Holy Spirit.

At the third group meeting the objectives of the committee were discussed. It was concluded that the objectives used by the 1985 long-range planning committee were sufficient and should be used by the current committee. These objectives are as follows:

The objectives of the First Baptist Church of Lexington, TN are to be a fellowship of baptized believers in Jesus Christ who are seeking to:

1. Grow mall graces and disciplines of the Christian faith.
2. Evangelize the lost and reconcile uncommitted Christians.
3. Minister to the social and physical needs of persons in our community.
4. To cooperate with other churches of like faith and order in ministery to the world.

Data Collection Procedures

The following methods were used to collect data to help the committee arrive at its recommendations.

1. A church survey of over 230 members and nonmembers ranging in age from 12 up.
2. Statistical data collected from local government agencies.
3. Interviews with church staff members and other church members in leadership positions.
4. Statistical data collected from various sites on the internet.
5. Interviews with other government officials such as town mayor, police chief school administrators, and Natchez Trace park officials.

Lexington and Henderson County's Projected Future

Tennessee is projected to have a 27% increase or 1.4 million people by the year 2025. Tennessee is likely to gain nearly 942 thousand persons through migration during this same period. This growth however will not be evenly distributed throughout the state. The counties surrounding Nashville will have a significant portion of this increase.

Location and Transportation

A number of factors should be considered while attempting to project the future of Lexington. First, Lexington's proximity to Jackson must be considered a positive. With the completion of a new four-lane highway connecting the two cities, access to and from either city will be enhanced. Lexington's access to interstate 40, which is a major east-west corridor, should continue to attract industry to this locality. A By-Pass south of the city should be completed before 2010. The area lakes, recreation, state park, rolling land contour, desirable home sites and rural atmosphere will entice families away from Jackson into Lexington.

School System

Elementary schools are considered favorably by many young families in this area. The high school has a strong curriculum that well prepares students for work or college. While discipline in schools has been a major concern nationwide, this issue is being addressed as evidenced by a 4.1% decrease in high school suspensions over the last three years.

There is a project to build a new high school (grades 9-12) in the Scotts Hill area in the near future. With the exception of some minor expansions at the K-8 schools, this is all the growth that is currently being projected for Lexington and Henderson County Schools.

Crime Rate

The crime rate in Lexington has not changed since 1985. The median age of offenders is 35, with the same type crimes being committed as in 1985.

Town and County Population

The University of Tennessee estimates that the Henderson County population will increase by 23 percent in the next 20 years. Lexington's growth is projected to be 33 percent in 20 years or approximately 5,700 persons. The committee estimates that Lexington's population will grow to approximately 10,000 persons by the year 2010.

Commercial and retail service opportunities can be expected to increase in Lexington as many of the national chain stores seek to increase market share. Jackson has benefited from this market penetration in the past five years with retailers such as Circuit City and Home Depot seeking to expand market share in small cities. This same expansion can be anticipated for Lexington with companies like Sears seeking to establish smaller retail outlets beyond the urban domain.

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities in the manufacturing base currently in Lexington continue to remain strong. These opportunities have created a tight labor market and low employment. Manufacturers are expanding their recruiting efforts into the communities within 30 miles of Lexington in order to fill vacancies. Lexington is ideally located within a days drive of most manufacturing centers in the eastern United States and thus is able to ship product made here and delivered in just-in-time fashion. One uncertainty regarding manufacturers is the tight labor market in this area and the attraction of less expensive labor in south Texas/northern Mexico. With increasing wage pressures, coupled with increasing governmental burdens such as EPA, unemployment insurance, social security taxes, OSHA, and family medical benefits, the minimally regulated region of northern Mexico becomes a very attractive location to many manufacturers.

Aging of Population

An analysis of population projections reveals many interesting trends. Of primary interest, is the aging of the baby boom generation (those born between 1946 and 1964). The general consensus is that the baby boomer is the driving force behind the current economic expansion. It is thought that the influence of the boomers will be as important 20 years from now as it is today. They have shaped every aspect of society, from economics to politics to spirituality. As we look into the future 20 years from now, the boomers are well into retirement. their children have young families and their elderly parents may require personal care.

Within the next 10 years, the church will be challenged to maintain ministry programs integrated with the needs of two very large demographic groups. Special consideration must be given to the fact that as the boomers age, their expected longevity will create a larger senior adult population than at any other time. The children of the boomers will create their own next generation baby boom that will exceed the first boom numerically. Opportunities will exist to provide target ministries for the next generation of Christians. Serving both the senior adult as well as the young family without neglecting the decreasing middle aged groups will be key to a church ministry.

Natchez Trace State Park

There has been an expansion of campground sites and riding trails in the park Visits to Natchez Trace have increased from one million in 1984 to 1.6 million in 1995. New facilities planned for the park include an Olympic size swimming pool and the development of an 18 hole golf course.

Non-Christian Cults

During the next 20 years, non-Christian cults and religions will gain converts rapidly. Immigrants to the United States will foster the spread of Islam and eastern religions. Spiritualism. Christian Science, Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism will gain prominence as young Americans, confronted with a decadent moral society, search the meaning in their lives and as aging boomers confront their own mortality. While the Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses remain dogmatic in their allegiance to a lie, a secular educational system, a perverse entertainment industry, and a value system based upon wealth are undermining the Christian community. Heresy within the church is being pushed as, and embraced as, mainstream Christianity. The Bible Codes, anti-Trinitarian doctrine, the World-Faith movement as well as movements suggesting the restoration of End Time spiritual gifts are gaining acceptance by the poorly equipped Christian as well as the new convert lured by sensationalism rather than substance.

First Baptist Church - Membership Profile

The following church profile was taken from a church survey that was filled out by 231 church members. Some questions were not answered and therefore the data will not always total to 231. Fourteen surveys were filled out by individuals who are not a member of the church. For computational purposes these were included in the frequency tables.

Grade 9-11
Grade 12
Business/trade school
College, 1-3 years
College, 4 years and over
Postgraduate work

Committee Recommendations

Land Acquisition and Equipment

The committee agreed that land acquisition would need to be a priority in the next ten years for the church. Some lots south on Stanford Street have become available and have been recently purchased by the church. It is recommended that the church seriously consider purchasing other land near the church as it becomes available.

It is recommended that the church continue to update equipment to meet the church's needs

Attendance Goals

The committee recommended the following church attendance goals for the year 2010:

Building Recommendations

1. Building A: The Youth Department needs to be renovated if we are to keep reaching youth. This should be done in conjunction with repair of the roofing.
2. Recreational building and additional education space above Building C. The committee recommends that both of these projects be built at the same time if possible. If needs demand that they rebuilt in separate time frames, then it is recommended that the recreational building be built first. However, before building a recreational building, the church must be willing to commit to hiring a full-time Minister of Youth and Recreation. This position will be recommended in the next section on staff needs. The additional education space would most likely require the installment of an elevator.
3. A children's complex should be planned. It could possibly be built across the street on the south side of the church. This construction will also depend on when the property will be available and if the church is willing to commit to purchasing it.

Staffing Needs

1. The church is currently looking for a replacement for the Minister of Education. It is recommended that this position be filled as soon as the right person is found.
2. The position of Minister of Music and Youth be separated into two positions. The Minister of Music would devote full time service to the music program and the Minister of Youth and Recreation would be responsible for all youth programs It is suggested that interns from Union University be hired to assist the Minister of Youth and Recreation if a recreational building is constructed.
3. A Director of Preschool and Children be hired This may be a part-time position at first, but should develop into a full-time position.
4. It is believed that there will be a need for a senior's director in the next few years due to aging of the church membership. This minister could be part-time or a volunteer, such as a retired minister.
5. These staffing recommendations will only create 11/2 new staff positions if the senior minister is a volunteer worker.

Program Needs

The following programs should continue or be started in the future:

1. The Minister of Education should staff programs for the following:
   A. Marital training/enhancement
   B. Inactive church members
   C. Non-resident church members
   D. Singles' ministry
2. The visitation program should continue as the church needs an aggressive outreach plan. This program should be under the direction of the Minister of Education.
3. Training programs for witnessing and new Christians are in place, but need to be continued.
4. Under the direction of the Minister of Education, the church needs to insure that it disciple new members to insure their individual needs are met. This could include assigning a church member or church family to each new member or their family.
5. Under community service, the church currently has a food bank, provides hinds for accommodations for families, and some utilities. It is recommended that the church continue these and recognize new needs as they arise. Literacy may become a need in the community.
6. Mission giving to the Cooperative Program has increased by 1/4 of one percent of the budget each year. At present we are giving 15 1/4 percent of our budget to the Cooperative Program. The committee recommends that we continue to increase this amount each year as the church has previously voted. Special offerings include Annie Armstrong, Golden State, Lottie Moon, Mother's Day (Children's Home), and World Hunger. It is recommended that we continue these offerings and any other offerings that the church deems worthy The committee also recommends that we continue to have a Gideon speaker on an annual basis.
7. It is recommended that the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) continue its emphasis on missions The committee supports the WMU in all of their mission endeavors and encourage them in their creativeness towards the mission outreach.
8. With the continued growth of Natchez Trace State Park, a viable ministry is possible to our yearly visitors to Henderson County.
9. The possibility of a week day children's ministry could be tied in with the building of the children's complex. These programs should be under the direction of the Director of Preschool and Children.

Organizations and Committees

The church currently has the following list of organizations:

1. Sunday School - needs to be kept oriented towards the Bible
2. Women's Missionary Union - church should continue to support their endeavors
3. Discipleship Training - church needs to be aware of family needs to see what is needed
4. Brotherhood and Royal Ambassadors - The men of the church need to take a more active part in brotherhood.
5. Acteens, Mission Friends, and GA's - These need to be continued
6. Deacons -- The Family Ministry Program needs to be continued
7. Recreation/Social
8. Stewardship - The church needs to continue to increase the number of tithers and continue to promote the larger concept that it includes time and talents.
9. Prayer - Currently there are prayer groups, prayer chains, prayer partners, family prayer, and prayer times in the chapel. The Long-Range Planning committee endorses what the Prayer Committee is now doing.
10. It is strongly recommended that the church establish lay committees for each area of outreach (i.e., education, children, seniors, empty nest, etc.). A system should be established to groom leaders for these positions. Discipleship training could be used to train these individuals.

APPENDIX

Below is a time-line that should be useful in helping First Baptist Church, Lexington meet its building goals for the next ten years. This schedule is not intended to be rigid and therefore time intervals are included as suggestions for beginning a project. It may be that one project will supercede another or that completely different projects will be needed that haven't been considered by this planning committee. This time-line is only intended to be a general guide as to the order and time frame that the committee feels that these projects could be started.