On February 1, 1905, *Elder W.H. Dawson assembled Baptists in the Philpot community for the purpose of starting a church.  Some 20 to 30 persons attended this initial meeting.

This group met again on February 5,1905, at the home of R.E. McDaniel.  Elder Dawson offered his services, without charge, for two nights each month, and on each fifth Sunday.  Inclement weather deferred the organization of the church until February 20.  With Bro. Dawson as moderator, the group constituted as a church and took the name "Dawson Baptist Church" in honor of the moderator.  Elder Dawson was accepted as pastor by the new congregation.  A collection of $1.43 was received.

While a building was being planned, services were held in members' homes on the Wednesday night after the first Sunday and on each fifth Sunday.

On April 1, 1905, a Sunday School was started, and on April 19, 1905, an acre of ground was secured from Thomas and Mary Ware.  A contract was let for the first building on July 5, 1905.

On August 23, 1905, the first services were held in the new building.  However, until October 29, 1905, some homes were used for worship because the building was not completed.

The first protracted meeting (revival) was conducted December 6-22, 1905, under the leadership of Pastor Dawson.  Twenty conversions were recorded.

On July 4, 1906, the church was presented with a crocheted wall hanging of The Lord's Prayer, by Mrs. Cordelia Karns in memory of her mother.

On June 23, 1907, the building was dedicated, with Rev. W.D. Nolin of Third Baptist Church, Owensboro, preaching the sermon.

Pastor W.H. Dawson resigned in September, 1907, having served the church without charge.  Before calling another pastor, the church voted to set the pastor's salary at $150.00 a year.

Dawson Baptist Church remained a church with quarter time preaching until 1943.  While W.L. Yeldell was pastor the church voted on July 24, 1943, "that we have preaching two Sundays a month."

The Rev. Andrew Hall came as pastor in October, 1943.  He was succeeded by Hugh Smith in December, 1944.  In 1948 seven Sunday School rooms were added to the original building.

Rev. Wyatt Parker came in 1951.  In June of that year the church voted to have preaching each Sunday for a three-month trial period.  Being so pleased with what is called full-time preaching, Dawson has continued to have preaching each Sunday ever since.  Some years later Bro. Parker and his wife became missionaries to Brazil.

Rev. Jack Sanford served as pastor from June, 1952, to March, 1953.  Bro. Sanford would later become editor of "The Western Recorder", where he served until his death.

In November, 1953, while Peyton Woodruff was pastor, the church voted to buy a home for the pastor.

On September 18, 1955, a motion to build three additional Sunday School rooms was adopted.  A fourth room was completed after the second floor was added to the classrooms.  On the last Sunday of October, 1955, a special service marked the fiftieth anniversary of the church.  The Rev. Jack Sanford preached at the service.

It was reported at the business meeting on February 2, 1958, that the parsonage debt was paid in full.

On November 23, 1958, while the Rev. Glenn Sullivan was pastor, the church voted to buy the property next to the church known as Bristow's Store and Masonic Lodge Hall.

When Bro. Sullivan resigned in July, 1961, the church decided to instruct the pulpit committee to look for a pastor to live on the field.  Thus, on August 6, 1961, the church extended a call to the Rev. Roger Lovette as the first pastor to live, full time, on the church field.  During Bro. Lovette's ministry (September, 1961, to February, 1965) the church appointed a building and planning committee, constructed an educational building at a cost of $23,250.00, and dedicated the building on October 11, 1964.  The Rev. Wyatt Parker, former pastor and then SBC missionary to Brazil, was the speaker for the occasion.

The brief pastorate of the Rev. James Greene was followed by the ministry of the Rev. Donald Dixon (September, 1966-July, 1970).  Under Bro. Dixon's leadership pews were purchased from the Wesleyan Methodist Church for $1,100.00, carpeting for the center aisle and the pulpit area was installed, the auditorium was covered with aluminum siding, and Mrs. Lillie Keiningham was called as Music Director.

After Bro. Dixon resigned in July, 1970, the interim pastor, Rev. Charles Parks, helped lay the groundwork for buying a new pastor's home.

The Rev. Charles Askins was called as pastor in April, 1971.  On June 6 of that year the church voted to buy a pastorium on Winkler Road for $29,000.00.  During the ministry of Bro. Askins, 55 professions of faith were made; two members, Ronnie and Ellis Payne, answered the call of the ministry and entered Clear Creek Baptist School; and a tape ministry to area nursing homes was begun and continued for many years.

After the resignation of Bro. Askins in June, 1973, the Rev. Dale Rouse served as interim pastor until April, 1974.

The Rev. Donald Lam's ministry extended from April, 1974, to June, 1978.  During this time the educational program of the church was strengthened, total mission giving rose from $10,311.00 to $13,287.00, the indebtedness on the pastorium was retired, and a Long-Range Planning Committee was elected and began work.

When the Rev. Joe M. Thomas began his ministry in November, 1978, the church expressed a desire to reach inactive members and new people in the community, have a strong youth program, and build a new auditorium.  On February 7, 1979, the church approved a recommendation of the church council and deacons "to decide where to plan for future expansion by July, 1979."  An ad hoc committee, the Land Investigation Committee, worked with the Long-Range Planning Committee in surveying the congregation's feelings about relocation and in investigating a possible site on Highway 54.  On Sunday, August 12, 1979, the church voted by eighty-eight percent affirmative vote, by secret ballot, to purchase approximately five acres of land from Eugene and Virgie Sheaffer and Robert and Alta Moore.

During the years 1980 through 1995, Dawson Baptist Church experienced some of the finest times, and some of the worst.  On February 6, 1983, the church voted to employ Church Building Systems of Nashville, Tennessee, to design and build a new building on the newly purchased land on Highway 54.  That same year we voted to sell the parsonage in order for the pastor to purchase a home of his own.  The parsonage was sold the following year for $73,500.00.  In July, 1983, former Governor and then U.S. Senator, Wendell Ford was guest speaker on Christian Citizenship Day.

In 1985, Mrs. Lillie Keiningham, who had served as Music Director for many years, resigned.  After being served by numerous other capable persons as either Youth Director or Music Director, the church voted to call Mrs. Allison Price as its Music and Youth Director in November, 1990.

In April, 1984, after contracting with Church Building Systems to construct our new facilities, ground was broken for our new building and spirits were high.  But in February, 1985, things began to fall apart, both literally and figuratively, when the concrete floor that had been poured several months earlier began to settle.  This caused all construction, which at that point was eighty per cent completed, to be halted.

It was discovered that the soil which had been placed next to the concrete basement wall, some to the depth of thirteen feet, had not been properly compacted, though we had been led to believe it had.  Thus began a 5 1/2 year period in the history of Dawson Baptist Church that was probably one of the most difficult of any during the past 100 years.

During this time, with a large indebtedness hanging over our heads and with mounting bills, sub- contractors who had not been paid, and after having already spent several thousand dollars on a building we weren't sure we would ever be able to use, we did not know if we would be compensated for our losses by our insurance company or the building contractor.  At that time, after no progress was made in reaching a settlement, the church voted unanimously to take legal action to seek to recover damages.  This called for the process of Binding Arbitration instead of a lawsuit involving a court of law because of a clause written into the contract with Church Building Systems.

This involved many months of preparation and hearings which ended in our church being awarded $550,000.00 in damages, shared by the contractor, their architect, and our insurance company.  But even after being ordered to settle with us, it was nearly four years from that date until we actually received the money.

Upon collecting theses damages, we were able to pay all our sub-contractors, a bank note, and still have money left to apply to either the rebuilding of the existing building, or building a completely new edifice.

In September, 1990, the church contracted with Lanham Bros. Construction Co. of Owensboro to repair and finish the original building.  This involved taking out the entire floor of the sanctuary, removing the earth fill beneath it, shoring up the wooden arches that support the entire structure, and replacing the earth fill with sand, then re-pouring the floor and completing the rest of the building.

In July, 1991, after spending seven years and approximately $700,000.00 to $750,000.00, which included not only the cost of construction, but all other costs involved during those seven years, and being frustrated and disappointed, but never losing hope, we were finally able to move into our new facilities with great rejoicing.  We were still in debt some $220,000.00 of which $160,000.00 was money loaned by our own members, interest free, for a period of ten years.  This was a time we would never forget, and one which we would never want to go through again.  The above mentioned debt would be retired in 1995.

During these years of wondering if we would ever see our dream of moving to the "hill" come true, God had provided a man to lead us, one who stayed with us, and prayed with us in troubled times, and remained here to share in the victory we feel we achieved.  Without Dr. (another first for us) Joe Thomas we might not be here today.  For God's blessing us with him, we are truly thankful.

At the July 10, 1991, business meeting, Bill Bryant, who had served on the Building Committee all during our years of building and rebuilding, asked if the Committee could be "retired" now that the building was completed, and if so, was the committee entitled to a pension and/or unemployment benefits?  The church members decided that since the committee was not paid during its long years of service, they did not qualify for any benefits during retirement.  The committee was retired on September 11,1991, after 12 long years, with a vote of thanks and appreciation for their faithful service.

Good things continued to happen.  In July, 1995, we had one of the greatest experiences of our 100 year history.  Mr .and Mrs. Robert Moore offered to the church the II acre tract of land that lies just to the west of our sanctuary, if we would be willing to pay interest of 7 percent on the value of the land for the remainder of their lifetime.  We, as a church, can never repay them for this gracious act, but we know a greater reward awaits them from their Heavenly Father.

In March, 1996, we purchased the house and lot to the east.  After doing some repair and painting, the house is used by our youth, not only for Sunday School, but for recreation as well.

After serving as pastor for seventeen years, Dr Thomas retired effective January 1, 1996.  He and his wife, Emily, were honored at a special retirement service, and presented with a gift from the members of the church in appreciation for their many years of faithful service, leadership and loving concern for everyone.

Bro. Wesley Hanson came in February, 1996, to lead us through a period of transition.  He remained until November of that year, serving as Interim Pastor.  We were blessed by his kindness and his wisdom of many years experience in the ministry.

In December, 1996, Bro. Craig Bratcher became pastor of Dawson, and still serves today.  When he came he and His wife Lori had only one child, a son, Skyler.  Since then they have been blessed by the birth of a son, Chandler, and a daughter, Chloe Grace.

Following the resignation of Allison Price as Youth and Music Minister, the church called Greg Cain in October, 2002, to serve as Youth Director, and in February, 2003, Scott Gaddis came as Music Director.  We are blessed to have a dedicated staff serving our church.  This includes our secretary of so many years, Rose Cook.  If you want to know anything about the church, just call "Rose".

The story of the first 100 years of Dawson Baptist Church is now history.  At the time the church was organized Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States.  Since then we have seen 17 men serve in that office.  Also during that same period we have elected 25 people to serve as Governor of Kentucky.  Many names of faithful men and women have been omitted in this brief account.  Little has been said about visits, wedding showers, prayer meetings, work days, personal witnessing, teaching, choirs, musicians, custodians, WMU, Brotherhood, Senior Adult group and Youth.  But God knows, and this is what is important, because none of these has served for praise of man, but seeking to please God.  Only He knows what the future holds.  Whatever it is, let us be ready to take our place of service, to follow Him and "To God Be The Glory. "

*Rev. W.H. Dawson, the first pastor of Dawson Baptist Church, was born near Thruston, November 30, 1841.  He did not become a Christian until after he was married to Martha W. Howard, November 12, 1865.  He said he was influenced by his wife to accept the Lord and after his conversion, united with Macedonia Baptist Church in April of 1866.  He was licensed to preach and ordained by that church in June, 1866.

Rev. Dawson kept a diary throughout his years of ministering, and from the time of his ordination until his death, March 29, 1908, he traveled 175,000 miles, either on foot or by horseback.  He made over 43,000 pastoral visits; preached more then 8,000 sermons; conducted 1,100 funerals; baptized 1,500 persons, and performed over 800 weddings.  His was a remarkable ministry, not only as a pastor, but as a church planter, having had a hand in organizing several churches in this part of the state.  So we dedicate this short summary of the history of Dawson Baptist Church, to the memory of Rev. W .H. Dawson, for without his leadership and guidance in the organization and formative years of this church, we might not be here today celebrating 100 years of service to the Lord in this community.

PASTORS OF DAWSON BAPTIST CHURCH

1905-PRESENT