Kento-Boo Baptist Church 50th Anniversary
Florence, KY (1999)Our Beginning
In the winter of 1944 the idea for a mission serving the Kento-Boo sub-division originated with the pastor of the Erlanger Baptist Church, Rev. George Bond. Discussions with the Advisory Board and membership of the Erlanger Baptist Church resulted in thorough investigations into the possibilities.
By early spring of 1945, Rev. Eugene Mandrell, a student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was employed by the Erlanger Church to lead and direct in the organization of the Baptist Mission. By the grace of God, the first service of Kento-Boo Baptist Mission was held on May 1, 1945 in the basement of the Lawson family on Ridgeway Avenue.
By January, 1946 the money originally budgeted by the Erlanger Church for the purpose of this mission was exhausted. Regretfully the services of Rev. Mandrell could no longer be afforded. One of the church committee members, Mr. M. Y. Rich, was asked to take charge of the meetings and did so with such success that no other arrangements were made.
Regular services continued at the Lawson's home until February 1, 1946 when they moved from area. The Scmidt family then offered their home on Kento-boo Avenue to the mission. Regular meetings continued here until November of that year.
During this time interst continued to grow toward finding and establishing a permanent building location. On June 4, 1946 a meeting of the Kento-Boo Avenue residents, the Baptist Mission Committee and others resulted in the donation of lots 17 and 18 in Block 4 of Kento-Boo Avenue by Mr. R. C. McNay of the Erlanger Church for the purpose of erecting a permanent building for the Kento-Boo Baptist Mission. This generous offer was accepted and a building committee and a finance committee were appointed to appropriate funds for its construction.
On August 1, 1946 actual construction began. Three months later, on the first Sunday of November, the congregation was able to meet in their new building. Even though the interior of the building was not completed, nor had the heating and lighting systems been installed, the first service was held under the leadership of M. Y. Rich. By Christmas the building had reached a point of completion where meetings could be held with a fair degree of comfort.
Kento-Boo Mission was dedicated to God on Sunday, August 3, 1947. Regular services, including Training Union (offering three age groups), revivals, Christmas programs, and Vacation Bible School, continued faithfully through 1948. In November of that year a record Sunday School attendance of 48 people was recorded.
In August of 1949, Reverend Frank Florence was called as pastor. The desire for an independent Baptist church continued to grow among the congregation. In April, 1950 the Kento-Boo Baptist Mission requested permission from Erlanger Baptist to become a separate church. Approval was granted on May 17, 1950 and on June 18 during services to ratify the Constitution, the following people became charter members of the newly established Kento-Boo Baptist Church.
Rev. Frank Florence Mr. Herbert Spencer Bobby Whaley Mrs. Frank Florence Mrs. Herbert Spencer Mrs. Dora Hughes Mr. Virgil Vater, Sr. Russell Spencer Dora Callen Mrs. Virgil Vater, Sr. Evelyn Spencer Mr. Lloyd Norton Mrs. Dan Hacker Carrie Spencer Mrs. Lloyd Norton Mr. Reuben Duvall Dan Spencer Janet Norton Mrs. Reuben Duvall Freda Glaser Leila Tanner Glenn Duvall Mr. Walter Wharton Mrs. Gladys Hegecoth Jimmie Duvall Mrs. Walter Wharton Mrs. Leona Wynn Mr. Charles Judd, Sr. Mr. Glenn Whaley Mrs. Ailena Rector Mrs. Charles Judd, Sr. Mrs. Glenn Whaley Mrs. Coy Rowland Paulene Judd Betty Whaley Mr. M. Y. Rich Charles Judd, Jr. Billy WhaleyDuring Rev. Florence's tenure as pastor, Kento-Boo Baptist Church witnessed its first Business Meeting on June 30, 1950, its first revival in March, 1951, its first Vacation Bible School in 1953, and its first organized outreach program was instituted in 1954. When Rev. Florence resigned in February, 1955 to go to Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Bro. Wallace Priest was called as pastor (March 1955 - January 1956).In 1955 four adjoining lots were purchased for a total of $7,500 making expansion possible. Groundbreaking for the new sanctuary was on October 2, 1955
Bro. James Wofford (February 1956-February 1957) - the first pastor to live in the new parsonage; Bro. Felder Rowan (June, 1957-May, 1959); Bro. Phillip Davis (October, 1959-December, 1960).
In 1960 the church started construction on its own baptistry. Until now baptisms were held at other churches.
Bro. John Parker (February 1961-January 1965).
In 1963 the church voted to begin construction on the educational building. In July of 1964 a dedication service was held for the new building and plans were made to tear down the old one. Two lots on Curtis Street were traded for two lots on Kento-Boo Avenue across the street from the church where the parsonage is located today. In 1965 the church constitution was adopted and the sanctuary was enlarged.
Bro. Buford Cobb (June 1965-July 1967) was pastor when the present parsonage, located across the street, was completed. Bro. Felder Rowan served again as pastor (October 1967-June 1972).
During 1967 the old parsonage was remodeled and served as a nursery building, and in 1968 the Hickman house located next door to the church was bought and used as a youth building. The sanctuary was remodeled in 1969 and the roof raised at the cost of $10,000.
Bro. Truell Cocanougher (September 1972-March 1978). The Pastor's salary was now $9,360 per year. In 1977 The Billy Graham Crusade came to Riverfront Coliseum and several members participated in the preparation and followup work at this event. Also this year Back Yard Bible Clubs were tried instead of Vacation Bible School.
Dr. Ralph Huffman (July 1978-August 1983). In 1979 the nursery building was torn down and the nursery moved into two rooms of the educational building. In 1980 worship services began at Woodspoint for one Sunday a month. The Deacon Family ministry and Monday afternoon pre-school classes in 1981.
The church was incorporated in 1982, which also was the year that saw another milestone. Kento-boo Baptist Church, itself having began as a mission, had come full circle by starting another mission in the Beechgrove Community Center.
Bro. Stan Cole (January 1984-Present). In 1989 the present sanctuary was constructed and by June 1992 a Tape Ministry began with services being broadcast on cable TV twice a week. A new state-of-the-art sound system was added in 1996.
In October, 1998 the F.A.I.T.H. Sunday School Evangelism Strategy began with five members going to Louisville for training. Three semesters and 11 teams totaling 33 members later, 193 souls to date have been led to the Lord through F.A.I.T.H. ministry. The next semester of training new members is planned for August. Also in 1998, two additional lots were appropriated for future expansion. As we have continued to grow through God's leadership in witnessing to others, plans and blueprints have been made for a new educational building.
In 1999 a new video systerm was installed and in early 2000 the sanctuary got a much needed "face lift" - drywall repair, new paint, and eight new chandeliers purchased by the church family - accomplished just in time for celebrating 50 year's of praising God at Kento-Boo Baptist!
=================== [From "Kento-Boo Baptist Church Celebrating 50 Years" brochure. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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