# Salem Baptist Church (Kentucky)

Salem Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Logansport, Butler County, Kentucky, and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Since 2011, Salem's pastor has been Rev. Derek A. Cain.

## History

The founding of Salem Baptist Church was a result of the Second Great Awakening. Between 1830 and 1910 the number of Baptist churches in Kentucky tripled, from 574 to 1,774 and church membership increased five-fold from 39,975 to 224,237. In 1838 the Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Ohio County, Kentucky granted part of its congregation leave to constitute an independent body, known as Salem, in the Big Bend of the Green River. Although isolated— separated by seven miles of treacherous roads northwest of the county seat of Morgantown, which itself contained fewer than 500 citizens in 1850—the Big Bend was the site of a busy wharf (Borah's Landing) and boasted several ferries. The people had easy contact with the outside world via steamboats on the Green River.
Salem's congregants first met in a log house, but in 1849 they constructed a more commodious structure which accommodated their meetings and a school. The school building is now used for church and community functions, including the Big Bend Rural Development Club. In 1857, the congregation began construction on a new building that was to be used strictly as a church facility. It was completed in 1860. The congregation met on October 1, 1856 and resolved to constitute a Sunday School by electing pro tem officers who would conduct a meeting later in the month to officially organize the school.
On January 4, 1905, the church purchased the three fourths of an acre from R.L. Render on the south side of the road, where the current church building now stands. It was dedicated in 1915. Minutes include an offer from Monticello Baptist Church in Provo, Kentucky for the use of their church during the construction of Salem. Over the years, new classrooms, a basement, and many other improvements have been made.
100 years later the church broke ground on a new space for ministry. This additional space was completed in the summer of 2016. This new building is adjacent to the sanctuary. Its use is for fellowship meals, bible school, children and adult Sunday School classes, weddings, community use, and youth gatherings.

## Partnerships and Associations

Salem Baptist Church freely affiliates and partners with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Gasper River Association of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Kentucky, and other local churches, ministries, and organizations. We support ministries and missionaries through the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

## Pastors
### Pastors by Year

| Year | Pastor | Notes |
| 1838 | Joshua Render | The church met in homes for a while, until the Salem school was built. The United Baptist Church of Jesus Christ as Salem joined the Gasper River Association in 1839. |
| 1839 | Joshua Render | |
| 1840 | Joshua Render | |
| 1841 | Joshua Render | |
| 1842 | Joshua Render | |
| 1843 | No pastor. | |
| 1844 | William Childers | |
| 1845 | James F. Austin | The church was meeting in a small, old log house. |
| 1846 | James F. Austin | |
| 1847 | James F. Austin | |
| 1848 | James F. Austin | |
| 1849 | James F. Austin | |
| 1850 | James F. Austin | |
| 1851 | James F. Austin | |
| 1852 | James F. Austin | |
| 1853 | James F. Austin | |
| 1854 | Alfred Taylor | |
| 1855 | No pastor. | |
| 1856 | No pastor. | |
| 1857 | James S. Coleman | |
| 1858 | J.M. Peay | |
| 1859 | Alfred Taylor | |
| 1860 | Alfred Taylor | |
| 1861 | Alfred Taylor | |
| 1862 | Alfred Taylor | |
| 1863 | Alfred Taylor | |
| 1864 | James F. Austin | |
| 1865 | James F. Austin | |
| 1866 | J.F. James | |
| 1867 | J.F. James | |
| 1868 | James S. Taylor | |
| 1869 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1870 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1871 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1872 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1873 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1874 | R. Jenkins | |
| 1875 | R. Jenkins | |
| 1876 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1877 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1878 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1879 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1880 | J.P. Taylor | |
| 1881 | J.P. Taylor | |
| 1882 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1883 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1884 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1885 | B.W. Neal | |
| 1886 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1887 | B.T. Mayhugh | |
| 1888 | G.W. Pendley | |
| 1889 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1890 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1891 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1892 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1893 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1894 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1895 | M.M. Hampton | |
| 1896 | J.B. Rogers | |
| 1897 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1898 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1899 | J.N. Jarnigan | |
| 1900 | E.D. Maddox | |
| 1901 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1902 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1903 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1904 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1905 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1906 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1907 | J.E. Bruce | |
| 1908 | J.E. Bruce | |
| 1909 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1910 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1911 | J.W. Wade | |
| 1912 | J.W. Wade | |
| 1913 | J.W. Wade | |
| 1914 | T.T. Moore | Moore pastored 5 churches in 1914. Salem's WMU organized in 1914. |
| 1915 | T.T. Moore | |
| 1916 | T.T. Moore | |
| 1917 | T.T. Moore | |
| 1918 | A.B. Gardner | |
| 1919 | R.B. Neel | |
| 1920 | L.B. Whitaker | |
| 1921 | Whitaker/Browning | |
| 1922 | S.P. Browning | |
| 1923 | S.P. Browning | |
| 1924 | Jesse B. Hill | |
| 1925 | Jesse B. Hill | |
| 1926 | Z. Ferrel | |
| 1927 | Z. Ferrel | |
| 1928 | W.W. Payne | |
| 1929 | T.T. Moore | |
| 1930 | T.T. Moore | |
| 1931 | T.T. Moore | |
| 1932 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1933 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1934 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1935 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1936 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1937 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1938 | John W.T. Givens | |
| 1939 | T.G. Shelton | |
| 1940 | T.G. Shelton | |
| 1941 | T.G. Shelton | |
| 1942 | C.L. Hardcastle | |
| 1943 | C.L. Hardcastle | |
| 1944 | C.L. Hardcastle | |
| 1945 | C.L. Hardcastle | |
| 1946 | Thomas Pope | |
| 1947 | Fred Wood | |
| 1948 | Fred Wood | |
| 1949 | Albert Bolling/Glen Britt | |
| 1950 | William H. Rogers | |
| 1951 | William H. Rogers | |
| 1952 | No pastor. | |
| 1953 | Thomas E. Lawhorn | |
| 1954 | R.B. Hooks | |
| 1955 | R.B. Hooks | |
| 1956 | Richard Stiltner | |
| 1957 | Richard Stiltner | |
| 1958 | Richard Stiltner | |
| 1959 | Ralph Romans | |
| 1960 | Ralph Romans | |
| 1961 | Ralph Romans | |
| 1962 | Ralph Romans | |
| 1963 | Ralph Romans | |
| 1964 | Romans/Hederick | |
| 1965 | John C. Hederick | |
| 1966 | John C. Hederick | |
| 1967 | John C. Hederick | |
| 1968 | Hederick/Cardwell | Hederick to February, Cardwell from November |
| 1969 | James Cardwell | |
| 1970 | James Cardwell | |
| 1971 | James Cardwell | |
| 1972 | James Cardwell | |
| 1973 | James Cardwell | |
| 1974 | James Cardwell | |
| 1975 | James Cardwell | |
| 1976 | James Cardwell | |
| 1977 | Danny Saunders | |
| 1978 | Danny Saunders | |
| 1979 | Kenneth Harris | |
| 1980 | Kenneth Harris | |
| 1981 | Kenneth Harris | |
| 1982 | David Coleman | |
| 1983 | David Coleman | |
| 1984 | David Coleman | |
| 1985 | Coleman/Phelps | Coleman to May, Phelps from September |
| 1986 | Charles (Pete) Phelps | |
| 1987 | Phelps/Smith | Phelps to May, Smith from October |
| 1988 | Bruce Smith | |
| 1989 | Bruce Smith | |
| 1990 | Bruce Smith | |
| 1991 | Bruce Smith | |
| 1992 | Bruce Smith | |
| 1993 | Bruce Smith | |
| 1994 | Murl Gray | |
| 1995 | Murl Gray | |
| 1996 | Murl Gray | |
| 1997 | Murl Gray | |
| 1998 | Murl Gray | |
| 1999 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2000 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2001 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2002 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2003 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2004 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2005 | Jim Gifford | |
| 2006 | Darrell Dockery | |
| 2007 | Darrell Dockery | |
| 2008 | Darrell Dockery | |
| 2009 | Darrell Dockery | |
| 2010 | Darrell Dockery | |
| 2011 | Derek A. Cain | Pastor Derek Cain became the pastor on October 9, 2011. |
| 2012 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2013 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2014 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2015 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2016 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2017 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2018 | Derek A. Cain | |
| 2019 | Derek A. Cain | |

### Biographies of Pastors
#### Joshua Render

Joshua Render was a brother to George Render who was an early member of Beaver Dam church. George was ordained to the ministry in 1813. George was highly esteemed for consistent piety, rather than for any superior ability. Joshua was also a longtime member of Beaver Dam church. He was like his brothers, a very moderate preacher. He represented Beaver Dam church in the Association for 15 years. He was pastor of Salem from its constitution, in 1838, until 1842. The time of his death has not be ascertained.

#### Alfred Taylor

Alfred Taylor often preached in private houses in the community before the constitution of the church. He first became pastor of the church in 1854 and returned in 1859 and served until 1863. Previously he was pastor of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church and served there 2 years.

#### Rev. William H. (Bill) Rogers

Rogers was married to Martha Louise McPherson on January 15, 1944, and in September 1944 enlisted in the US Army, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant and serving with the Occupation forces in Japan. After working in home construction for several years, he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1949 and resumed his college education. While studying at Western Kentucky College, he was pastor at Salem Baptist Church in Logansport KY, then in 1954 moved to Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green KY as its founding pastor. In 1961 he became pastor at Melbourne Heights Baptist Church in Louisville KY and completed his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 1964. He joined the Kentucky Baptist Convention staff in 1971 and served as Director of Interracial Relations, Director of the Minister/Church Support Division, and post-retirement as Pastoral Consultant on the Leadership Development Team. He also served as an interim pastor for many churches and on the staff at Cedar Creek Baptist Church. Rogers, 95 died peacefully on Tuesday, December 25th, 2018. He lived a long, full life as a father, pastor, mentor and friend to many.

#### Rev. Derek A. Cain

Rev. Derek A. Cain is the current pastor of Salem. He became the pastor at Salem on October 9, 2011. Cain is from Pulaski County, Kentucky. He graduated from Berea College in 2005 with a B.A. in Education. He attained his M.Div. from the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky in Georgetown, KY in 2015. He was ordained to the work of the gospel by the authority and order of the Berea Baptist Church, Berea, KY on July 15, 2012. Along with pastoring Salem Baptist Church, Cain began working as the Chaplain and Director of Spirituality at Morgantown Care and Rehabilitation Center in Morgantown, KY in January 2014.

## Other Data

Clerks, Association Messengers, and Other Data, 1838-1988 :
| Year | Clerks | Association Messengers | Total Members |
| 1839 | G.M. Borah | G.M. Borah, Theophilus Petty | 24 |
| 1840 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Lee Borah, Theophilus Petty | 23 |
| 1841 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Theophilus Petty, V. Borah | 19 |
| 1842 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Theophilus Petty | 26 |
| 1843 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Theophilus Petty, V. Borah, L. Borah | 24 |
| 1844 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Theophilus Petty | 25 |
| 1845 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Theophilus Petty, G.M. Borah, Noah Borah | 24 |
| 1846 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | Theophilius Petty, G.M. Borah | 20 |
| 1847 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | B. Clark, Theophilius Petty, J.F. Austin | 35 |
| 1848 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | No messengers. | 44 |
| 1849 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | B. Clark, L. Borah, J.F. Austin | 43 |
| 1850 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, J. Borah, B. Clark | 44 |
| 1851 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, B. Clark | 40 |
| 1852 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, B. Clark, G.M. Borah | 39 |
| 1853 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, Bl. Clark, N. Borah | 64 |
| 1854 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Rogers | 64 |
| 1855 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, J.M. Hampton | 64 |
| 1856 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Hampton | 61 |
| 1857 | G.M. Borah, L. Borah, C.J. Render | J.F. Austin, T.M. James, J.M. Hampton | 59 |
| 1858 | T.M. James | J.F. Austin, T.M. James, W. Wade | 54 |

## Related Topics

* Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence

## Citations

* ↑ The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Kleber, John E., 1941-, Wymer, Scott A., Kmetz, Thomas P., University Press of Kentucky., Morehead State University. Camden-Carroll Library., Morehead State University. Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. 1992. p. 49. ISBN 9780813159010. OCLC 900344833.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
* ↑ "Minutes of the Salem Sabbath School, 1856-1859 (SC 350)". Ms. Manuscripts & Folklife Archives.
* ↑ "Salem Baptist Church". Records of the Gasper River Association of Baptists.
* ↑ Spencer, John H. (1885). A History of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 1800 Biographical Sketches, Volume 2. Library Reprints, Incorporated. ISBN 9780722249253.
* ↑ Taylor, William Carey Sr. (1878). Biography of Elder Alfred Taylor. Louisville, KY: Caperton and Cates. (Revision and Reprint Wendell Homes Rone, Sr., 1983)
* ↑ Masters, Frank Mariro (1953). A History of Baptists in Kentucky. Kentucky Baptist Historical Society; First Edition. pp. 102–3.
* ↑ "Obituaries: William H. 'Bill' Rogers". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
* ↑ Welborn, Frank (1876). "Gasper River Associational Record". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
* ↑ "Salem Baptist Church". Gasper River Association Records.