Bates Family

The Bates family in March 2022

### Children

Zach Bates, Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Trace Bates, Carlin Stewart, Josie Balka, Katie Clark, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, Judson Bates, Jeb Bates

### Grandchildren

Bradley Bates, Allie Webster, Carson Paine, Kaci Bates, Brooklyn Paine, Lexi Webster, Zoey Webster, Everly Paine, Kade Smith, Willow Balka, Khloé Bates, Holland Paine, Layla Stewart, Kolter Smith, Maci Webster, Jadon Bates, Hazel Balka, Charlotte Smith, Finley Paine, Zade Stewart, Cambree Smith, Kenna Bates, Hailey Clark, Rhett Webster, Lily Bates, Ryker Bates, William Paine

## Religious Details

### School Choice

Homeschool

 The Bates family has 19 children and 27 grandchildren from parents Gil and Kelly Bates. They have been the subject of two television shows, *United Bates of America,* which aired on TLC in 2012, and *Bringing Up Bates*, which aired on UPTV from 2015 to 2021. Members of the Bates family have also appeared on TLC's *19 Kids and Counting.*

## Family

**Parents**

* William Gilvin "Gil" Bates - born on January 1, 1965
* Kelly Jo Callaham - born October 26, 1966

Gil is the owner-operator of Bates Tree Services, the pastor of Bible Baptist Church of East Tennessee, and a board member for the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Kelly Jo is a housewife and homeschool mom.

**Anniversary:** December 19, 1987

*Calendar*

**Children**

To see more information about the Bates children's weddings, please see The Guide.

### **Zach's Family**

Whitney Eileen Perkins - born on September 21, 1993

Zach used to work as a law enforcement officer for the Anderson County Sheriff's Department, but has since retired and works with his dad in the tree business and helps run Bates Sisters Boutique. Whitney has her realestate licsense and used to work for Bailey & Co. Real Estate and an affiliate broker,  and is co-owner of Bates Sisters Boutique.

**Anniversary:** December 14, 2013

### **Michael's Family**

Brandon Timothy Keilen - born on September 15, 1989

Brandon is currently a videographer for the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Michael has a degree in nursing. The two also run an online store called Keilen Corner, which sells the books Brandon wrote and homemade baby items from Michael.

**Anniversary:** August 15, 2015 (wedding featured on *Bringing Up Bates* episode "Wedding Bliss & a First Kiss")

### **Erin's Family**

Charles Steven "Chad" Paine III - born on April 18, 1987

Chad is currently the owner-operator of Paine Construction. Erin currently assists Chad by decorating projects for his company and she also was a co-owner of Bates Sisters Boutique, but has since left to start her business ChadandErinco.

**Anniversary:** November 2, 2013 (wedding featured on *19 Kids and Counting* episode "Wedding Bells")

### **Lawson's Family**

Tiffany Lian Espensen - born on February 10, 1999

Lawson is a country singer, works with MEDIC Corps, and does many other unknown jobs. Tiffany is an actress.
**Anniversary**: May 12, 2022

### **Nathan's Family**

Esther Joy Keyes - born on October 14, 1997

Nathan co-founded MEDIC Corps with John-David Duggar and is the current Director of Operations. He is also a commercial fixed wing and helicopter pilot, a certified flight instructor, SCUBA Diver and a rescue specialist and has served in emergency services as a first responder, firefighter and a law enforcement officer. Esther is a stay-at-home wife.

**Anniversary:** October 22, 2021

### **Alyssa's Family**

John Elliott Webster - born on November 21, 1989

John currently works as a technician for Webster Air Conditioning and is the owner-operator of Johnny On the Spot Cleaning. Alyssa used to assist with cleaning jobs early in their marriage.

**Anniversary:** May 24, 2014 (wedding featured on *Primetime Nightline* episode "My Extra-Ordinary Family")

### **Tori's Family**

Robert "Bobby" Ellis Smith III - born on February 16, 1995

Bobby currently works with brother-in-law, Kelton, as a plumber and administrative director for Tennessee Standard. Tori is a stay-at-home wife and mother.

**Anniversary:** December 16, 2017 (wedding featured on *Bringing Up Bates* episode "Tori's Winter Wonderland Wedding")

### **Trace's Family**

Lydia Johanna Romeike - born on April 10, 1998

Trace owns his own construction company, that his brother Warden works with him on. Lydia is a photographer.

**Anniversary:** October 1, 2022

### **Carlin's Family**

Evan Patrick Stewart - born on August 24, 1995

Evan has a journeyman's licence, but due to needing to be around following Carlin's health concerns in 2022, he currently works with Carlin at Bates Sisters Boutique, for whom Carlin is co-owner.

**Anniversary:** May 25, 2019

### **Josie's Family**

Kelton Edward Balka - born on July 4, 1995

**Anniversary:** October 5, 2018 (wedding featured on *Bringing Up Bates* episode "A Bride, A Groom and a Love That's True")

Kelton currently owns Tennessee Standard, a plumbing company in Knoxville, where he works with Bobby. Josie worked as a stylist at R&Co Salon prior to marriage, but in January 2020 she launched an events hair and makeup company (Effortless Beauty Company) with her friend Grace Rochat.

 2

### **Katie's Family**

Travis James Clark - born on March 8, 2001

Travis works at his family's church and graduated with a degree in church music in May 2022. He currently works for a sales company and does music work on the side. Katie has a cosmetology license, but has not yet transferred it to New Jersey.

**Anniversary**: December 3, 2021

### **Jackson's Family**

Emerson Hope Wells - April 22, 2003

**Anniversary**: October 14, 2023

## Beliefs and Practices

### Institute in Basic Life Principles

The Bates family follows the teachings of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles and their homeschooling program, Advanced Training Institute. It is unknown when they began following IBLP. In 2008, Gil said that they met the Duggars "a long time ago" at a conference and got to know them further at other conferences; it is assumed that these conferences were IBLP. The group lists the following goals on their website:

> The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) was established for the purpose of **introducing people to the Lord Jesus Christ**, and is dedicated to giving individuals, families, churches, schools, communities, governments, and businesses clear instruction and training on how to find success by following God’s principles found in Scripture.
>
>

> These goals are accomplished primarily through seminars, educational programs, printed literature, and the operation of centers to facilitate training.
>
>

> You are invited to explore and avail yourself of the resources we offer.
>
>

Gil Bates joined the IBLP board of directors in 2013. In 2015, Erin Paine said in a comment on one of her Instagram photos that she and her husband "are not affiliated with the ministry or Mr. Gothard in anyway at all, nor do we support." Lawson commented on the photo as well, saying "I do not support him [Gothard] or his ministry." It is unclear if Lawson was referring to IBLP or Gothard's new ministry.

In addition to the ATI conference in Big Sandy, many of the older Bates children have been seen attending other IBLP functions like Journey to the Heart.

### Homeschooling

Although both Gil and Kelly attended public schools growing up, they made the decision to homeschool their children so they could create their own curriculum that focused on character and faith. Although Kelly does handle the majority of the homeschooling (with the assistance of the older children), Gil does participate in the character traits training. "It's a task to homeschool this many at one time, but my wife is very organized," Gil once said of Kelly's teaching.

When asked about homeschool curriculum, Kelly has listed many different options she's used "based on [each individual's] learning styles". Choices mentioned include A Beka, Bob Jones, Paces, Switched on Schoolhouse, The Teaching Textbook, Wordsmith, Apologia Science, Precepts of Anatomy and Physiology, Principles Precepts and Theories of Biology, Grammar Key, Easy Grammar, and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. She has said that her usual go-to is A Beka.

 Although the children are homeschooled through high school, many of them have gone on to pursue degrees at Crown College of the Bible. Currently Tori, Trace, Carlin, and Josie all attend Crown College.

### Buddy System

Each of the older Bates children is assigned a younger partner who they help with everyday tasks.

### Debt Free Living

After attending a financial freedom seminar (likely the Jim Sammons seminar the Duggars often praise), the Bates family began to make a point to try to live debt free. Despite this, they have often borrowed money from their son Lawson, who makes a significant amount from his lawn mowing business. "We call him the bank financier," Kelly said of Lawson, "because he is always lending to siblings, or lending to us, or he's the one that always has money in the account when the rest of us don't."

*profile photo credit*

## References

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3. ↑ https://www.oakridger.com/article/20091118/NEWS/311189998
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54. ↑ "Wedding Bells." *19 Kids and Counting*. TLC. Silver Springs. 15 Apr. 2014. Television.
55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 https://batesfamblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/all-about-children-in-love.html
56. ↑ http://people.com/tv/bringing-up-bates-erin-paine-welcomes-first-child/
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59. ↑ "And Baby Makes Five?." *Bringing Up Bates*. UPtv. UPTV, College Park. 27 Oct. 2016. Television.
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71. ↑ http://jonnyonthespotcleaning.com/
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85. ↑ "It's a Boy & Maybe One More?." *Bringing Up Bates*. UPtv. UPTV, College Park. 11 Apr. 2019. Television.
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101. ↑ "A Bride, A Groom and a Love That's True." *Bringing Up Bates*. UPtv. UPTV, College Park. 14 Feb. 2019. Television.
102. ↑ https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/josie-bates-engaged-162279/
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118. ↑ https://thebatesfamily.com/2013/09/homeschool-helps/
119. ↑ http://www.batesfamilyblog.com/2017/04/bates-collegecareer-update.html
120. ↑ http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/family/bates-clan-of-21-calls-east-tennessee-the-place-to-be-for-raising-large-families-ep-361093476-357153211.html
121. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/US/tennessee-family-20-relies-thrift-teamwork-make-ends/story?id=14364190