From the Pastor’s Paragraph – Dr. Kermit Melugin
“We must be patient with each other and with God. Acorns do not make big oaks over night. Nor do mushrooms afford shade and protection. Our gratitude should ever be to God not only for what we have but also for what we are to enjoy in the future. The Christian Life is freighted with the joy of keen anticipation, “Call upon me and I will show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” Count our blessings, yes, but let us rejoice in the happy surprises that await us. The truth is we should not be surprised at any good thing that may come our way, “for the Lord is in this place.” Let us be keenly alert and solicitous of them who are looking for Christian love and fellowship as our church affords in a most peculiar way.”
“It might be interesting to observe that since our church was organized twenty-one Sundays back; we have received $13,292.32 or an average per Sunday of $633.00. This needs no comment, except gratitude to God for his blessings on us.”
Temple Baptist Church has had a total of nine pastors.
A list of the pastors and their dates of service are as follows:
- Kermit Melugin – August 10, 1955 to June 3, 1956
- Hubert Long – August 12, 1956 to November 13, 1960
- James Carter – February 1, 1961 to May 28, 1964
- Huey Welch – October 25, 1964 to May 8, 1966
- Billy Skinner – July 31, 1966 to August 29, 1971
- Bob Garsee – October 30, 1971 to September 15, 1974
- Bob Rutherford – February 2, 1975 to April 4, 1983
- Charles McLain – January 15, 1984 to May 8, 1988
- Eddie Chennault – January 29, 1989 to Present
Pulpit Committees
Temple has been blessed with a lot of people dedicated to furthering the work of the Lord. The following have served on Pastoral Search Committees.
1. Dr. Kermit Melugin – Dr. Kermit Melugin was the first pastor of Temple. He served from August 10, 1955 until June 3, 1956. Dr. Melugin is unique in that a pulpit committee did not call him. He was elected as supply pastor and pastor by the total church body at a business meeting.
Rev. Hubert Long (2nd)
Search Commitee Members
Vee Taylor – Chairman, Rex Waggoner, W.W. Keller ,John Hayes, Rosa Truitt
Rev. James E. Carter (3rd)
Search Commitee Members
F.J. Vicari, C.M. Leach, Robert Lewis, Audra Moore, Opal Neal
Rev. Huey Welch (4th)
Search Commitee Members
Troy Taylor – Chairman, Ronald Hardin, Cloma Ellis, Jane Kilcrease
Rev. Billy Skinner (5th)
Search Committee Members
Clint Mercer, Ed Rinn, George Bryant, Mary Keller, Christine Allgood
Rev. Bob Garsee (6th)
Search Committee Members
Rex Waggoner, Vera Rucktashel, Wilma Leach
Rev. Bob Rutherford (7th)
Search Committee Members
Cloma Ellis – Chairman, Mary Keller, Bill Brannan, Bill Smoot, Robert Beck, E.C. Rucktashel
Rev. Charles McLain (8th)
Search Committee Members
Dwayne Clement – Chairman, Nona Sluder, E.C. Rucktashel, Butch Stone, Cloma Ellis, Frank Westbury – Alternate
Rev. Eddie Chennault (current)
Search Commitee Members
John Bourquin – Chairman, Jim Blythe, Vera Rucktashel, Barbie Baugh, Dr. Larry Sears