A Brief History

As you know by now, Living Waters is a new church in Oak Grove, Kentucky. God provided the means for this church to begin on the 8th of February 2004 as a mission church jointly sponsored by the Tennessee and Kentucky Baptist Associations. Pastor Coram, our senior pastor, completed the process to become a church planter. He is the founding pastor for Living Waters. Prior to our first meeting as congregation, while the pastor was still on active duty as a Chaplain with the US Army, God gave him the vision for this church.  He began praying that God would show him the "place" where Living Waters would call home. As he drove through Oak Grove on his way home, he kept passing a particular plot of ground. Each time he passed, the feeling grew stronger that this was the place where the new church was to be established. But there was a problem:  the property was not for sale.  In fact, it was unclear who owned the property.

In the summer of 2003, after some investigation, the owners were found.  Mr. and Mrs. Anderson of Indianapolis, Indiana were contacted about the possibility of selling some or all of the property that was located in the south-east quadrant of the intersection of Hwy 115 and Hwy911/Hugh Hunter Road in Oak Grove.  (See photo above).

The Anderson's were interested in selling but Mr. Anderson explained that his wife Minnie Anderson had inherited the land from her father when he passed away a few years prior and they had never done anything with the property.  He didn't know exactly how many acres he owned nor did he know the current value of the property.  He was glad to sell to someone who would keep the property intact (and not break it up into lots such as a subdivision).  He asked for a month to get some more information.

One month later, Pastor (then Chaplain) Coram called Mr. Anderson to inquire as to the price for the property.  Mr. Anderson said the market value at the time was $5,000.00 per acre and that the property was apporximately 43 acres.  This would place the value of the property at $215,000.00.  Mr Anderson quickly added, "But I realize what you want to do with the property and that you don't have a lot of money so make me a fair offer."

Pastor Coram asked him if he could have a month to pray about what a fair offer would be and Mr. Anderson agreed. 

One month later put the date into September.  Pastor Coram called, as agreed, one month to the day to make his offer.  He had been impressed by God to make a reasonable offer yet one that was so far below the value of the property that it would only be through God's intervention that Mr. Anderson would agree.  Pastor Coram offered Mr. Anderson $150,000.00 for the property.  He though, "He will either laugh and hang up the phone, or, if it is meant to be, he will accept the offer." 

Without a moment's hesitation, Mr. Anderson agreed to the price then he said something almost unbelievable.  "I am going to have the property surveyed.  If it turns out to be less than 43 acres, I will reduce the price below the offered amount. 

What a blessing.  Pastor Coram applied for a loan through the Tennessee Baptist Foundation.  He was told that in order to secure the loan, he would need an established church to "co-sign" the loan.  Hilldale Baptist Church of Clarksville, Tennessee voted to borrow the money on Living Water's behalf and a closing date was sought.

Before the closing could take place, Mrs. Anderson passed away after a lengthly battle with cancer.  Her death suspended the closing until her estate was settled.  This pushed the closing to the 31st of December 2004.  Pastor Coram drove to Henderson, KY to pick up the deed. When he arrived he found out that the property was not 43 acres as originally thought but 39 acres.  Mr. Anderson, true to his word, had reduced the price by ten-thousand dollars.  The closing price: $140,000. 

Living Waters was now the owners of 39 acres of prime real estate and we had $10,000.00 in the bank.  God was on the move!

December 2006 We have completed the foundation of our new Worship Center.

Summer 2007  The Building is up and dried in.  Members from First Baptist Church, Pelham Alabama joined with members from our congregation to frame the inside of the building.  Once you step inside, you can now visualize how the building will be once it is finished.  God continues to bless!

November 2008  The building is almost complete.  We held a service in the nearly completed building to celebrate the journey this church has been on as we anticipate the move to the new building. 

December 2008 One of the contractors "took" the church for a significant amount of money agreeing to complete his work in the building, then after he was paid for most of the work, quit the job leaving a large gap in the work to be done and not enough money to finish the building.  First Baptist Church of Oak Grove agreed to let our congregation meet in one of their buildings until we could resolve this situation. God is sovereign.  He will prevail.

February 2009   We are in the process of selling some of our acreage in order to complete the building.  

May 2009

The dream has finally come true.  While we do not have permanent occupancy yet, we have been given permission to meet in the new facility while the final touches are being made on the building.  It is so good to be in our new building.  We give all honor and glory to God for his faithfulness throughout this process.

September 2009

The new worship center is dedicated to the Glory of God and for his work and will.

God Bless,

Pastor Coram