About
About UFWB
UFWB: Our history...
On July 25, 1982 Bear Creek Free Will Baptist Church and Robinson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church merged together and established the United Free Will Baptist Church of Dickson, Tennessee.
Robinson Chapel had been organized on December 5, 1957 on Mt. Sinai Road outside of Dickson. Among those who pastored this church were Clyde Hudson, Max Lankford, Ralph Tucker, James Parham, Newton Baggett, and Jeff Lankford.
Bear Creek had been organized by Leo Lankford in 1961, on Bear Creek road outside of Dickson. He pastored the church until 1971, when Wayne Lankford became the pastor.
There were many contributing factors that led to the merger that took place on July 25, 1982. It is the firm belief of this writer that behind it all the mighty hand of God can clearly be seen by the discerning eye. The churches had a basic agreement in doctrine and a good working relationship with each other. Many of the people in both churches had a long history that went back to the time of their conversion to Jesus Christ and even back to childhood days.
During the years preceding the merger there had been many joint services such as ordination services, Easter sunrise services, baptisms, gospel singings, and the sharing of homecoming dinners. Also of importance was the four year period prior to the merger when Wayne Lankford pastored Bear Creek and Jeff Lankford pastored Robinson Chapel.
Pastor, Carl Hooper
I was born in Detroit, MI 1978. I moved from MI in 1987 and went to live in White Pine, TN. In my secular work, I am a retired police officer of 18 years in service. In the ministry, I worked as a Sunday school teacher for the teens and young adult from 2005-2012. I was called into the ministry in 2009 and was licensed in 2010 and ordained in 2012. I have pastored a couple of churches before coming to United. I accepted the pastorate at United Free Will Baptist church in July 2018. I am also currently the moderator of the Western Quarterly of the Cumberland Association. I have loving wife of fourteen years and four children. It is a very busy life, but with Jesus it is also a very satisfying life.