As we often remember the many struggles and tolls that we have gone through over the years, let us bow our heads in reverence to those of Priest Lake Community Baptist Church who have suffered, held on and fought, that God's Kingdom might not perish on this earth. It is with this thought in mind that Priest Lake Community Baptist Church writes with reverence, joy and pride, this brief history.

On July 12, 1981, The Church of Antioch Baptist was founded and organized with a few dedicated Christians under the pastor ship of Rev. George Dunlap with the assistance of Pastor Ron Lowery. The meeting place was at Una Elementary School. Approximately six months after its organization, the Church of Antioch Baptist entered into a rental agreement with Una Baptist Church to use their old facilities. Shortly thereafter, the members submitted a charter to the State requesting the name of Priest Lake Community Baptist Church which was approved September, 1982.

In February 1983, Priest Lake Community Baptist Church called Rev. Leslie O. Davis, Sr., as its pastor. The Church continued to worship in the old Una Baptist Church Building until the trustees of Una Baptist asked them to move. The congregation moved to Apollo Elementary School auditorium in December, 1984. The Church continued to pray, witness, love, and grow. Rev. Davis left the Church in 1986.

In 1987, Dr. Sid Smith was called as pastor. During this period the Church reorganized the Sunday School increasing enrollment from thirty to more than one hundred. The Church called Rev. Sam Beene as its first minister of education. The Women's Missionary Union was reorganized and a Brotherhood was started. Fifteen candidates for baptism were received into the membership during the first two years. The budget quadrupled. The Church began systematic giving to missions through the association, state convention, and the Cooperative Program.

The Church purchased property at 2754 Anderson Road and began the first phase of its building program. The building at the present stage of completion is estimated in excess of $250,000.00.

In 1988, Priest Lake Community Baptist Church officially became a Church in its own right instead of a mission. It is affiliated with the Nashville Baptist Association, Tennessee Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Rev. Elgia Wells was called as Minister of Education. Through his leadership, with the Sunday School and the outreach programs as priority, the church experienced a tremendous growth in membership. In October of 1990, Sid Smith left Priest Lake Community Baptist Church to pursue a life time ambition, which was to start his own business.

On June 16, 1991, the Lord called Pastor Harold James Frelix, Sr., Assistant Pastor of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church to become their Pastor. Pastor Frelix's in-depth teaching and preaching of the Gospel has increased our membership and our spiritual growth.

As of 1994 the Lord had added to our congregation, a spiritual Board that consisted of nine licensed Ministers and twenty Deacons and Deaconesses. Also, Church activities that included Children's church, Eschatology Classes, Commitment Counseling, an Active Youth Department, an 8:00 am service, a Male Chorus, Meat Lovers class, a Wednesday Morning Bible Study, Christian Counseling classes, the Priest Lake Players Guild, Mass Choir, Youth Choir, Women's Choir, Saturday Morning Prayer Meeting, Bible Doctrine class, Introduction to basic computer for Church members as well as the whole community. Additional activities are The One Child One Church Adoption Program through the Tennessee Conference Children's Service, Nursery for the 7:45a.m. and the 11:15 a.m. services, a Nominating Committee, Metro Teachers Towers Tuesday Night Bible study, Kelly Miller Smith service on second Sundays, the Usher Board and the Mothers Board.

As of December 1996 we were in a $2.5 million dollar building mode with the first phase being a multi-purpose building. Ground breaking for the building was held April 10, 1996. This facility will serve as a temporary sanctuary and will seat approximately 550.

In 1997, marvelous things were happening at Priest Lake Community Baptist Church. We were blessed and thankful to be in our new building that is only phase 1 of what is to come. We were blessed by the abundance of those that God has called to preach His Word. We had 14 Ministers, 7 Elders and 3 Assistant Pastors. We had eight Biblical Christian Counselors to graduate in May of 1997. Our Eschatology Classes were completed and we looked forward to having another class of Christian Biblical Counselors. This year was the beginning of our First Annual Youth Week where we were blessed to have 45, being our lowest and 120 our highest number of youth here each night and at least 30 adult chaperones per night. We experienced a record number of 11 Baptisms during our Vacation Bible School this year.

Priest Lake was called upon to fill the pulpit at Messiah Baptist Church. Our Assistant Pastors have been preaching there on Sundays during the period of time that they did not have a Pastor. Eventually, Assistant Pastor Bryan Williams was called to be Pastor of Messiah. We are looking forward to God to work great things out for that congregation.

We are also taking the Word to the streets. We have an elite group of male witnesses called the "Men of Valor" that go forth to situations of risk to witness in the name of Jesus Christ. We have committed to go into the communities to share Jesus Christ with those who believe there is no hope. Priest Lake presented Praising In The Park this year which was enthusiastically accepted by the multitude in attendance. We will continue this ministry by continuing to spread the gospel by ministering at parks, and Public Housing Facilities throughout Nashville and many other places as God directs.

At the end of 1997 we had added approximately 170 new members to our covenant relationship of which 75 were baptized. Through our growth we have extended our work for the Lord in various areas. As the Lord continues to call Ministers, they are,

along with the dedicated Deacons, preaching the Word of God , serving the communities, and counseling throughout the city of Nashville and surrounding areas, in Prison Ministries, CWA and CCA, Juvenile Detention Center, Nashville Union Mission, and Woodland Hills Home for Troubled Teens. As a result of the word going forward in the Prisons, several have rededicated their lives to Christ, and been baptized. In addition, commitment counselors and Biblical Counselors continues to serve new Christians helping them to understand their commitment by directing them to Jesus Christ. We also started our Summer Bible Camp.

In 1998, our spiritual growth has continued and our covenant membership has greatly increased. The number of Ministers, Deacons, and Counselors have greatly increased. We now have 13 ordained Deacons, and we have a total of 45 Ministers of which 7 are Assistant Pastors, and 15 are licensed. All programs which have been instituted under the leadership of Pastor Frelix as he has been guided by the Holy Spirit have been very productive in leading souls to Christ. Also, in 1998 we briefly had a very successful radio ministry which several new members told us was there reason for initially coming to worship with us. The Public Relations ministry placed advertisements in the Beacon, provided flyers for the Witnessing ministry (formerly Canvassing) and Pastor Frelix's picture can be seen on bus benches throughout the area.

We thank God for our Choir leading in the Praises. Our Choir has grown spiritually and in number and knows that singing is a ministry whereby souls are saved. The dedicated musicians love the Word and love doing the work for the Lord.

We thank God for our Pastor and His guidance. As we continue to grow in various areas, we will forever Praise Him for we have come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord. We will seek the Lord and Wait for his direction. Isaiah 40:31 For they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.