Our History

Our History

After leaving our former church on March 16, 1991, and because we had always been a church family, we decided we did not want to separate from each other. We met together on March 21, 1991, at Young Harris City Hall to discuss our options. It was here that we decided to meet on March 24, 1991, to hold service at Ed and Carolyn Fortenberry’s home. The Lord blessed our service on that day with such a sweet spirit.

We met again on March 28, 1991, at the City Hall and after much discussion and prayer, we decided to wait upon the Lord’s guidance and leadership before any decisions would be reached. We again met on March 31, 1991, for Easter sunrise services at Tommy and Irma Flanagan’s home. Eighty-seven gathered on that day with congregational singing and preaching by Reverend Jimmy Smith. We enjoyed a bountiful fellowship breakfast with cooking being done by several talented brethren.

Four of our members were school teachers, and they -- Mitzie Holloway, Sandra Shook, Irma and Tommy Flanagan -- went to see Mr. Bill Kendall, then Towns County Schools Superintendent, about using the Young Harris Elementary School Auditorium as a meeting place. Mr. Kendall generously agreed to allow us this space for worship. On April 7, 1991, we held our first service in the auditorium. Our first collection was taken by Sunday School Superintendent Harlan Underwood, and having no collection plates, we used Deacon Andy Shook’s hat.

We continued meeting together for worship services. At a business meeting in the school lunchroom on May 2, 1991, Brother Allen Nichols made a motion to establish a new church.

After this extended period of time, after much soul-searching and continual prayer, and feeling that we were led by the Holy Spirit, we set an organizational meeting for August 11, 1991, with Reverend Jimmy Rogers, Reverend Horace Potts, and Deacon Perry Nichols forming the Presbytery. This organizational meeting was held in Young Harris Elementary Auditorium where we continued to meet for a year and a half. Coming forward by profession of faith, prior conversion and baptism, promise of letter from another church of the same faith and order, or statement of faith and requesting baptism, Cornerstone Baptist Church was established with 98 members. Baptizing was held on September 8, 1991, with 21 requesting baptism. Reverend Jimmy Rogers agreed to be our first pastor the same day.

Land was purchased from Brenda Handy Shook, and a church building was built with help from the “Carpenters for Christ” from Kingsport, Tennessee. More land was purchased from Lloyd and Ethel Hooper Handy. Later still, the last two acres were purchased from Tom Robertson.

Our first Trustees were Bud Holcomb, Terry Stroud, and Tom Flanagan, Sr. After Tom’s death, Tommy Shook replaced him. Our first Deacons were Andy Shook, Harlan Underwood, and Ulysses Sampson. On January 2, 1992, we ordained Steve Holloway, Ed Fortenbury, Allen Nichols, Junior Smith, Reggie Sprinkles, and Tommy Flanagan. As the years passed, we have added Deacons Bennie Shook, Millard Dailey, Junior Turpin, Jerry Hood, Hoyt King, and Kenny Stroud. To fill places of loss due to death or moving from the church at Cornerstone, we have set aside Brandon Dills and Stacey Shook for ordination.

Our pastors have been Reverend Jimmy Rogers, Reverend Ricky Rogers, Reverend Larry Williams, and Reverend Larry Forrester. Our current Pastor is Reverend Todd Flanagan. We have been blessed to have great men of God to fill our pulpit.

Singing has been a great part of our fellowship. We have a talented singing class who are well acquainted with shape-note gospel of the old Southern Convention style. We are blessed with two fine pianists, Susan Shook and Mitzie Holloway. We have many song leaders in our congregation and we encourage our young people to be a part.

Having always had a large number of school teachers in our membership, we have been blessed with capable and dedicated Sunday school teachers from the outset. Sunday school has always been a vital part of our service. The study of God’s Sacred Word is of utmost importance to us. This is an important means by which all ages can come together to share God’s Word. This is an excellent way to give a solid foundation to our children, the future of our church.

Cornerstone Baptist Church joined the Hiawassee Baptist Association at the spring meeting at Friendship Baptist Church on March 19, 1992. As the first new church to join the Association in 91 years, Cornerstone has taken an active role in the Hiawassee Baptist Association and in the work of the Georgia Baptist Convention.

We feel that through God’s infinite wisdom, marvelous grace, and divine leadership, we are embarking on a journey that as long as we hold God’s banner before us, will be an extremely fulfilling experience in God’s love.

We strive together to be a dynamic spiritual organism, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church community and throughout the world. Our prayer is that we may continue to be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing His Person, and responding in obedience to His Leadership. We wish to continue to be a Church which ministers unselfishly to persons in the community and the world in Jesus’s name.

Written by Allen & Linda Nichols and Tommy Flanagan