True Vine Baptist Church History
The history of True Vine Baptist Church can be traced to an idea that was generated in the mind of a preacher by the name of Reverend Grover C. Walker. He arrived January 4, 1974 from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as a transfer civilian employee, to Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
He was later called to pastor the Bethel Baptist Church in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1975 where he pastured for 1 ½ years. But his mind was still obsessed with starting a church in Davis County. He brought his ministry back to Utah in the summer of 1976. Rev Walker and a few people passed out flyers that contained the time and location of a meeting to talk about starting a church. Bro Leo and Sis Lula Young set up the first meeting place in Ridgewood Estates Home Park in Clearfield Utah. On October 16, 1977, seven people showed up at the first meeting. They were Rev Walker, James Suitt, Beatrice Suitt, Frankie Draidfort, Bobbie Walton, Pamela Miller, and Gloria Benton. After several weeks, the attendance grew to about 14 people per Sunday.
On September 17, 1978, the True Vine Baptist Church was organized at 2875 N. Hill Field Road at Ridgewood Estates Mobile Home Park Recreation Hall. Rev Cal Carter offered prayer. Rev Walker acted as moderator, Shirley Lacey was secretary, and Ronald Williams sat in as a council member. The name "True Vine" was adopted as the church's official name. Pastor France A. Davis of Calvary Baptist Church donated the first ten hymnals and the church purchased an additional ten hymnals that cost of $50.00. Rev Walker formed and named the first singing group the “Spiritual Firecrackers”. Members of the group were Shirley lacey, Jessie Hudson, Beatrice Suitt, Beverly Thompson, Della Rease, Mary Douglas, and Essie Jones.
The next step was to call a pastor. Rev Walker suggested that the church wait, look around, and take their time in order to make a wise choice. But nobody wanted to wait. They called Rev Grover C. Walker as the first pastor of the True Vine Baptist Church on the same day that they organized, September 17, 1978. The first persons to join the church were Douglas Lacey, Kathy Jones, Janet Jones, and Debra Jones, all for baptism. The church grew from 20 members in 1978 to 73 (of which 41 for baptism and 32 by Christian Experience) in 1979. Under his pastorate, the church’s ushers board, two choirs, trustees’ board, finance committee, Sunday School, and building fund committees were formed.
On August 5, 1979, Rev Walker could see that it was time for the Church to move from their location in Ridgewood Estates. He told the church that he did not know where they would meet next Sunday; he stated that we are moving out on faith. Rev Walker told them to look around for a building. Sis Ida Moore found a building and told the church about it. This building was located at 160 East 1700 South, Clearfield, Utah. True Vine Baptist Church moved into the building on August 12, 1979.
Rev Walker remained pastor of True Vine Baptist Church until December 1992. The church was without a pastor until July 1993. Minister James Russell Wilson, an Associate Minister and member of True Vine, served as interim pastor until July 1993. The church called Reverend Jerome Council, a 16-year Associate Minister of Calvary Baptist Church, Salt Lake City, as pastor. Rev Council accepted True Vine's call after much prayer and waiting on the Lord to prepare him under Rev Davis and the Calvary church's nurture.
After almost a year of struggles, frustrations, and disappointments, a Church Expansion Committee, chaired by Bro Freddie Lacey, was formed to find a new church home for True Vine. The Lord showed the True Vine family a beautiful site in Kaysville, Utah at 197 West 100 South. One of the faithful members, Sis Daisy Eason, called the Expansion Committee and informed them of Kaysville Bible Church that was on the market for purchase. After holding a business meeting and shortly after meeting with the Kaysville Bible Church Trustees, the True Vine family voted overwhelmingly to purchase the Kaysville's building. On December 7, 1994, True Vine's representatives closed the deal to purchase the building at 197 West 100 South, Kaysville, Utah. So on Christmas Day 1994, the first worship service for True Vine's congregation was held at the new address: 197 West 100 South, Kaysville, Utah
Rev Jerome Council resigned his position as pastor in November 2000. The church was without an Under Shepherd until the winter of 2000, when Reverend Alphonso J. Monterio of Second Baptist Church, was called to act as interim pastor. He served as interim pastor from December 2000 to February 2001. In March 2001, Rev Monterio met with the Intermountain General Baptist Convention, Incorporated Ordination Council and was ordained as a Baptist minister. On May 13, 2001, he was installed as the pastor of True Vine Baptist Church. Reverend Monterio resigned his position as pastor in February 2003 to report to his next military duty assignment in Texas. Reverend Lawrence Hicks was appointed as interim pastor of True Vine Baptist Church until Pastor LaMar T. Jackson was called as pastor in October 2003. Pastor LaMar T. Jackson was installed as Pastor on the 3rd. Sunday of November 2003.
From 1977-2005, God has blessed True Vine to receive by Christian Experience 401 members; 142 for baptisms; and 40 joined under watch care; 24 baby dedications; 19 ordinations. We have had 11 members who have passed on.
The Church’s outreach program includes services at Rocky Mountain Health Care Center in Layton, Utah; Ogden Rescue Mission, Utah State Prison Oqurrh Chapel, hospitals in Ogden and North Davis County.
True Vine is an affiliate of the Intermountain General Baptist Convention, Incorporated (formally the Intermountain General Association of Churches of Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah) and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Incorporated.
True Vine (whose name is from John 15:1) is truly a church determined to live for Christ, as can be seen in its motto on the church's bulletin each week
True Vine welcomes all to worship, with them, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
