Charity Baptist Mission
“But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)
When the Lord Jesus Christ spoke these words to his disciples, they were in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the home base. Judaea was the surrounding area. Samaria was their neighboring country, and the uttermost part applied to any part of the world outside of the three areas already mentioned. This verse reveals how true Biblical missions should work in the church. Missions should start at home, but true missions will not end at home. True missions will progress until the gospel goes to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Charity Baptist mission was founded in 1973, by Pastor Fred Potter as a ministry of “helps” (1 Cor. 12:28) for Baptist missionaries and mission works. This mission board is an arm of Brookside Baptist Church, which is located in Bristol, Tennessee. In presenting Charity Baptist Mission to you, we would like to present to you the Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and uttermost parts that the Lord has led us to labor in since this mission agency came into being.
Our Jerusalem
"...in Jerusalem" Since Charity Baptist Mission is an arm of our local church, we would first like to introduce you to Brookside Baptist Church in Bristol, Tennessee, which is our Jerusalem.
Brookside Baptist Church
Pastor Fred Potter was saved at the age of 15 1/2 and has preached the gospel for over 56 years. In 1954, the Lord burdened him to start a church in Bristol, Tennessee. Since he was already pastoring a church at the time, Brookside was started as a mission church. God blessed the work and led pastor Potter to resign his former pastorate and continue as pastor at Brookside. He still pastors Brookside today.
Tri-State Baptist Children’s Home
In 1958, the Lord burdened Pastor Potter to start a Children’s Home in Bristol and led him to donate his house to help start it. Pastor Potter took this step of faith, God blessed, and the Tri-State Baptist Children’s Home came into existence. In January of 1960, under the authority of Brookside Baptist Church, the first children were admitted to the Children’s Home. Since that time the Lord has continued to use the children’s home in a great way. Many children have come and gone, their lives having been changed eternally by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Children’s Home was started by faith in 1960, and has been operated by faith now for over 42 years. 30 other Children’s Homes have been started since then; one in Mexico and two in India 19 in Bulgaria and 8 in Romania. The testimonies of how the Lord has provided for the various needs of the homes and the children through the years are abundant! God’s churches and God’s people have been faithful in supporting the homes, and the homes have never taken any kind of support or financial aid from the state, county, or federal government since the first one opened in 1960.
In November of 1985, the Lord laid it upon Rev. Potter to start the Brookside Baptist Academy. The children in the home had most always went to a private Christian school but due to certain circumstances he felt like the Lord was leading him to start a private school. Today the school is going strong. After graduating, some have gone onto college to become Nurses, Engineers, Accountants, etc.
Our Judaea
“ ...and in all Judaea” Judaea was the area surrounding Jerusalem. Since we consider Bristol as our Jerusalem, this leads us to believe that America would be our Judaea.
Radio Ministry
Pastor Potter has been involved with radio broadcasts for over 40 years. He presently has 30 minute broadcasts once weekly on 18 different stations scattered throughout five different states. On each broadcast he preaches and tells current news about the children’s homes and the other mission works Charity Baptist Mission is involved with. Through the years these broadcasts have been a blessing to many people, and we have received a great deal of prayers and financial support from listeners who hear the needs of the mission and are burdened by the Lord to help.