Tim Cunningham

FROM THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PRIMITIVE OR OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MINISTERS BY DAVID MONTGOMERY AND MARK GREEN: ELDER TIM CUNNINGHAM My pilgrimage to the Primitive Baptist church began in the spring of 1987, while serving as pastor of a Missionary Baptist church in Tennessee. During 1986, I experienced my first exposure to the doctrines of grace under the influence of the Sovereign Grace Landmark Missionary Baptist. I became convinced of the truthfulness of these precious doctrines, but remained unwilling to give up my association with the Arminian Missionary Baptist with whom I was affiliated. During that time, I was employed on a part time basis at a local "Christian" radiostation, where I was introduced to Elder Bobby Collins, who was at that time pastor of the Elgin Crossroads Primitive Baptist Church near Rogersville Alabama. I knew very little about Primitive Baptist, but I was aware that they believed the doctrines of grace. My soul was starving to learn more about the truths that I had silently embraced and I therefore initiated a conversation with Elder Collins. After much prayerful study and deliberation with Brother Collins and others, I became persuaded that the Primitive Baptist possessed the apostolic identity both in doctrine and in practice of the true church of our Lord Jesus Christ. I resigned as pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church and was blessed to unite by baptism with Elgin Crossroads Primitive Baptist Church on the night of my twenty-first birthday. The Church saw fit to call for my ordination to the gospel ministry and I was ordained on October 8, 1988 at which time I was called to serve as co-pastor with Elder Bobby Collins. Brother Collins and I served together until May of 1989 when he resigned the pastoral care of the church. Shortly after my ordination, I was also called to pastor second Creek Church in Five Points, Tennessee. Here I attempted to serve until Elgin Crossroads Church called for my full-time services in the Spring of 1992. I was blessed to serve Elgin Crossroads Church until April of 1998 when I accepted the call to pastor New Hope Church in Hatley Mississippi where I am endeavoring to serve at the present time. God has been very gracious to this poor, hell-deserving wretch. In addition to the abundance of undeserved spiritual blessings, he has given me a beautiful family. My wife, Cathy and I were married on May 22, 1987. God gave me the privilege of baptizing her into the church on the day of my ordination. She and I have been blessed with five precious children... Sarah, Benjamin, Grace, Nathanael and Daniel. I was honored to baptize my two oldest children into the membership of New Hope Church. To God belongs all the glory and praise forever.