General Association of Baptists in Kentucky Announces Rev. Dr. Nathl Moore as New State Moderator

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Official News Release:

Historic Black Baptist organization enters a new chapter of statewide leadership rooted in faith, service, and community.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 30, 2026) – The General Association of Baptists in Kentucky (GABKY), one of Kentucky’s historic African American faith institutions, announces Rev. Dr. Nathl Moore as its new moderator, ushering in a new chapter of leadership for an association representing more than 500 predominantly African American Baptist churches across the Commonwealth, comprising of approximately 175,000 members.

Dr. Moore serves as pastor of First African Baptist Church in Lexington. Before assuming the moderator’s office, he served as GABKY’s First Vice Moderator under Dr. Michael Rice.

In his message to the Association following the leadership transition, Dr. Moore emphasized a commitment to strengthening churches, serving communities, and working collectively across generations. “During my tenure we will be working from the theme ‘Breaking Barriers Building Bridges’ as we grow African American Baptists across the Commonwealth and beyond.”

The transition is especially significant for Lexington because the city occupies a key place in GABKY history.

A Legacy Dating to 1865
The roots of the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky reach back to August 1865, when messengers representing twelve churches assembled at Fifth Street Baptist Church in Louisville and organized the State Convention of Colored Baptists in Kentucky. Rev. H. Adams, pastor of Fifth Street Baptist Church, served as president. At that first session, approximately 5,000 members were reported.

Education was part of the organization’s mission from its earliest days. GABKY’s historical record states that one of the convention’s first acts was to begin establishing a school for higher education, which led to the birth of what is today’s Simmons College of Kentucky.

The organization’s connection to Lexington dates to its formative years. The 1867 convention convened at First Baptist Church Lexington. In 1868, the organization met at Fifth Street Baptist Church in Louisville and determined its name would become the

General Association of Colored Baptists in Kentucky, and in 1869 the General Association convened under its new name in Lexington at First Baptist Church, with Rev. H. Adams serving as moderator.

Today, GABKY continues its statewide ministry through hundreds of churches and supports three longstanding objectives: Simmons College of Kentucky, the State Mission Board and The American Baptist Newspaper.

Against that historic backdrop, the elevation of a Lexington pastor to lead the statewide body connects GABKY’s present leadership with a city that helped shape the Association during its earliest years.

Statewide Leadership Through GABKY District Associations
Working alongside the state moderator is a network of district associations and moderators serving churches throughout Kentucky. GABKY district leadership roster is as follows:

  • Central District Association: Rev. Robert Drake, Moderator
  • Consolidated District Association: Rev. Rodney Bennett, Moderator
  • First District Association: Rev. Dr. Timothy Collazo, Moderator
  • Zion District Association: Rev. Dr. John Chowning, Moderator
  • Union District Association: Rev. Timothy Glover, Moderator
  • Howard’s Creek District Association: Rev. Robert Morton, Moderator
  • Liberty District Association: Rev. Warner Fishback, Moderator
  • South District Association: Rev. David McPherson Moderator
  • Mt. Pleasant District Association: Rev. Robert Blythe, Moderator
  • Mt. Calvary District Association: Rev. Richard Lockette, Moderator
  • London District Association: Rev. Terry Jackson, Moderator
  • West Ky Green Valley Association: Rev. Dr. Lawrence Ragland, Moderator
  • Elkhorn Sandy Valley Association: Rev. Steve Peake, Moderator
  • Little River Cumberland Valley Association: Rev. James Dunbar Jr., Moderator

Together, the state and district leadership structure provides a network through which GABKY member churches connect and carry out ministry across Kentucky.

Continuing the Mission
Dr. Moore succeeds Dr. Michael Rice, whose concluding message as Moderator encouraged the Association to support the incoming leadership. Dr. Rice specifically pointed members toward Dr. Moore as GABKY prepared for its next chapter.

Dr. Moore has framed that next chapter around collective service and the responsibility to minister to children, teenagers, adults, families, and older generations while strengthening communities.

His elevation marks another chapter in an institution whose history stretches from the organization of Black Baptists shortly after the Civil War to a contemporary statewide network of predominantly African American churches.

About General Association of Baptists in Kentucky
The General Association of Baptists in Kentucky is a statewide association of predominantly African American Baptist churches. Its roots date to 1865, when messengers from twelve churches gathered in Louisville to establish the State Convention of Colored Baptists in Kentucky. The organization developed into the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky and today serves churches throughout the Commonwealth while supporting Simmons College of Kentucky, the State Mission Board and The American Baptist Newspaper.

General Association of Baptists in Kentucky is located at 1715 West Chestnut Street in Louisville, Kentucky.

To learn more about the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky visit our website at www.gabky.com.

To setup an interview with Rev. Dr. Nathl Moore and/or any of GABKY regional directors, please contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com. We appreciate any consideration for a feature, faith, and/or community related story to introduce new leadership and to share what we have planned to strengthen the organization which in turn will support the 120 communities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

MEDIA CONTACT
VIPP Communications. Email: info at vippcommunications dot com. Website: www.vippcommunications.com.

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Media note: Please consider the following names as faith-based/community leaders in their perspective districts. We can assist in setting up interviews when news takes place in their area. Dr. Moore is available for faith-based, community involvement and leadership-related interviews. Please save our contact information for future stories via in-person, zoom and/or phone interviews.

VIPP Communications is a full-service public relations, marketing, branding, and event management firm.

One of Smoketown’s Oldest Congregations Celebrates Their Pastor & First Lady’s First Anniversary

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Their move to Mt. Olive was ‘Approved by God.’

(Louisville, KY) The Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrating the first year of Rev. Jeremiah Johns Sr. and First Lady Michelle Johns as pastor of our historic church. On Sunday, August 25th, the anniversary committee have planned a day of appreciation and thanks for Pastor Johns’ spiritual leadership. 

The committee centered the program around the theme “Approved by God.’  Inspired by the bible scripture found in 1 Thessalonians 2:4. 

We invite you to Sunday School at 9:30 am followed by morning service at 11 am.  Our special guest will be Rev. Dr. Jeremiah L. Parks of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Owensboro, Ky.   

Please announce and/or post on your calendars.  If you would like to setup an interview with Pastor Johns, please contact us at 502-585-2022 and/or the information below.  Rev. Johns can talk about his plans, the church’s rich history and the Smoketown neighborhood where the church is located.

Mt. Olive has a rich history which dates back 124 years.  The founders of this great church wanted to worship together so they gathered in a small house.  Today, Mt. Olive is located on several acres on East Kentucky which also houses our family life center. 

Come worship and fellowship with us on Sunday, August 25th starting at 9:30 am. Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church is located at 443 E. Kentucky Street, Louisville, Ky 40203. 

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***Proclaiming and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ***

WHO:              Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church

WHAT:             Celebrating Rev. Jeremiah Johns and First Lady Michelle Johns

WHEN:             Sunday, August 25, 2024

WHERE:           443 E. Kentucky Street, Louisville, KY 40203

WHY:               One year anniversary for the Johns’ ministry at the church

TIME:               9:30 am Sunday School & 11 am morning service

Media Inquiries: Andrea Breckenridge andreabreckenridge5969@gmail.com or Sherlene Shanklin sshanklin@vippcommunications.com 

The General Association of Baptists of Kentucky clergy and constituents will gather in the capitol rotunda for Operation Good Friday

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(Frankfort, Kentucky) On Friday, March 29th from 9:00 am to 10:30am (EDT) the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky (GABKY) will gather to voice their concern about bills that will ‘crucify’ our communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

This is a call to action for all GABKY clergy and our constituents.  We are calling March 29th Operation Good Friday.  That is the day we chose to signify the importance of having our voices heard as voters of this state.  Operation Good Friday will be held in the Capitol Rotunda, 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, Ky. 

There are several bills that GABKY have sincere concern that could hurt, hinder and/or isolate groups of people and/or counties all across the state.  Clergy will converge on the capitol to speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves.  GABKY leadership will be on site to give additional information and to conduct media interviews. 

We represent approximately five hundred Baptists churches across the state of Kentucky, and we want our voices to be heard to lawmakers we put in office.  This is not the time to be ignored but the time for us to give input on bills that affect Kentuckians who attend our churches. 

To setup an interview via phone and/or zoom after Operation Good Friday, contact at VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications.com. 

To learn more about the General Association of Baptists on Kentucky go to https://www.gabky.com/

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KCAAH unveils a portrait of the man behind the name of Louisville’s only HBCU

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Unveiling of the William J. Simmons Portrait

at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (Heritage Center), in partnership with Simmons College of Kentucky, invites the press and public to the unveiling of the William J. Simmons portrait on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 10 a.m. at 1701 West Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, Kentucky. Simmons’ portrait will be a permanent installation joining other life-sized portraits in the Heritage Center’s Brown-Forman Great Hall Gallery, depicting African American leaders in the arts, civil rights, education, innovation, media, military, and sports. 

Dr. Rev. William J. Simmons (June 29, 1849 – October 30, 1890) went from enslavement to becoming Simmons College of Kentucky’s second president from 1880–1890, for whom the school was eventually named. Simmons College was the first school for higher education established for African Americans in Kentucky. The college was the vision of 12 formerly enslaved Africans who were members of the General Association of Baptists within the state. Their tenacity was fueled by their understanding of the importance of education for the sons and daughters who were formerly enslaved. 

Simmons developed multiple programs, including the teacher education program and one of the few Black medical schools at a Black college. Additionally, Simmons produced Kentucky’s first black medical doctor, Artishia Gilbert. In addition, he was a writer, journalist, and educator. In 1886 he became President of the American National Baptist Convention, one of the organizations that would merge to form the National Baptist Convention, USA. He was elected President of the Colored Press Association for his work as editor of the American Baptist, a newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky.

Simmons is best known for his 1887 work, Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive, and Rising. The book compiled brief biographies of one hundred seventy-seven prominent African American men across the United States. Men of Mark was a best seller and the most extensive collection of African American biographies.

Aukram Burton, Executive Director at the Heritage Center, says:

“The time is overdue for Dr. Rev. William J. Simmons’ portrait to be a permanent installation at the Heritage Center to ensure that visitors will learn about Simmons’ accomplishments as a transformational leader who built a rigorous and inclusive learning environment that promoted academic excellence during an era that denied African Americans the liberties they should have enjoyed as U.S. citizens.

Media inquiries: VIPP Communications at info at vippcommunications dot com or by calling KCAAH at 502-583-4100.

The VIPP Report: Louisville church surpasses the silver and gold anniversaries and now Mount Olive hits a historic number of 119 years

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Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church 

(Louisville, KY) There’s only been three pastors who’ve served at the helm of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.  On Sunday, February 24, 2019 the church will celebrate it’s 119th anniversary.

The anniversary will begin at 9:30 a.m. for Sunday School, followed by morning worship at 11:00 a.m. featuring the Anniversary Reunion Choir and Rev. Chris Hagan, pastor of Second Baptist Church of Owenton, Ky.

Dinner will be served. Following dinner, members and guests will return to the sanctuary at 3:00 p.m. for a special tribute for our retiring pastor Rev. Shanklin.

Shanklin, only the third pastor after 119 years has served 35 years as pastor and on Easter Sunday he will preach his last sermon at Mt. Olive.

The church along with our family life center is located on several acres on East Kentucky Street.

Please post and/or announce Mount Olive’s 119th Church Anniversary.  We also invite you to come worship and fellowship with us on Sunday, February 24th.

We will also update you closer to Easter Sunday plans for Rev. Alex Shanklin’s retirement.  If you would like to setup an interview with Rev. Shanklin and/or some of their members, please contact Sis. Barbara Leavell and/or Sherlene Shanklin at VIPP Communications by email at info@vippcommunications.com.

If you have a story idea, send it to thevippreport@vippcommunications.com.  Follow us on Twitter @thevippreport @vippcomm and Instagram @vippcommunications.

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