Chronology of Organized Disciples Work in Western Kentucky

1840’s	Green River Cooperative and Christian Union (Counties) Cooperatives formed.
1875	South Kentucky Christian Missionary Society (SKCMS) formed to serve the 40 western most counties in Kentucky. Evangelists engaged in various arrangements.
1908	SKCMS merges with Kentucky Christian Missionary Society to form statewide organization. KCMS agrees to maintain Evangelist in Western Kentucky and SKCMS Smallwood trust funds given to CDMS. Began as full-time, became minor part-tine during depression.
1939	First student work begun at Murray State by Murray First Christian Church
1940’s	Charles L. Brooks, Jack Russell and Charles Dietze served as full-time West Kentucky Evangelists. Office was in Hopkinsville.
1944	First Student Center purchased with KCMS, FCC with other congregations cooperating. Home away from home for students and minister training for area congregations was goal. Had resident lay director, Ruth Nall, supervised by WK Evangelist.
1949	West Kentucky Evangelist position discontinued by KCMS.
1953	DCMS withdraws from Murray Student Center, sells building, returns equity to Purchase District.
1955	Purchase District buys home for student center at Murray State. Employ student, Dan Cowherd, Hopkinsville as director on part-time basis.
1956	Purchase District men spearhead effort with State CMF organization to lease campsite on Kentucky Lake from TVA for 25 years. First Camp held in tents.
1957	First permanent buildings, dining hall and bathhouses, erected at KBY.
1959	Purchase District calls retired State Secretary Gilbert Perry to be District Minister and Student Center Director in August
1960	Formation of Kentucky Association of Churches under James Moak energizes district organizations across Kentucky.
1961	Tri-District Ministry formed October 8, 1961. Joe Whitmer, former Congo missionary, called to serve student center and Districts 1, 2 and 3 and Tri-District Minister based in Murray. Districts received funds from congregations and forwarded to Tri-District. Strong emphasis on camp development. Many missionary lectures built awareness of Tri-District and strong sense of identity. Involved with regional staff, board and committees.
1964	Whitmer resigned February 1, 1964. Billy Williams called as Tri-District Minister and Campus Minister June 1964.
1964	United Campus Ministry (UCM) formed with five denominations meeting in Methodist Building.
1966	Tri-District Office moved to Methodist building. First intentional effort to recruit lay ministers and find placement: Harold Ledbetter at Uniontown. Christian Church In Kentucky began sharing in funding of UCM with Tri-District and others.
1967	Billy  Williams handled minister relocation with all but the 7 or 8 larger congregations in the Tri- District.
1968	Billy Williams, in cooperation with James  Moak, begins work in relocating full-time ministers in the Tri- District. Tri-District Minister and Campus Minister each made full time. Billy Williams and Tri- District office moved to FCC Madisonville July 1, 1968.
1968	Camp Kum-Ba-Ya purchased from TVA for $25,000 with funds from Mayfield and Murray FCC bequests.
1971	CCK staff relationship begun on an experimental basis.
1972	Policies and Criteria for Order of Ministry adopted. West Area Minister included in Committee on the Ministry. West Area Minister assumed full responsibility for KBY program.
1973	Experimental relationship extended. Billy Williams assumes responsibility for administration and supervision of Kum-Ba-Ya facilities and program.
1975	Tri-District-CCK staff relationship formalized July 1, 1975.
1977	Lexington offices resumes full responsibility for Camp Kum-Ba-Ya administration and supervision. Tri-District reorganized as West Area of Region. First bi-annual West Area Celebration at Barkley Lodge. West Area ends funding of UCM. Guy Via hired as Camp Caretaker and wife, Ann hired as  Camp Cook.
1978	Billy Williams resigns March 31, 1978. David Webb becomes Area Minister April 1, 1978. Stronger emphasis on program events begun. Some outstanding Celebrations followed. Sue Ramsey employed April 1978 at 15 hours per week.
1983	Mexico exchange begun with visitors from Mexico. CCK reassigns camp responsibilities to West Area Minister. Constitution revised to lodge ultimate authority in area annual meeting.
1984	West Area Ministers return visits to Mexico. West Area hosts CCK Regional Assembly in Owensboro. TV ads developed.
1985	David Webb resigns June 1985. Senior High Camp only event at KBY in 1985.
1986	Billy Williams began as West Area Minister, January 1, 1986. West Area Directory begun.
1987	West Area initiates renovation of KBY facilities with CCK capital campaign funds and additional gifts from individuals and congregations.
1991	West Area Youth Council forms. Sue Ramsey retires. Glori Cope employed 15 hours per week.
1993	Glori Cope increased to 35 hours per week. Region redistricted. Logan, Warren and Barren Counties added to West Area. Constitution revised to compose the Board of its officers, CCK Board representatives, moderators and vice-moderators from each district with ultimate authority in the Board. The West Area is to convene annual meetings of the districts for election of officers, worship and fellowship.
1994	Mission 2000 Endowment Fund begun prepaid counseling for ministers and families made available through Henderson Community Methodist Hospital. Billy Williams retires December 1994. CCK has full responsibility for KBY after Billy’s retirement
1995	Roger Miller begins January 1, 1995. First West Area Café. Gift appeal eliminates $10,000 debt. First West Area Ski Thing hosted.
1996	Glori Cope made office manager, hours increased to 37.5. Post-High Weekend Camping Event for College age adults offered. First All Disciples Sing. Annual Dinner Honoring Retired Ministers begun. Budget and Funds Committee forms. Advent Devotional begun. Lenten Devotional begun. West Area Lending Library available.
1997	Curriculum Writing Committee for KBY formed. Roger Miller and Chester Zimmer lead one-month teaching mission in Mexico.
1998	Extensive Future Directions Survey for the West Area in November 1998. Roger Miller resigns September 24, 1998. Billy Williams began as Interim Minister, November 1, 1998
1999	Bill Spangler-Dunning FCC Owensboro Associate oversaw KBY program. Several meetings with various people regarding improvements to Camp Kum-Ba-Ya took place. Tom Steiner began as West Area Minister July 1, 1999.
2001	February 25 the West Area Board approved appointment of Camp Improvement Committee. Bids were received in May for remodel of existing facilities. In July the Camp Improvement Committee decided not to proceed with bids for renovation. October 7, 2001 the West Area Board received Camp Improvements Committee report. New bathhouse/dorm combination suggested, building the bathhouse portion and as funds were available building the dorms.
2003	Camp Vision Task Group received recommendations from Kaleidoscope, Inc. regarding future needs at both campsites.
2004	In May an agreement with the CCK was in place for proceeding with the bathhouse project (bathhouses only, no dorms). West Area Board voted to accept Adams Construction bid in August.
2005	Fund raising began February 22 for the new bathhouses for Camp KBY.
2006	Bathhouses completed and open house held June 4 with BBQ meal and the trimmings with 150 in attendance.
2007	Guy and Ann Via retire as Camp Caretakers in February after 30 years of service, celebration held at FCC Benton on February 24. Alan Crick hired as Camp Caretaker March 1, 2007. Tom Steiner retires August 31, 2007. A celebration of his ministry was held August 26 at the 12th Annual All Disciples Sing. Mexico 2007 July 30–August 2. West Area Office continued to provide care to churches and ministers, with the help from the regional office.
2008	Larry Cowan began as West Area Minister July 15. His installation service was held at the 13th Annual All Disciples Sing August 24 at Henderson FCC. Listening Conferences held in three districts by Larry Cowan. Listed as a come meet Larry and discuss concerns you and your congregation may have. Spring 2008 Elders’ Workshops were held in four locations, these were in partnership with LTS. West Area began a website. Mexico Mission January 14 to 25, 2008. West Area Hayride Sept. 27 at Berea CC, Russellville.
2009	LTS and West Area offered three Lay School of Theology events in each of the three districts on March 28. Larry Cowan resigns February. West Area Office continued to provide care to churches and ministers, with the help from the Regional Office.
2010	Cathy Hubbard began as West Area Minister May 1, 2010. Installation service held August 29 at the All Disciples Sing, Paducah. William B. Sisk remembered West Area in his will and an endowment was set up with CCF. Alan Crick’s contract ended October 23, 2010. Terry Landon was hired as new Camp Caretaker November 1, 2010. First Annual West Area Youth go to Holiday World. West Area Hayride October 2 at Russellville Berea. Camp Rally April 24 from noon to three.
2011	Continuing education opportunities held January 21-22 with Introduction to Pastoral Care with Cathy Hubbard and February 5-6 with Introduction to Theology with Emily Askew. Cathy went to Haiti with a group from Owensboro FCC, October 21-28. West Area Youth Go to Holiday World. CWF groups from West Area congregations supported the camp with gifts to canteen.
2012	Executive Committee developed a camp covenant requesting that the West Area be permitted to manage Camp Kum-Ba-Ya. Covenant was approved retro to January 2012 by the CCK. Final distribution from the William Sisk Fund brought the fund to $44,597.22.  Retired West Area Minister Billy Williams died July 21, 2012.
2013	KY Regional Men’s Chorus Retreat was held at Henderson FCC, Feb. 15-17. Cathy Hubbard resigned July 10, 2013. West Area Board set up Listening Conferences throughout West Area.
2014	Sara Palmer hired as Camp Program Manager (KBY) and served for two summers.
2015	October 11, the 20th Annual All Disciples Sing was held at First Christian Church In Mayfield.
2016	Glori Cope added Camp Program Manager to her title, now serving in two positions. Rev. Dr. Beth Dobyns called as Associate Regional Minister to the West Area. Beth’s Installation Service and All All Disciples Sing was held at First Christian Church, Madisonville.  Camp Kum-Ba-Ya celebrated 60 years of camping with a special event held on the campgrounds.
2017	In November, Dale and Rhonda Henson Bogard join the Camp Kum-Ba-Ya staff as the Caretakers.
2019	West Area staff time was reduced to part-time. Rev. Dr. Beth Dobyns retired in the summer. Rev. Rachel Nance Woehler was called as the Transitional West Area Regional Minister.
2020	Camp Caretakers Dale and Rhonda Bogart complete their ministry.  James Cope is hired as Interim Caretaker at Camp Kum-Ba-Ya. The new Leadership Development team organizes the West Area Workshops event, hosted by First Christian Church of Hopkinsville on March 7.  One hundred clergy and lay leaders register for the day-long workshops, worship, and fellowship event. Those assembled for a Special Called Meetings of the West Area approve changes to the Constitution & By-Laws and a new Permanent Fund Policy that utilizes a trailing average model for draws. By March 19, the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on gatherings and worship in our congregations, as the state  banned all mass gatherings. Adapting to pandemic protocols, our camping ministry was all virtual and called ” Camp-ZOOM-Ba-Ya.”
2021	After 29 1/2 years of ministry, Glori Cope retires as both Office Manager and Camp Program Manager in January. Her husband, James, joins her in retirement, completing his time as Interim Caretaker at the camp. In-person camping returns to Camp Kum-Ba-Ya, with significant COVID protocols in place.  In May Rev. Rachel Nance Woehler accepts a Letter of Call to serve as the West Area Regional Minister, dropping the word “Transitional” from her title. In July, Denny Flaherty is hired as the Camp Caretaker.