We want to give you some facts about Rev. Fred Potter’s life that it might be a blessing to you. As you read you can see God’s hand of protection upon him.
Rev. Potter was born in Elizabethton, Tennessee on June 17, 1923. His parents were separated and this was truly hard for him. Little did he know God was molding his heart so he could care for children from broken homes and troubled lives.
He was saved in March 1938, at the age of 15 1/2. He was working the new ground when he heard the church bells ring. Conviction set in, and he went to the house where he was staying and told his granny that he needed to go to church. She told him he did not have a change of clothes, and to wait. She said she would wash them and he could go some other time. He told her, “Where I’m dirty you can’t wash.” He went onto church and was saved that morning at 11:45.
In 1942, at the age of 18, he volunteered for the armed service to fight for our Freedom in World War II. He was told if America lost this war they would take his Bible, burn the churches, and he would lose his right to worship God. This is what caused him to volunteer and fight for God and Country. While in Germany, he was wounded 29 times in his legs and once in his head. On his way back from picking up supplies, he got separated from his company and was pinned down by some Germans that were shooting at him. He only had ONE bullet left in his gun, when a German soldier threw a hand grenade at him from across the road. The explosion sent him about 20 feet in the air one way and his gun another. As he lay in a ditch of water (in the field) he noticed both legs were numb from his hips down, and he could not move them. At this point he felt something going down his neck and reached to his head to feel what it was. As he pulled back his hand he saw it covered in blood. He knew the Lord had been dealing with him to preach the Gospel, so while lying there on the battlefield, he surrendered to preach. A few minutes later, an American convoy topped the hill and the Germans started firing on them instead of Brother Potter. The last truck in the convoy turned around to get tanks and the infantry to come and help. The American forces killed and counted 75 Germans and the Lord spared Rev. Potters life. He received a purple heart for being wounded in this combat action.
In 1945, he was married to Louise Eggers of Elizabethton, Tennessee. Later she would be the one to give Charity Baptist Mission, Inc. it’s name. He then started pastoring in May 1946.
In 1954, he started Brookside Baptist Church.
In 1960, Tri-State Baptist Children’s Home was started.
In 1973, Charity Baptist Mission was birthed.
Rev. Potter was born in Elizabethton, Tennessee on June 17, 1923. His parents were separated and this was truly hard for him. Little did he know God was molding his heart so he could care for children from broken homes and troubled lives.
He was saved in March 1938, at the age of 15 1/2. He was working the new ground when he heard the church bells ring. Conviction set in, and he went to the house where he was staying and told his granny that he needed to go to church. She told him he did not have a change of clothes, and to wait. She said she would wash them and he could go some other time. He told her, “Where I’m dirty you can’t wash.” He went onto church and was saved that morning at 11:45.
In 1942, at the age of 18, he volunteered for the armed service to fight for our Freedom in World War II. He was told if America lost this war they would take his Bible, burn the churches, and he would lose his right to worship God. This is what caused him to volunteer and fight for God and Country. While in Germany, he was wounded 29 times in his legs and once in his head. On his way back from picking up supplies, he got separated from his company and was pinned down by some Germans that were shooting at him. He only had ONE bullet left in his gun, when a German soldier threw a hand grenade at him from across the road. The explosion sent him about 20 feet in the air one way and his gun another. As he lay in a ditch of water (in the field) he noticed both legs were numb from his hips down, and he could not move them. At this point he felt something going down his neck and reached to his head to feel what it was. As he pulled back his hand he saw it covered in blood. He knew the Lord had been dealing with him to preach the Gospel, so while lying there on the battlefield, he surrendered to preach. A few minutes later, an American convoy topped the hill and the Germans started firing on them instead of Brother Potter. The last truck in the convoy turned around to get tanks and the infantry to come and help. The American forces killed and counted 75 Germans and the Lord spared Rev. Potters life. He received a purple heart for being wounded in this combat action.
In 1945, he was married to Louise Eggers of Elizabethton, Tennessee. Later she would be the one to give Charity Baptist Mission, Inc. it’s name. He then started pastoring in May 1946.
In 1954, he started Brookside Baptist Church.
In 1960, Tri-State Baptist Children’s Home was started.
In 1973, Charity Baptist Mission was birthed.