I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he nourishes and feeds his flock with the Word. I appreciate all the times he has visited and comforted my family when Glenn was sick, and all the visits each day at the hospital. I looked forward to those visits.

Brother Mike, I thank God for your wonderful family, they are all precious. We as the Church could not love you as our Shepard without loving your family. Brother Mike you treat everyone with the same care and respect, and I really do respect you for that. You preach the great anointed word to us and it’s up to us to accept and obey the word. I want you to know that you and your family our in my prayers daily, that God would hold you up in His power and encourage you continually. Just keep on feeding us with your good preaching and we will grow up like calves in a stall. I love and appreciate you so very, very much.

Sister Leatha Rowe

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he has matured in the task that God has given him.

Brother Mike, you’re a wonderful Preacher. I always enjoy hearing you Preach the inspired Word of God. That’s what we need in this day and time. I pray your Church will continue to grow and souls will be saved for the Kingdom of God.

Brother Kerney Yeary

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the time he came to our family when my brother passed away. He was such a comfort to us. He later helped with the Memorial for him. He has never refused when he was called upon. He truly is a man of God and an excellent Pastor. The support and graciousness he bestows on those he serves is a perfect example of God’s love. We appreciate him and Sister Dedra for all the kindness they have shown us. We always look forward to visiting you and the Brothers and Sisters of the Middlesboro CGMA. We love you, Pastor Mike and we will always be eternally grateful.

Ray & Martha Yeary

I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he fellowships and his preaching, his sermons are very enlightening. The fellowship of the Church is like coming home. I appreciate his compassion, love and devotion to the Church.

Brother James Runels

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he conducted my daughters wedding. I also thank him for conducting my mothers (Beatrice Overbay) funeral. He said such wonderful words about my mom, a wonderful lady. God sent this man into our lives for a reason. He is truly a man to be honored in the sight of God and man. I thank God for people like Brother Padgett and his family. Beatrice Overbay always spoke highly of him and she prayed for him and his ministry.

Thank you Brother Padgett for all you do for the Lord and all you do for this community.

The Turner Family

Claudette & Ricky Turner, Tracie & Wesley Parsons

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he delivers the word of God to our Church family. As he matures more and more in the Lord, his good sermons keep getting better and better. We enjoy his music and love hearing him use his musical talents for the Lord.

Ed & Donna Morrison

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he remembers us, loves us and prays for us. He makes us feel like we are the #1 people in his life. I appreciate him for the time he came by the house to visit which was on Fathers day and Eddie’s birthday, he came in and said “I just stopped by to tell you I love you!” It really brightened our day. Brother Padgett has always been ready to visit, counsel and one who loves us. There are no word’s to express all his thoughtfulness towards the Roberts family. We truly love him.

Floyd & Sheila Roberts

  I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the times he has gone out of his way to help me and my family. If it wasn’t for Mike and Dedra I wouldn’t have been able to finish school at Southeast and get my associates degree, and lots of other times he has been there for me and my family. Also, I appreciate how Mike preaches the gospel, how he prays for the church and how he has grown in the Lord. I’ve watched him grow in love and learned patience. He was with me when I had to cope with the loss of my mother. I know I couldn’t write all of the many times he and Dedra have listened to me cry on their shoulders and offered words of comfort. I love Mike, Dedra and their children like they were my own family.

Barbara Rowlett

We would like to tell Mike and Dedra how special they are to our family. I feel like they are more than just our Pastor and his wife. You are dear to us and I can’t imagine going to Church any where else. I love your children very much and right now Lauren and Carrisa are both in my class and called my kids. We love you.

Curt, Debra & Matthew Laws

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he always takes the time to greet each and every one of us. If he is unable to get to you as you enter, you can be sure he will stop and say hello before or after services. He makes each and every one of us feel welcome.

Dottie Southard

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he always stands for what’s right. He has always been a friend and Pastor. Words can not express our love for Mike, Dee, and the kids. The love you all show are children and grandchildren, your strong arms when we face things we can not handle. Thanks for all the memories. May the Lord richly bless you all.

Dessie & Gather Medley

I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the times he is always there for us, when someone needs him for prayer, in sickness, even in death. When we lose a loved one he is always there for us and knows what to say and do. The Padgett family will always be my closest friends. Brother Padgett’s preaching just gets better all the time. I enjoy his preaching very much. I love them all and want to thank them for myself and my family.

Sister Mable Johnson

I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the leadership of the Church. He seems to have a vision and determination for the congregation. He has also been successful in increasing the Youth attendance.

Mike is very helpful and consoling to families who have lost their loved ones. He was a wonderful at organizing the funeral of my mother (Sarah Partin). He added a nice touch by transferring her Church membership into Heaven.

He seems to be a loving and caring husband and father. I also appreciate the support he receives from Dedra, which allows him to continue to give so much time to the ministry and to his congregation.

Aunt Frances Weaver

I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the times he is always there for me and my family. Mike thank you for preaching my daughters (Leva’s) funeral and praying for Makayla, she still needs you prayers. I love your wife and kids. I enjoy your preaching, it’s a wonderful blessing to me. It gets better all the time.

Pasty Loop

I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he shows the love of Christ and the joy of the Lord in all that he does. From the very first time I met Pastor Padgett he had me laughing. No matter what the occasion he always has a good story to tell. Throughout the past few years I’ve gotten to know him and his family a lot better and he truly is a servant of the Lord. I give him a lot of credit but I also thank the wonderful, dedicated women beside him. No matter what the job or task Pastor Padgett is doing she is there by his side in support of him. Even though I am not a member of the church at Middlesboro that doesn’t change the fact that Pastor Mike is one of my pastors and whenever I come he and the church welcome me with open arms. He and his family have been there for me through times that were great and others that were trying, but no matter the time he has been there with open arms. No matter in serious or fun he is always there to give me the Godly advice that I need and for that I thank him. Last but not least I thank him for allowing me to be around his three amazing children because they are absolutely wonderful. They are some of the coolest kids in the world…I just want you all to know that I appreciate all you do and thank you for what you mean to me.

Roxanna Chitwood

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett and Sister Padgett for all the times they were with us in good times as well as bad. For taking care of our grandchildren while they were here and our daughter while she was growing up. Her and Heather spent time with you all at a time when they needed that friendship as well as a Pastor. There is much more goodness I could tell, but they know we love them and appreciate them for everything they have done in the past and in the future.

Michael & Deborah Thomas

I wanted to unite and thank Pastor Mike Padgett and his family. I have always thought a lot of Brother Mike. I will never forget all the trips to Church camp in Ohio. Since I’ve known Mike he has always been a great example in my eyes. I want to especially thank him for counseling and being there for my husband and I on our wedding day (July 15, 2000). He helped our wedding day be very special. I also want to thank him and his family for their prayers last year when my grandmother (Ruby Smith) passed away. Mike and his family are wonderful people who always seem to put others needs and concerns before their own. I just want to thank them both. I’ve always thought highly of Pastor Padgett and his teachings. I wish his family the best and God Bless.

Larry & Heather Keen

  I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he always preaches the truth and because that’s what God expects and always being a good shepherd. I can always go to Pastor Padgett with personal problems and he is a very good listener and counselor and I thank God for our pastor.

He was there every time Luther and myself needed him to be and and he was there when Luther’s sister passed away and we appreciate him for his friendship and for all the times he has been there for me when I needed him to be.

Mae Woodby

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the many times he has been here for us and we are eternally grateful to him for that. When Doug’s grandfather (James Gilliam) passed away shortly after we moved down here we had to go to the funeral in West Virginia and we didn’t have a vehicle to drive and Mike told Doug that we could use his truck and not to worry about anything here. At the funeral we had seen that Middlesboro CGMA had sent a flower arrangement and Doug just thought that was the nicest thing ever because no one here even knew his grandfather. Then just as the funeral service was beginning Pastor Mike came in and that just sent Doug into tears.

Pastor Padgett and Sister Dedra are always open for whoever needs them whenever and wherever, whether it is something your in need of, visitation, prayer, counsel, anything and they are always there. They are always putting the needs of others before their own. Not only is he our Pastor, he is a dear friend and is as close as family. Andrew, Lauren and Carrisa, you all hold a very special place in our hearts too. Padgett family you are all dear to us and we can’t thank you enough for the many, many times you have been here for us, not even that which is spoken, but unspoken. I thank God daily for placing you all in our life and we hope to be able to touch lives someday like you have ours.

Rev. Douglas & Nicole Walden

I love you Pastor and your family. I appreciate the times that your children bless u with their songs and their loving hugs. I can see our church growing in love, strength and the power of God, because our Pastor has a vision for Gods work and a vision for a lost and dying world. I thank you Pastor Mike for the time you take for prayer, fasting, visiting the sick, giving a sweet smile and the words encouragement to someone who feels all hope is gone. I thank you for the Thanksgiving dinner you brought when I was sick last year. I appreciate the great Spiritual freedom we have in church. I appreciate the teaching, and preaching to set our thoughts toward God in our lives. I love Dedra and I know she is always by your side cheering you on and with a smile. Mike, I know the task is not easy but I know you can do it because He never calls us to take a job unless he gives us the strength to do it. I will always have you and your family in my prayers. May God Bless you and keep you in the shelter of His arms.

Sister Gail Dobbs

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett for all the many times he’s been there for me. It meant a lot to me when my grandmother was in the hospital, and whenever I called he would come no matter what the hour whether late at night or early in the morning. I appreciate how he has been there for me when I have been in the hospital. I also appreciate his being there when I have lost friends. I also appreciate his being there for me about my Aunt Joan. Thank you for all your encouraging words you have given me.

Susie Woodby

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he is always there and faithful to help us. He was there was my mom was in the hospital and then when mamaw was in the hospital getting ready to go home to be with the Lord. It didn’t matter what time it was whenever we called on Brother Mike he came right away. He was there to comfort and help our whole family thru the funeral. Then my Aunt Joan got real sick with cancer up in Ohio and he called Brother Tim Bartee from to go visit and pray with her. And then my best friend Erma Moore had to have lung surgery in Knoxville and he went and visited and prayed for her with me. And when she went home to be with the Lord, Mike came to the visitation and was there for me. I felt all alone like I didn’t have a friend in the world and no one to talk to, so Mike let me talk to him about every and anything that was troubling me. Now Mike and Dedra have became my best friends in the world next to Jesus. All the times that Mike has been there for me were times he and Dedra had to sacrifice  not being together and time taken away from his children for me. Mike has taught me what it is be a true friend. It means to let go of self and selfish needs first and sacrifice yourself for others. Some may say this all is Mike’s job, but to me he has always went above and beyond the call of his job for me and my family. Mike and Dedra are not just Pastor Mike and Dedra or Brother Mike and Sister Dedra to me. They are my best friends in this world and I just hope I can always be here for them if they ever really need me to be. I love you with all my heart.

Roger Manis

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the way he has been a wonderful, faithful and loving husband and father to our daughter and grandchildren. He has provided for them in many ways of their wants and needs but most of all in God’s word. He has been a God-sent preacher to us. He is blessed by God in the anointing and knowledge of God leading. I’ve watched and kept him in my prayers when there was times other churches and preachers needed his help and he stepped in to do all he could.

Our daughter, Dedra, has been a help in his ministry in leading and teaching both children and adults. I’ve watched her stand by him in his ministry. They both have made us most proud to be their parents and we pray God’s grace and love to always be in their lives. Love and prayers always

(Mom) Barbara Partin

I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the times he is always here for us. He was there for me when I was in the hospital and when my mother was in the hospital very sick and then when she passed away he was there for our family all the way through it. Mike has been there for my son David when he was in need of money for fixing his van. And when David had his stroke and was in the hospital a couple times, Mike visited him both time.

Then my daughter Mary was sick in the hospital he visited her when nobody from her own church came at all. So you could say Mike has always been there for me and my family. So I could never thank Mike enough for always being there. We love him very much, just like he is one of our own family members.

Sister Katherine Manis

We, the employees of Claiborne Home Health and Hospice appreciate Pastor Michael Padgett for his volunteer chaplain service to our Hospice program. As Chaplain, his duties include: providing spiritual support and guidance to any hospice patient and their family, being an active member of the Interdisciplinary Team that provides care planning for each patient, as well as, providing emotional and spiritual support and education to the hospice staff. Pastor Padgett has provided these volunteer services for the past nine years. During this time his duties have included some unexpected events. He performed the wedding ceremonies for one of our nurses (Linda and Roger Harris) and another for our social worker (Melinda and Bill Gordon).

 In the perfect world it is recognized during the care planning process when a visit from the Chaplain is needed, however, many times he has been called to make a visit that is needed "as soon as possible". He has performed funeral services for those without spiritual support and often, only meeting the patient or family during the last hours of life. Like the good pastor would, he digs deep into the emotional memory of the family to find out just who this person really was before disease took its toll on both the body and spirit. The end result is, of course, a funeral that both portrays the love of Christ and gives families a memory worthy of their loved one.

 The most memorable picture of a true Pastor is the one of Pastor Padgett sitting with his legs crouched to his chest at the foot of the bed of a nine year old girl during the last days and hours of her life.

The picture is vivid in my mind and I replay the scenario often. As he sat with this family in a small mobile home, day after day, he ministered vocally and silently to friends, family, nurses and all who entered. To look into his face, as he looked into her face, was a special blessing. One couldn't help but sense a spiritual bond. Knowing angels, no doubt, hovered around the bedside, waiting to carry this child into the arms of our heavenly Father. We often sat in silence for hours as we sensed the presence of the Almighty in His awesome glory. This time forever changed the lives of family, staff, neighbors and I believe the life of our Pastor Padgett.

Glenda Duffield

 I appreciate Pastor Padgett for the times he has been there for me, and for all times you have been there for my family. There have been so many times when I needed a friend, and you were there. You were there for me when my mamaw passed away and when my friend passed away last year. I really didn’t feel like I could make it through these difficult times. Also, when I had been through other tough times you, Dedra and the kids have been there for me. I want you, Dedra and your children to know just how much I appreciate you. At one time or another, you all have been there through a friendly smile or a hug to let me know you care. I can remember you saying to the church that no experience is ever wasted. So I want you to know that any storms that you have encountered since you became pastor, was not in vein and I feel like some of those storms we have been through them together. It would have been easier to run but the Lord let me know to stay put. I am glad I listened to the Lord. Because when you and Dedra hurt, I also hurt and when you all are happy I am happy with you. You all may feel there were times when nobody understood, but I want to say I may not have understood it all but I have always loved you and your family. I appreciate you all from my heart.

Sister Kathy Manis

We appreciate Pastor Padgett for the time he so graciously dedicated to our family in September 2003. This was a very difficult time for us because of the loss of our Mom, Juanita Hensley. He carefully planned a beautiful service and delivered the words in a warm and caring manner. He was there for us to do whatever he could to show that he really cared and to share our sorrows. We shall never forget your kindness Pastor Padgett.

May God bless you, Dedra, and your family. Many thanks for your kindness and love.

Buddy and Loretta Christopher