Facilities director’s streak reaches 45 years, spanning 1,500 Sundays, without a miss
Baptist and Reflector
RED BANK — Wiley Couch, 75, has served as facilities director at Red Bank & The Point Church for 45 years and has not missed a single Sunday in more than 1,500 consecutive weeks.
“God’s allowed me to have good health to where I could do that,” Couch said. “It’s been 1,500 consecutive Sundays as of Aug. 10, 2025.”
In his role, Couch oversees maintenance, janitorial staff, and the church’s vehicle fleet. His dedication has pushed well beyond a standard work schedule.
“I’m supposed to get Tuesday off, but I find that, well, I haven’t had a day off for vacation since 1996,” he said.
His commitment has occasionally meant sleeping at the church when weather threatened to keep him from making it in on Sunday morning.
“There were times when weather forced the church to cancel services, so I stayed here overnight to make sure I could be up and ready in the morning,” Couch said. “That way, people who drove in to hear the Word would not have to be told church was canceled.”
Couch grew up in the Chattanooga area and worked at DuPont before being laid off, eventually finding his way to the church. He credits his upbringing and faith for the work ethic that has carried him through the decades.
“I was raised in a religious family,” he said. “But working here at the church, I feel like I’m doing something besides coming to church. I’m making it easier for other people to come to church, and that has helped quite a bit.”
He views the position as more than a job.
“I tell the pastor here, I thanked him for allowing me to serve God by serving the people here, and that I feel like this is a ministry,” Couch said.
“We live in a culture where people don’t stay put; they move on,” said pastor Sam Greer. “Wiley’s faithful 45 years of service reminds us that we are to stay when God says stay. Longevity, loyalty, stability, sacrifice, and most of all legacy are words that describe Wiley. He is the kind of team member who shows up. Many have come and gone during Wiley’s time, but Wiley stayed put.”
Couch is also quick to share the credit with those around him. During the church’s 100th anniversary celebration, Couch braced himself for a long night of breaking down chairs and tables in the gym.
“I thought I’m going to be here till nine o’clock tonight,” he said. That is, until 50 volunteers arrived and finished the job in 45 minutes.
“I thought, 100 years from now, I wonder if somebody will be as fortunate as I am to have as many good people here.
“This job would be next to impossible without the good staff I have and with the volunteers that step up,” he added.
Away from church grounds, Couch also has an unlikely collection: a mint copy of every issue of People magazine from its March 1974 launch through 2024. At 51 issues per year over 50 years, his collection totals 2,550 editions.
The hobby traces back to his grandmother, who collected the first issue of Life magazine and traveled widely throughout his childhood.
“I started buying and I kept on and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll buy the first year.’ And then I thought, ‘Well, I’ve gone this far.’”
For Couch, whether it is showing up on Sunday or buying a magazine, consistency is simply a way of life. B&R
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FBC Pigeon Forge excited to host first VBS since 2019
For the first time since the pandemic, First Baptist Church of Pigeon Forge will host a one-day Vacation Bible School on Friday, June 12, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
“Our church is very excited for the opportunity to welcome local children and families for a few hours of fun and learning about Jesus,” said pastor Terry Kirby.
“We see this outreach as one way to meet folks and invite them to attend worship and other events with us. We hope to build on this and continue to have more family and group activities in the coming months.”
Kids will participate in a scaled-down version of VBS with several activities: group worship, tie-dying t-shirts, eating snacks, and more. The program — “Illumination Station” by Lifeway — is open to all children who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade. Registration is open through June 7 via the church website at https://fbcpf.org/vbs. B&R