Our History

Fifty-three people met on Sunday, January 15, 1961, for the first regular services of this new mission. The church was organized on March 12, 1961, with a Charter Membership of 45. The name of Valley Baptist Church was chosen for the new work, while still a mission. It is interesting to note that although the church had voted in 1962 to change its name to First Baptist Church, it was still called Valley Baptist Church. The church again voted to change its name on May 4, 1966. Finally, in the September minutes the name First Baptist Church was used for the first time as the official name of the church.

Since January 15, 1961, the church has had 26 pastors. Our current pastor, Stacy A. Johnson, who became pastor on October 1, 1999, has shepherded our congregation the longest in the church’s 62-year history.

“We are deeply grateful to our Lord that He has preserved us as a church and maintains a witness for Himself in this city and community. It is with gratitude to those of the past who have labored to establish this church in this place, and with praise to God for all that He has done. It is with faith and anticipation that we face the years ahead, firm in the conviction that our God has greater and more fruitful years ahead for us who serve Him in this fellowship.” (quoted from the 25th anniversary of the First Baptist Church).

We are still deeply grateful and we still are looking forward with faith and anticipation to the years ahead. We continue to have the firm conviction that our God has greater and more fruitful work in His kingdom.

In 1996 the congregation began meeting in our present location at 841 Evans. Many new programs and many new faces have blended with familiar older forms of worship.

I Corinthians 7-9 say, “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” v.11 says, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. “