A heart for people!
A WONDERFUL HERITAGE |
| In 1822, when the First Baptist Church was
organized, Michigan was still a wilderness.
Oakland County residents, other than Indians,
numbered less than 500 and half these people
lived in Pontiac, the county seat. James Monroe
was president. The Territory of Michigan was 15
years away from statehood. Rev. Elon Galusha from
New York included Pontiac in a missionary tour.
On a summer day in 1822 in Deacon Gibb's home,
with Rev. Calusha, Deacon Gibb, Mr. Douglass,
Mrs. Abner Davis and 13 other Christians
gathered, First Baptist Church was constituted.
Mrs. Abner Davis recalled that organizational
meeting in dramatic detail when she wrote in
1874: "Our farm lay one mile east of where the courthouse now stands. We settled there in June 1822. A few weeks after we moved in we heard there was a meeting appointed two miles south of our house, for the purpose of forming what few Baptists there were into a church, to be recognized as such at some future day. I told my husband I would like to attend the meeting. He thought it a long walk for me, and said he would go with me, for I could not go alone. The first obstacle we met was the Clinton River, there being no bridge. A tree had fallen from the high bank, slanting down across the river. I said I would go back, but he said no, he would help me across. He broke a long stick for a cane which I took in my right hand, he taking hold of my left and succeeded in reaching the other end in safety. The first mile there had been a wagon through - the second there was nothing but blazed trees to guide our steps. The meeting was held in Deacon Gibb's house, which was a frame building with one room. The outside was covered with wide, rough oak boards, and there was a loose floor with no fireplace. The cooking being done by the side of a log in the dooryard. In this house the Baptist Church was organized. Mr. Douglass opened the meeting. He had a sheet of paper partly written over which he read." The congregation continued to meet in Mr. Gibb's home for another year before moving to a schoolhouse and subsequently to the courthouse. Although county officials decreed that a courthouse was "no suitable place for the holding of religious rites," they later relented and opened the doors to the Baptists and others. In 1824, the Rev. Elkanah Comstock accepted a call as the first pastor. His salary was fixed at $100 per year: one-third in cash; the remainder in produce. By 1828 the church was able to muster $50 in cash; the rest to be paid in foodstuffs. Although financial problems 9 persisted, in 1838 the need for a building became evident. Already in 1832 pledges were taken toward the edifice: $2,520 was promised. A farmer volunteered the price of a "gray horse." A small wood frame structure soon appeared on the southeast corner of Huron and Saginaw Streets and was dedicated in 1841. Revival visited the new place of worship in its first year and the membership doubled from 63 to 123.
Gradual growth over the next 55 years prompted another move. The year 1896 brought a new landmark to both Pontiac and the church. Under the leadership of Rev. Frank a new site and church home on Oakland Avenue was obtained. A committee of the Trustees reported on November 11, 1895 that a new church building would cost $12,434. With the property costing $2,600 and interior furnishings being added to the estimate, the figure rose to $17,000. The stately structure, built of native fieldstone hauled from nearby farms, could accommodate 700 attendants.
Following the Rev. Barnett as pastor of the beautiful stone church at the corner of Oakland and Saginaw in downtown Pontiac was Thomas Cornish. He accepted the call to the pastorate in 1901 an resigned in 1902, Rev. C.N. Irving filled in for five months until Rev. Rufus Traver was called to be pastor in May of 1903. The annual church report for Traver's first year displays unusual delight:
Church records indicate that on Sunday, July 4, 1916, 137 were received into membership of the church. This figure was the largest ever received into a Baptist church in Michigan in one day. Sunday School reached a record breaking attendance on Easter, 1916, when 1,250 packed the downtown church and its suburban satellite chapels. Missions gained an importance during the pastoral ministry of Rev. Traver. Active support was designated for missionary activities in the southern state of Nebraska and Alaska. This missionary zeal would continue to grow and would be the focal point and fervor of the First Baptist Church of Pontiac up to this present day. In 1924 the Rev. C.S. Knight terminated a four-year period as pastor and the church looked to God for a replacement. Soon attention centered on Henry H. Savage, an engineer turned minister. After earning a Master's Degree at the University of Colorado in 1910, Dr. Savage enrolled at Chicago's Moody Bible Institute for a one-year course. While still at Moody, Henry Savage he preached in Northern Wisconsin, where he met church organist, Miss Bessie Jensen. Soon, Bessie and Henry made a pair and assumed a pastorate in Baraboo, Wisconsin. From his third pastorate in Baraboo, Henry Savage was called to serve the century-old Citadel of Fundamentalism in Pontiac.
Dr. Henry Savage guided First Baptist through a 38-year period of growth and innovative ministry. Dr. Savage became one of the pioneers in religious radio. Beginning on March 2,1926, morning worship services were broadcast over radio station WJR. This became one of WJR's oldest features. Soon thereafter, a second regular radio feature was introduced with the title, "Happy Half Hour of Heaven and .Home" Up to 500 letters reached the church office each week. Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference In 1937, the Lake Harbor Conference Grounds near Muskegon were purchased. Dr. Savage was instrumental in raising the money to buy 100 acres on Lake Michigan. The summer conference series was called "Maranatha," later changed to Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference, as it is still known today. Dr. Henry Savage was the featured speaker at that first session and he spoke on "Christ or Chaos." In 1997, Maranatha celebrated 61 years of Ministry and is a nationally known conference center. First Baptist Church, during this era, started and organized Sunday Schools that met on Sunday afternoons. Several of these works became independent churches and are still preaching the Word of God today. In 1927 the church had outgrown its sanctuary The church entered negotiations with the funeral home of Huntoon to construct a temporary 'tabernacle' to house worship services during the construction of a new church. After the completion of the rough, wooden structure, the Trustees were authorized to sell the stone church in order to build a larger, new permanent building. However, the "Great Depression" forced the shelving of these plans.
Eventually, in 1942, a two-story educational addition was built to house the Sunday School program. Almost a decade later, the old stone sanctuary was razed to make room for its successor. Construction commenced on April 1, 1950 and a modern $250,000 building was officially dedicated in June, 1951 at 34 Oakland Avenue.
By the time of Dr. Savage's retirement in 1961, missionary giving had reached an annual amount of $155,000. During Dr. Savage's 38 year tenure, 120 people left 'Pontiac Pews' to enter Christian service. When Dr. Savage retired in December, 1961, an interim pastor was found within the circle of the church's own young people. The Rev. Robert H. Shelton returned from missionary service in Vietnam in December 1961. Four months later, on April 4, 1962, Mr. Shelton became the Pastor. Pastor Shelton brought youth, missionary experience and an exceptional pulpit ability, to his new position as Pastor of First Baptist Church, Pontiac. Pastor Bob Shelton redesigned the radio outreach of the First Baptist Church. In June, 1962, The "Sunday School of the Air" was discontinued. The "Worship Service," however, remained as a link with the past. The church then explored a new area of religious broadcasting. A casual fifteen-minute musical and devotional broadcast was born and given the name of the church's news bulletin, "Gospel Echoes".
The three-month trial period of Gospel Echoes stretched into several years of production from 1962 to 1974 and was aired through 18 outlets on stations around the world. Also, during Bob Shelton's ministry in 1973, a TV Broadcast was produced called "There is an Answer." "Pastor Bob," as he was affectionately called, continued the church's focus on missions and the Great Commission to "Go into all the World and preach the gospel to every creature." In 1970 and 1971 a busload of teenagers and adults from the church donated their funds and time to aid missionaries among the American Indians in Arizona. It was also during this period that the church felt directed to consider moving to another location. Several parcels of land were considered. Finally 12 1/2 acres were purchased near the intersection of Perry and Walton Boulevards. Plans were drawn up for a completely new facility for the First Baptist Church of Pontiac. However, the type of commercial development later outlined for the property adjoining the new site led the church to seek another location and a period of re-evaluation began. In the meantime, Pastor Shelton felt led to change the course of his ministry and submitted his resignation on March 10, 1974, after twelve years of faithful service at the pulpit. The church again sought God's direction in providing a new undershepherd. Many outstanding men were suggested and considered, but the Lord directed to one man and He directed this same man toward the First Baptist Church. On the first Sunday in December of 1974, marked by a gigantic snowstorm, Rev. Norman Sweeting assumed the duties of Pastor. Rev. Sweeting had been pastor of Hydewood Park Baptist Church in North, Plainfield, New Jersey where he had served as Senior Pastor for eight years. He was a graduate of National Bible Institute and had a Master of Divinity Degree from Faith Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology Degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastor Sweetings five years of ministry at First Baptist, from 1974 to 1979, was highlighted by two significant events. A 62-acre parcel of land west of downtown Pontiac was purchased, and preliminary plans were set in motion for construction of a new building designed to be used as a recreational facility and branch location. A ground breaking event on the new site was held on September 8, 1979. Pastor Sweeting terminated his period of service at First Baptist on August 1, 1979. Again a pulpit committee was selected and a search begun for a pastoral replacement. With one location to support, an additional location in early construction, inadequate financing, rising costs and a declining membership, the position as Senior Pastor needed strong leadership. A man experienced in church building was sought to leap into the difficult job of guiding First Baptist during this critical time in its history. Rev. Charles Scheide was this man and was called as Senior Pastor and started his ministry at First Baptist early in January 1980. Pastor Scheide had previously served in Perth, New York where he had pastored Perth Bible Church since 1965. Much was accomplished during the time that he was pastor: the architectural re-design of our present facility, the accomplishment of a financial package to fund the construction, the completion and move into the new building at 9000 Highland Road, and the sale of the church at 34 Oakland Avenue to the Salvation Army. The last service in the downtown Pontiac church at 34 Oakland Avenue was Sunday, December 14, 1980. The first service in our new building was Sunday, December 21, 1980. The dedication service of the new facility on January 18,1981 was one of the largest attended in the current facility with over 1200 in attendance. Many Christian leaders and dignitaries attended. On March 15, 1981, Pastor Charles Scheide terminated his ministry at First Baptist Church.
For the next 27 months First Baptist Church was without a Senior Pastor. However, capable men filled the pulpit teaching and preaching the Word of God. Two men were especially used of God during this time frame in ministering to His flock. Rev. James Savage was one. He was the son of Henry Savage and had been a member of First Baptist since 1925. He was a career missionary with T.E.A.M. The second man was Dr. Robert Hilgenberg, associated with William Tyndale College, who ably filled the pulpit many Sundays during this transition period encouraging the people of God.
The pulpit Committee diligently searched for God's man to continue the teaching ministry and heritage of First Baptist Church. God led the committeeto Rev. Terry Rudd. On July 1, 1983, Terry Rudd became Senior Pastor and has continued to serve the Lord in this capacity for the last fourteen years. Pastor Rudd, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, had served five years as pastor of the Billings Bible Church in Billings, Montana before coming to Pontiac. He was a Bible and History major at Bob Jones University, and later received a Master of Divinity degree from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. It was during Pastor Rudd's ministry that the indebtedness on the church building and property was been paid in full. On October 18, 1992 a "Mortgage Burning Celebration" was held as a culmination of the "Bridge to the Future" program to pay off the mortgage on our building and 62 acres. In 1993 the "Answering God's Challenge" program was initiated in order to build a new 7,000 square foot Family and Youth Educational wing. Ground breaking was on June 5, 1994. The wing was completed and occupied in May of 1995, fully paid for by the sacrifices of God's people.
During the 1990's, ministries such as Golden Heirs, our senior citizens group, has thrived. M.O.P.S., a ministry of the ladies to Mothers Of Preschoolers, has become one of the most successful outreach programs. Target ministries such as DivorceCare and Singles, Inc. have been highly effective in the 1990's in meeting people's needs. Pioneer clubs, a children's weekday ministry, has been successful in teaching the church's children and reaching out to others. The high school ministry under Mark Manzer continues to grow. The music ministry under plays a major role in church worship and choir programs. As the high schoolers in the 1970's were involved in reaching out to others by mission trips, so the high schoolers in the late 1990's continue this same thrust with their adult leaders. Missions, as in the past, is still in the present the primary priority of the people of First Baptist Church. We thank God for all of our faithful missionary family. As we soon enter the 21st Century, our heartfelt thanks goes out to our God for His continual faithfulness. "HAPPY 175TH ANNIVERSARY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PONTIAC" |
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WebMaster -- fbc@flash.net |
Huron & Saginaw 1841
In 1896, the sanctuary was dedicated
by its pastor, the Rev. Frank Barnett, and the
250 members of the congregation. A new church and
a new century heralded a new era of progress in
the Pontiac area.
Dr. Henry Savage
Tabernacle
34 Oakland Ave. (1951)
Gospel Echoes
BAPTIST CHURCH
Pastor Terry Rudd
Family & Youth Educational Wing
1995