First Baptist Church of Jacksonville

Last updated
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville
First Baptist Church worship.jpg
Worship service in 2011
USA Florida location map.svg
Red pog.svg
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville
30°19′56″N81°39′30″W / 30.3323°N 81.6584°W / 30.3323; -81.6584
Location Jacksonville, Florida
CountryUnited States
Denomination Baptist
Associations Southern Baptist Convention
Membership8,000 registered [1]
Weekly attendance3,000
Website fbcjax.com
History
Founded1838
Administration
Division Florida Baptist Convention
Clergy
Senior pastor(s) Heath Lambert
Pastor(s) Heath Lambert

The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville is a Baptist megachurch in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. As of 2023, First Baptist Church has 2,100 members and an average attendance of around 3,000 for Sunday services. [2] [3] The main Downtown Campus comprises several square blocks of property connected by above-ground crosswalks. The campus includes several auditoriums for services, a Sunday school building, and facilities for First Baptist Academy, a private K-12 school.

Contents

First Baptist Church has its origins in the oldest Baptist congregation in Jacksonville, Bethel Baptist Church, established in 1838. The church experienced a period of considerable growth in the mid-20th century, eventually encompassing eleven square blocks of downtown Jacksonville. Several former pastors, including Homer G. Lindsay Jr. and Jerry Vines, were widely influential in the Southern Baptist Convention, leading it in both growth and a shift towards conservatism.

History

Early years

First Baptist Church traces its origins to Bethel Baptist Church (now Bethel Baptist Institutional Church), the earliest Baptist church to be founded in Jacksonville. Bethel Baptist was established under co-pastors James McDonald and Ryan Frier in July 1838 with only six charter members, four whites and two blacks, the latter of whom were slaves of white members. [4] [5] Membership quickly grew, with most early congregants being black slaves who received day passes from their masters to attend. [4] The first meetings were held at "Mother Sam's", a local plantation, and in 1861 a permanent meeting hall was erected in Downtown Jacksonville at Church and Julia Streets. [4] The Bethel Baptist Church remained interracial until after the American Civil War, at which point the decision was made to segregate the congregation by race. White members attempted to force out the blacks, and took their case to court. However, the court found in favor of the blacks, who were in the majority, determining that they were the rightful owners of the Bethel Baptist name and property. [4] As a result the whites left the congregation, forming Tabernacle Baptist Church, which was eventually renamed First Baptist Church. [5]

In 1866, Tabernacle Baptist Church purchased the Church Street property from Bethel Baptist Church, as was required by the court. [4] [5] The church went through a number of changes over the next years, and in 1892 it moved to its current location between Church and Hogan Streets, adopting the name First Baptist Church. [5] W.A. Hobson became pastor in May 1900 who served for 23 years. The building was entirely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1901, which ravaged downtown Jacksonville. In 1903, the foundation was laid for a new building, which was completed within a year. This building, now known as Hobson Auditorium, still serves as part of the larger First Baptist complex. [6] Len G. Broughton served as the next pastor of the church from 1923 to 1927.

20th century to present

The church did not fare well in the early 20th century. By 1940, First Baptist had accumulated a debt of $125,000 and saw its educational building repossessed by its creditors. That year, the church hired Homer Lindsay Sr. as their senior pastor. Under his leadership the church reversed its fortunes, and within a few years it paid off its debt, acquired a new education building, and grew its congregation. In 1969 First Baptist hired Lindsay's son, Homer G. Lindsay Jr., as co-pastor; he took over sole pastoral duties upon his father's retirement in 1975. Under Lindsay Jr. the church experienced even faster growth, emerging as a megachurch with thousands of members and many new buildings, including a new 3,500-seat auditorium. [6]

Jerry Vines joined Lindsay as co-pastor in 1982. First Baptist grew even further, becoming a major power in the Southern Baptist Convention and adding a 10,000-seat auditorium in 1993. Vines became a key leader in the growing Convention and was a major figure in its shift toward strict conservatism. [7] Vines and First Baptist Church received national attention in June 2002 for Vines' controversial statements regarding Islam. [8] Lindsay died in 2000 and Vines retired in 2006; Mac Brunson was hired as senior pastor that year. Recent developments include the establishment of First Baptist Academy and of a satellite campus of the church in neighboring St. Johns County. [6] Heath Lambert is the current senior pastor. [9]

In 2012, Bethel Baptist Church and First Baptist had a joint service, celebrating their 160th anniversary. [10] A second campus was established in Nocatee, Florida [11] First Baptist Church's attendance and influence has been declining for the past 20 years. [3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Jeff Brumley (December 16, 2009). "Churches lead effort to keep downtown Jacksonville alive". The Florida Times-Union . Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  2. ↑ "SBC 500". ThomRainer.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  3. 1 2 Soergel, Matt. "First Baptist's young leader wants to stem attendance drop, be 'better neighbor' downtown". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Bartley, pp. 13–14.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Rosser, p. 20.
  6. 1 2 3 "First Baptist Church: Our History". fbcjax.com. First Baptist Church Jacksonville. 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ Jeff Brumley (May 8, 2005). "First Baptist in sunset of an era". The Florida Times-Union . Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ Vines calls founder of Islam a 'demon-possessed pedophile' | Friday, June 14, 2002 Archived October 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Heath Lambert, Senior Pastor," FBC JAX, 2018. Retrieved 3 Nov. 2018.
  10. ↑ Pastor Rudolph McKissick, Sr preaches at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2019-08-30
  11. ↑ "First Baptist Church closer to $10M Nocatee campus | Jax Daily Record". Financial News & Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2019-08-30.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Road Baptist Church</span> Megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia

Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) is a Baptist megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia, located on the campus of Liberty University, which it founded and is closely affiliated with. In 2016, a church spokesperson stated they had an average weekly attendance of 9,000. The pastor is Jonathan Falwell, the son of previous Senior Pastor Jerry Falwell and brother of former Liberty University President, Jerry Falwell Jr. In addition to a second campus, Dan River Church, Thomas Road also hosts a Spanish congregation on its main campus. It is affiliated with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Charles Jerry Vines is an American preacher and former pastor of what was then the nation's third largest Southern Baptist church, the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida. Like his former co-pastor Homer G. Lindsay Jr., Vines is well known for his conservative and sometimes controversial public stances, as well as his wide-reaching influence in the Southern Baptist Convention and the local political arena. He retired from the First Baptist pulpit on February 7, 2006, and was succeeded by Mac Brunson. On February 4, 2007, Brunson named Vines Pastor Emeritus of the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddleback Church</span> Church in other locations across the world, United States

Saddleback Church is an evangelical, non-denominational Christian multi-site megachurch based in Lake Forest, California. It is the largest church in California, and one of the largest in the United States of America. The church has several campuses in California and around the world, as well as a number of extensions. Weekly church attendance was 30,000 people in 2023. Its senior pastor is Andy Wood, and his wife, Stacie Wood, is a teaching pastor. Saddleback was formerly associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, until 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis)</span> Church in Minnesota, United States

Bethlehem Baptist Church is a Baptist Evangelical megachurch based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is affiliated with Converge North Central and Converge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church (Hammond, Indiana)</span> Church in Indiana, United States

The First Baptist Church of Hammond is an Independent Fundamental Baptist megachurch in Hammond, Indiana, a suburb of Chicago. It is the largest church in the state of Indiana, and in 2007 was the 20th largest in the United States. Though founded in 1887 by Allen Hill, it was under Jack Hyles' leadership from 1959–2001 when it became one of the megachurches in the United States and during the 1970s, had the highest Sunday school attendance of any church in the world. In 1990, the church had a weekly attendance of 20,000. It also operates Hyles-Anderson College, a non-accredited institution established for the training of pastors and missionaries, and two K-12 schools, called 'City Baptist Schools' and 'Hammond Baptist Schools'. John Wilkerson is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) is a Baptist theological institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Missions and evangelism are core focuses of the seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross Church (Northwest Arkansas)</span> Church in Arkansas, United States

Cross Church is a Baptist multi-site megachurch based in Springdale, Arkansas, United States. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Across its three campuses, Cross Church is one of the largest churches in the state of Arkansas. The senior pastor is Nick Floyd, son of Ronnie Floyd- longtime senior pastor of Cross Church for thirty years when he left to become full-time CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside Baptist Church</span> Historic church in Florida, United States

Riverside Church at Park and King, formerly known as Riverside Baptist Church, is a predominantly Baptist ecumenical congregation located in Jacksonville, Florida, at 2650 Park Street in the Riverside neighborhood. It is affiliated with the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel Church (Jacksonville, Florida)</span> Historic church in Florida, United States

The Bethel Church is a historically-black Baptist megachurch in Jacksonville, Florida, in the United States. Founded in 1838, it is the city's oldest Baptist congregation. The attendance is 12,000 members. The senior pastor is Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick Jr. The historic church building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Jacksonville)</span> Historic church in Florida, United States

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a historic Catholic church in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. A parish church in the Diocese of St. Augustine, it represents Jacksonville's oldest Catholic congregation. The current building, dating to 1910, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and was named a minor basilica in 2013. It is located at 121 East Duval Street; its current pastor is Father Jan Ligeza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooddale Church</span> Church in Minnesota, United States

Wooddale Church is a Baptist multi-site evangelical Christian church located in Eden Prairie, Edina and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is affiliated with Converge and the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walnut Street Baptist Church (Louisville, Kentucky)</span>

Walnut Street Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist, Christian former megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky. It is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, Kentucky Baptist Convention, and the Long Run Baptist Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baptist Health (Jacksonville)</span> Faith-based health system in the southern United States

Baptist Health (Jacksonville) is a faith-based, non-profit health system comprising 6 hospitals with 1,168 beds, a cancer center, four satellite emergency departments and more than 200 patient access points of care, including 50 primary care offices located throughout northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. The headquarter is in Jacksonville, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church Dallas</span> House of worship in Texas, US

First Baptist Dallas is a Baptist megachurch located in Dallas, Texas established since 1868. It is affiliated with the SBC. The Downtown Dallas Church is historically considered influential as a denominational leader among Protestant Churches in the United States serving as a successful model through its involvement of several legacy community missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church (Charleston, South Carolina)</span>

First Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Charleston, South Carolina. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The congregation was founded in 1682 under the leadership of William Screven. It is one of the oldest Baptist congregations in the American South. The church congregation was originally organized in Kittery, Maine under the guidance of the First Baptist Church of Boston. In 1696 twenty-six congregants followed Pastor Screven and moved to Charleston after being pressured by the New England Congregationalist authorities. The relocated congregation became the First Baptist Church of Charleston. Pastor Screven recommended that any future pastor be "orthodox in faith, and of blameless life, and does own the confession of faith put forth by our brethren in London in 1689" declaring the church to be firmly Calvinist. First Baptist Church is currently affiliated with the Southern Baptist denomination. The current Greek Revival sanctuary was designed by Robert Mills and built in 1820.

The Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) is a group of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention located in the U.S. state of Florida. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the convention is made up of 49 Baptist associations and around 2,900 churches as of 2010. The FBC is currently led by Dr. John Thomas "Tommy" Green III when he was named the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention as of May 31, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepherd Church</span> Church in USA

Shepherd Church is a nondenominational megachurch based in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California, USA. The senior pastor is Dudley Rutherford.

Donald McCall "Mac" Brunson is an American Baptist minister who was the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) megachurch. Previously, he served as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and in 2018 took over as the senior pastor of Hoover, Alabama's Valleydale Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church of Glenarden</span> Church in Maryland, United States

First Baptist Church of Glenarden International or FBCG is a Baptist Evangelical megachurch located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It is affiliated with Converge. Weekly church attendance was 12,000 people in 2022. The senior pastor is John K. Jenkins Sr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Baptist Temple</span> Church in Ohio, United States

Akron Baptist Temple was a Baptist house of worship located on Manchester Road in Akron, Ohio. The congregation first met in 1934 and the church was officially organized a year later. In the years that followed, Akron Baptist Temple grew to be one of the first megachurches in the United States, and at its peak was considered the largest church in North America. The church building was sold in 2019 and the congregation moved to Coventry Township and renamed themselves as Connect Church.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.