NEW COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
OUR HISTORY
Several years ago, God laid on the hearts of the congregation at Riverdale Baptist Church and Pastor Glenn Stuart to begin a daughter church. In obedience to God's leading, they started gathering advice from many involved in church planting. As the plans began to take form, they also began to look for someone who would be willing to come to the Flint area and take on the leadership role in this undertaking.
Ray and Linda Smith were contacted by then Pastor Bob Bolander and asked to come on staff at Riverdale for an associate pastor position and then transition into the role of pastor of the daughter church. Pastor Smith and his family agreed to come to the Flint area and arrived in August 1991. As he worked on staff at Riverdale, Pastor Smith also began seeking out people who would be willing to work with him in developing a ministry in the area set out by the leaders at Riverdale.
Five couples and three singles from Riverdale agreed to come alongside and help Pastor Smith and his family in the ministry. For several months much prayer and many meetings went into planning, setting up the structure and policies of the new ministry. In September 1992, we rented a room at the Jordan college on Jennings Road where we began to meet together as a church.
As the months went on and some problems arose within the college, we decided to look for another place to meet. After some searching, the Lord led us to a church building that was listed for sale on Hammond Avenue, just off Corunna Road where we moved in March 1994. The building continued to be listed for sale, but we felt that this was a good place for us because of its location and the full use of the building for our ministry. We began to see some numeric growth as we had some stability in a 'permanent' location. While we were there we made the decision to incorporate as a church, and in October 1994, we officially became a 'church' with a membership of 22.
Early in 1995, the pastor at Westwood on Clio Road contacted Pastor Smith, talking to him about possibly using their facility along with his congregation. Again, this was the Lord working on our behalf, preparing the next step for us. We soon learned that the people who owned the Hammond Avenue building were presented with a purchase agreement from another group. The agreement was accepted, and we needed to move on again. We accepted the offer to use Westwood's building for our meetings and moved there in August 1995.
Shortly after our move, the Westwood pastor resigned, leaving that congregation without a pastor. They continued to meet togther, trying to decide whether to call another pastor or to disband and sell the building. Early in 1996, they decided to disband. We hoped we would be given the first chance to purchase the building when it became available. However, another group gave them a purchase offer, which they accepted, and again we were looking for another place to meet. Since we were not able to find a place that we felt would work for us then, Riverdale Baptist Church offered to allow us to meet in the gymnasium until we could find a building. We moved there in September 1996 and used their facility for approximately two years, truly appreciating their graciousness.
During the time we were at Riverdale, we continued to look for the building that the Lord was preparing for us. Early in 1998, it became apparent that another church in the area was going to end its ministry and there was the possibility of their church building becoming available for purchase. Many things transpired after we first heard that information. The result being that the Lord worked all things out so that we were able to purchase the building and move into it at the end of July 1998, with our first service being held there on August 2, 1998.
It would take much time to tell you all the things that have happened and to mention each person involved that has made it possible to celebrate together today. Suffice it to say, that during the time that we have been established, we have seen many lives touched by our ministry, some changed and others challenged. We have at times all been pushed beyond what we saw as our limit, but the Word of God tells us not to become weary in the work set before us, because we will reap if we faint not (Ga. 6:9). And so we have continued on.
"Our rejoicing is this...that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God..." (2 Cor. 1:12) we have been allowed to make a difference in many lives, and with the grace of God, will continue to do so until our Lord returns.