OUR CORE VALUES

Family

We value family. We believe family to be the building block of society. We think that God has ordained the family to be the source of growth, love, and nurture. We desire to serve and encourage every family's well-being and future. (1 Timothy 5: 8)

Friendship

We value friendship. we understand that friends are an important and necessary part of life. Friendships enable us to belong to something larger than ourselves. We desire Faith Baptist to be a welcoming place where friendships are started and cultivated. (Romans 12:10)

Spiritual Growth

We value spiritual growth. We believe spiritual growth to be a process led by the Holy Spirit. We seek to consistently teach biblical truths and apply them to life. In doing this, we seek to develop the person of faith into a mature follower of Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Compassion

We value compassion. We, as the people of God, are to exhibit compassion in the way we live. We seek to be loving and merciful by helping people and reacting to circumstances with no expectation of recognition or reward. (Colossians 3:12)

Traditions

We value traditions. While not traditional, we desire to remember and respect our past. We celebrate important people, events, and practices making sure to connect them to our present and future. (Colossians 2:8)

OUR BELIEFS

God

We believe in one, true God who exists eternally in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Luke 3:22, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3); his virgin birth (John 1:14); his sinless life (Hebrews 4:15); his atoning death on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:22); his bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36-43); his ascension into heaven (Hebrews 4:14-16); and his coming again. (Acts 1:11)

Holy Spirit

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict people of sin (John 16:8); regenerate the believer (1 Corinthians 12:13); indwell the believer (Ephesians 5:18); guide believers in daily life (John 16:13); and counsel believers in godly living. (John 14:16, 16:7)

The Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, inerrant and infallible in its original writings. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21)

Salvation

We believe salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7, 1 Peter 1:18-19). We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30, Romans 8:1, 38-39)

Church

We believe in the one, true church, Christ’s body and bride (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-32), composed of all believers (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), and existing to bring glory to Christ and to fulfill his mission. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Ordinances

We believe that baptism after a profession of faith by immersion and the Lord’s supper are the two ordinances commanded of believers in the New Testament. (Acts 2:41-42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Future Life

We believe in the personal, literal, glorious, and bodily return of Christ, the conscious existence of the dead (Philippians 1:21-23, Luke 16:19-31), the resurrection of the body (John 5:28-29), the judgment and reward of believers (Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10), the judgment and punishment of unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15), the eternal life of the saved (John 3:16), and the eternal punishment of the unsaved. (Matthew 25:46, Revelation 20:15)

Marriage

We believe that throughout the history of the Christian faith and the Church of Jesus Christ, marriage has always been defined as being between one man and one woman for one lifetime. The Bible is clear on its teaching about this. In Genesis 2, God creates man and woman. Verses 24-25 state that because Adam and Eve were created man and woman they were married and became one flesh. Later, in the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus taught that marriage was for one man and one woman for one lifetime. (Matthew 19)

Therefore, it is our intent to remain true to the teaching of scripture and to remain under the authority of the Bible. To that end, Faith Baptist Church will only perform and house weddings between one man and one woman. Furthermore, it is expected that any pastor of Faith Baptist Church will only perform weddings between one man and one woman.

Homosexuality

We believe that the Bible teaches we are to love all people. Romantic love, however, is to be between one man and one woman. Therefore, we believe the Bible clearly states that the homosexual lifestyle is a sin (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27). It is not the unforgivable sin. For those struggling with this, there is a God who loves you (1 John 4:10) and desires to free you from this just as he desires to free the one who struggles with gossip, pornography, lying, adultery, or any other sin. (1 John 1:9)

OUR HISTORY

October 1967 - Rev. Joseph L. Baker, selected by American Baptist Churches, started a new church in Ft. Wayne through Adult Inquiry Groups which met in homes.

January 1968 - Five existing A.I.G.'s held corporate worship at Croninger School and periodically at Towne House Retirement Center chapel. Church name selected. American Baptist Women group formed.

September 1969 - Ground breaking for first building phase (class¬room wings, narthex, and sanctuary); initial use of facility, September 1970. Spring, 1970 - First softball team. Fall - Boy Scout Troop #430 began meeting in the church.

June 1971 - First Vacation Bible School at Faith.

Fall 1972 - First classes taught at Faith Baptist Nursery School.

September 1974 - Ground breaking for second building phase (enlargement of sanctuary, both wings, addition of Judson Hall & Youth Center).

August 1976 - First Minister of Youth hired the Rev. Tom Roberts.

January 1977 - First Minister of Music, David McMann. November - Xtra Years of Zest Club formed for senior citizens. Sponsorship and ordination of lay missionaries John and Loretta Rupp.

September 1978 - Bill Heins became Minster of Music. American Baptist Men fellowship organized.

January 1979 - Bo Sims hired as Minister of Youth and Christian Education. September - Mothers Day Out program launched.

January 1980 - First Director of Youth Choirs, Becky Baker, employed. April - sponsored by the church and Missions Committee, the Vongpraseuth family arrived from Laos. November - chaplaincy service by Faith Baptist provided to the Towne House Community.

Fall 1981 - First performance by the Handbell Choir.

July 1983 - Dr. Baker accepted a call to a church in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Church leadership by interim pastor and lay people of congregation.

April 1984 - Richard Goins selected as pastor by Search Committee and members.

April 1985 - Bo accepted a call to a church in South Carolina. Karen Skelton hired as Nursery School Director.

Summer 1986 - Pastor Goins moved to Wisconsin. Operation of church by interim pastor and lay persons.

November 1987 - The Rev. Dennis Roberts from Flint, MI accepted our call to become pastor of Faith Baptist.

May 1988 - 20th Anniversary of the church celebrated. June - former Campus Life Ministry coordinator, Tim Atkins, hired as Youth Pastor; formation of The Country's Best Youth Group.

Winter 1989 - First church bus purchased.

July 1990 - Sara Heminger chosen as Director of Christian Education and Youth Choirs.

February 1992 - Arrival of Burmese student, Joshua Maung, sponsored by Missions Committee and church members.

Summer 1993 - Joshua's brother John, joined him. October - Operation program, implemented by the Diaconate. November - ground breaking for third building phase: renovation of existing facility and addition of Family Life Center.

Fall 1994 - Family Life Center completed.

Spring 1995 - Ron Layton became Music Director.

Fall 1995 - Pat Arthur became Handbell Director.

Fall, 1996 - Doreatha Walls became Director of the Faith Baptist Church Preschool.

August 1997 - Mark Eades became Associate Pastor Family and Youth Ministry and established the CIA youth group.

May 2001 – Ron Layton resigned as music director.

June 2001 – Karl Ruetz was hired as Associate Pastor and Music Director.

September 2002 – Brad Bowditch began as Director of Youth.

May 2004 – Doreatha Walls resigned as Director of Preschool.

June 2004 – Sara Heminger – accepted position of Preschool Academy Director.

Summer of 2005 – Karl Ruetz resigned as Associate Pastor and Music Director.

Summer of 2005 – Tim Brewer accepted the position of Worship Organizer.

February 2009 – Brad Bowditch resigned as Director of Youth.

April 2009 – Pastor Dennis Roberts retired.

May 2009 – Ron Kerr began as Interim Pastor.

September 2009 –Sarah Deans Adams began as Director of Youth.

August 2010 - The Rev. Steven Roper from Marion, OH accepted our call to become pastor of Faith Baptist.

Faith Baptist Church

Engaging People To Know Jesus

OUR VISION

Matthew 28: 19-20