THE SECOND 25 YEARS OF FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH
The account of the First 25 Years of Faith Baptist Church ends with the statement “There have been
many changes in the story of Faith.” Documenting additional changes as well as summarizing activities
and accomplishments is the intention of “The Second 25 Years of Faith Baptist Church.”
In the Fall of 1993, under the leadership of Don Maurice, head of the Diaconate, “Operation Sunshine”
was implemented. Each Diaconate member assumed responsibility for 8-10 church families and
established a rapport with them, remembered birthdays and anniversaries, addressed needs and wants,
and listened to suggestions or complaints. Pertinent information was then relayed to the pastor. Twice a
month the members also visited shut-ins or called on visitors. After a Capital Funds Campaign and
selection of an architect, in November 1993 Faith Baptist broke ground for the third building phase:
addition of the Family Life Center and renovation of the existing facility.
In January 1994, under the leadership of Art Koppin, the Board of Managers approved creating
Outreach Programs as a Standing Committee to assume some of the responsibilities of Operation
Sunshine. On Women’s Sunday in February everything from ushering to conducting the worship service
to preaching the sermon was done by ladies of the church. Other activities during the year were Spring
cleanup of the church and grounds, a Mother-Daughter evening, the annual homemade ice cream
social and the Fall Festival. When Youth Pastor Tim Atkins left in October, Eric and Kim Osterle became
interim leaders of TCBYG – The Country’s Best Youth Group. Our ABM group organized a Promise
Keepers chapter and ABW circles published a cookbook of recipes submitted by church members and
friends. The Family Life Center was completed in November and in December the children presented a
Christmas Pageant featuring the cherub choir.
Faith Baptist’s music program was enhanced in 1995 with the hiring in the Spring of Ron Layton
and Pat Arthur becoming Director of Handbells in the Fall. On May 21 there was a Dedication Service
for the Family Life Center and the Community Room was officially named Judson Hall as a tribute to
Adoniram Judson who was a Baptist missionary to Burma. TCBYG showed Christ’s love by assisting an
elderly lady with chores, visiting with her and raising $40 a month to help her pay for a grave marker for
her recently deceased husband. They also befriended a man from the Rescue Mission who needed
encouragement. Along those same lines, some Diaconate members established a Helping Hands Group
to help the elderly of the congregation with repairs and to provide transportation when needed.
Church-wide Fall activities included a Women’s Retreat and adult volleyball games in the Family Life
Center gym on Wednesday evenings.
The Board of Managers, chaired by Bruce Thorpe, in 1996 recommended hiring an Associate Pastor.
Job focus would be to lead junior and senior youth and also manage scheduling use of the Family Life
Center. A search committee was formed to review applicants for this position. Karen Skelton stepped
away from being Pre-school Director and was replaced by Doreatha Walls. Faith Baptist was one of
several host churches for the Indiana Baptist Convention held at the Grand Wayne Center in October.
Women of the church again had a Fall Retreat at Tippecanoe Baptist Camp. A scoreboard for the gym
was donated in memory of Keith Egly.
Palm Sunday, 1997, was celebrated in Judson Hall with a Seder Service that included explanations of
the elements of the traditional Jewish Seder meal. On Maunday Thursday “The Last Supper” drama was
presented in the sanctuary by men of the church dressed as the Apostles. Mark Eades was hired as
Associate Pastor in August and was “big” on initials. His youth group program was based on the
Intelligence Circle of the CIA which stood for Christians in Action. The letters in Circle represented
Connection Alliance, Information Team, Research Corps, Covert Aids, Lookout Force, and Encounter
Operations. These provided the opportunity for learning Bible basics, finding Biblically
based answers to real life situations and sharing Christ’s message with each other and friends, in
addition to having fun. The Fellowship and Special Days Committee honored new members and
families with a Newcomers’ Luncheon and their short biographies were featured in the Faithfinder.
The Dare to Care program which focused on members and regular attenders was officially named and
adopted. Six donors supplied funds for a lighted sign with changeable letters to be placed near the
cross on the north side of the building.
With emphasis on Dare to Care in 1998, 2072 contacts were made through home visits, phone calls
and mailed notes. The CIA’s Research Corps perfected several plays using puppets and shared them on
a mission trip to an orphanage in Reynosa, Mexico. The group also worked at learning Black Light
Theater.
After approval by the Board of Managers, chaired at this time by Jim Corya, recarpeting of hallways,
narthex, sanctuary and offices was done in 1999. The parking lot was resurfaced, too, so it was a year of
taking care of God’s property, both inside and out. The AWANA Program was begun on Wednesday
evenings for children from FBC and the community, with helpers being provided by the youth. A
Black Light Theater performance was presented in May and the CIA made a second mission trip to
Reynosa. Faith Baptist was a sponsoring congregation for the Millennium Celebration in November at
The Grand Wayne Center.
Dare to Care contacts in 2000 numbered 2515. Centering around a NASCAR theme, the youth group
was renamed Team 7, focusing on the “need for speed” to tell friends about salvation before Jesus
comes. Since Standing Committees of the Board were renamed Diaconate Ministries, a Ministry Fair
was held to encourage congregants to become involved. A farewell reception honored Music Director
Ron Layton, and Karl Reutz was hired as Associate Pastor and Director of Music in June. New decorations
for the sanctuary were purchased in time for the special program “Bringing Home Christmas.”
Mark Eades moved away from Fort Wayne in the Spring and Brad Bowditch was hired for the Youth
Pastor position in September, 2002. The AWANA program was in its fifth year. During a Talent Show
presented during the Chili Supper, several people entertained using their special abilities. To complete
the refurbishing of the sanctuary project begun in 1999, the gold upholstery on the pews was replaced
with teal fabric. Presentation of “The Christmas Shoes” by a drama group of church members and the
choir touched many hearts as the year ended.
A pyramid-shaped skylight in the narthex was added in 2003 and the large white cross on the north
lawn was painted. Sara Heminger became Director of Faith Baptist Pre-School Academy in 2004. At this
time, Bruce Wight was Chairman of the Board. Changes in the children’s ministry occurred when
AWANA was discontinued on Wednesday nights and the Promiseland Program began on Sunday
evenings. A highlight of the year was the Patriotic Singers Special presented by the choir in July.
A Ladies Book Club was organized in 2005 by Diane McCammon and Girls Guild was established to
introduce 4th, 5th and 6th grade girls to the work of ABW. After Karl Reutz resigned in the summer, Tim
Brewer accepted the position of Worship Organizer. Standing Committees serving the church were
re-titled Diaconate Ministries in 2006, and Kids Care, the children’s version of Dare to Care, began.
The 40th Anniversary of Faith Baptist Church was recognized in May, 2008 with a Family and Friends
Weekend. There was a Sunday service of celebration that welcomed former staff, and former choir
members were invited to join in singing the anthem. Pastor Baker and Connie joined us for the event
and Joe delivered the message. Following the service there was a carry in dinner in Judson Hall.
In 2008, Faithfully Fit, an adult cardio and exercise group led by Joan Bromelmeier, met weekly in
the Family Life Center. Kids Care continued sending notes to children and made lap quilts for nursing
home residents. The name of Sunday School for youngsters officially became Life 24/7: Living In Faith
Eternally, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lights were added to the parking lot when it was resurfaced,
and lights for trees on the entrance drive were donated by a church member.
2009 was a year of big changes at Faith Baptist. Brad Bowditch resigned as Director of Youth in
February. Pastor Roberts retired in April. The Board of Managers, chaired by Tom Theard, approved
Ron Kerr as Interim Pastor in May. In September Sarah Deans Adams became Director of Youth. A search
committee was formed to begin the process of finding a Senior Pastor.
The committee’s job was completed in August 2010. The Board of Managers, led by David Skelton,
approved the acceptance by Steven J. Roper from Triniity Baptist Church in Marion, Ohio, to become
Senior Pastor at Faith Baptist. The congregation unanimously accepted the Board’s recommendation.
Moving to Fort Wayne with Steven were his wife Sheila and young sons Caleb and Joshua. Before they
arrived, a Farewell and Appreciation Gathering was held for Pastor Kerr and his wife Natalie. Owing to
the seriousness of Pastor Kerr’s failing eyesight, the congregation gifted him with a special reader for his
computer. After Pastor Steve’s installation, Ropers were welcomed with a reception in Judson Hall.
Through the years the Outreach Programs Standing Committee added by the Board in 1994 ceased to
exist. Therefore, in 2011 the Board of Managers, chaired by Lowell Shepler, formed a Diaconate Ministry
for Outreach to pursue involvement in the community and to connect with guests. The Rising Stars
Program of Fort Wayne Community Schools arranged for Faith Baptist volunteers to become involved
in Study Connection, providing once-a-week after school tutoring sessions for 24 teacher-recommended
students at Brentwood Elementary School. Additionally, our congregation has continued to provide
50 – 70 backpacks and school supplies for 100+ Brentwood students in August each year.
Pastor Roper researched the UPWARD Basketball and Cheerleading Program and arranged for
Faith Baptist to participate and learn its operation by partnering with St. Joe Methodist Church. The
nearly 200 registrants were divided into teams. Some of them practiced on weekday evenings and
played games on Saturdays in the Family Life Center for 8 weeks during January and February.
Volunteers from the congregation worked as coaches, referees, scorekeepers, schedulers, devotion
leaders, concessioneers, etc. to make the program a success.
Sarah Adams left the Youth Director’s position in June, 2011, and FBC youth were led by interim
volunteers the Pettyjohns and Shireys. A Vision Team was established by the pastor to produce a
Mission Document with implementation strategies. The team also determined the church’s Core Values
and developed the Mission Statement: GO, GATHER, GROW. Because his job required relocating, Tim
Brewer left the position of Worship Organizer. Richard Bicknase, a college student who had assisted Tim,
was hired on a part-time basis as a replacement.
Focus on Prayer was the overlying theme of 2012: the congregation committed to 40 days of prayer
during Lent; a service was held on the National Day of Prayer; groups of church members did prayer
walks around Faith Baptist Preschool, Croninger and Brentwood Elementary Schools just before Fall
term began; and there were prayer sessions in November preceding government elections. In June,
after being hired as Pastor of Student and Campus Ministries, Anthony R. (Tony) Gualtieri moved to
Fort Wayne with Kelli, his wife, and their two daughters Olivia and Claire. In December of that year
Pastor Steve attained a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Ashland Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.
The following Spring (2013) Richard left as Music Director and Cheri Erickson volunteered to be
Interim director. A praise team including Angela Zimmerman, Kelli Gualtieri and Kathleen Hinkle was
formed to lead contemporary songs during second service. Dv8, the junior-senior high youth group,
made a Mission Trip to Valley, Alabama in early summer. The Parents Day Out Program was dissolved
for financial reasons. For the fourth consecutive year, weekly custodial care of the building was done by
volunteers. An international-themed Thanksgiving meal honored our guests, the Dorans, who are
missionaries supported in part by the church, and many of the carry-in dishes were like ones in the
countries where several of our missionaries serve.
Spencer Crilly was hired as Worship Leader in January, 2014. A Praise Band for the contemporary
service was organized with Spencer and Pastor Tony playing guitar, Josh Hettinger on bass guitar, and
Angela Zimmerman and Caleb Roper on drums. The Board of Managers, led at this time by Lowell
Shepler, established a Mid-year Business Meeting of the congregation for the purpose of approving
nominees for Diaconate Ministries so they can experience a 6-month apprenticeship before their terms
of office begin. Joe Marden was hired part time as custodian. Savannah, Georgia was the site of Dv8’s
summer mission trip. The Family Ministries Diaconate Team published short bios of members and
regular attenders in the bulletin each Sunday. This Focus on the Family of Faith Baptist project took a
year and a half to complete and helped people know more about each other.
2015 was the Year of the Bible at Faith Baptist; small group and Sunday School studies as well as
weekly sermons were based on The Story written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee. Pastor Tony
graduated from Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana in December, 2015 with a Master of Arts Degree in
Youth and Family Ministry. During that year also, Mission Serve, a company that organizes mission
trips, engaged Faith Baptist as a host church. Neighbor Link of Fort Wayne determined job sites for
roofing, painting or building handicap ramps and Pastor Tony and helpers organized the undertaking.
150 -180 participants representing 8 churches from 7 states were housed in the Family Life Center and
Pre-school classrooms during the week. Breakfasts and suppers prepared daily by Kim Hettinger and a
kitchen crew were served in Judson Hall. Sack lunches, donated and packed by volunteers from our
congregation and one or two local churches, were delivered to each work site every day. Cleaning of the
bathrooms, shower trailer, and rest of the building, as well as trash removal, were done each morning
by several Faith Baptist people. Worship services occurred each evening in the sanctuary, followed by
free time for the kids until Lights Out at 11 p.m. Things went so smoothly that Mission Serve asked Faith
Baptist for a 5-year host commitment.
With approval by the staff and Board of Managers chaired by Dennis McClurg, in 2015 Kim Hettinger
developed and managed an After-School Care program which took place in the Family Life Center. The
44 children who participated were served a daily snack, took part in devotions and sharing, worked on
homework, did craft projects and had playground time. In 2016 the enrollment increased to 65, and
with the addition of Before-School Care in 2017, 90 children were involved. Kim’s staff grew to six
part-time employees. Playground equipment for school age children was purchased in the Fall of 2017
with monies realized from enrollment fees. This fenced play area is located on the east side of the
Family Life Center.
In 2016 the church’s focus on Discipleship led to a change of wording in our Mission Statement. To
make disciples, we need to gather people in worship and experience fellowship with them. We want to
help them grow in their faith through study, discussions and sharing. We then want to go into the
community as witnesses, showing Christ’s love through acts of service and concern for others.
Thus, GO, GATHER, GROW became GATHER, GROW, GO. In July the second Fort Wayne Mission Serve
Week ran quite smoothly. Local residents who received free labor provided by the work crews were
most appreciative and felt truly blessed. In addition to resealing and re-striping the parking lot, the
church was able to replace the white van with a red one, purchase a 12-passenger bus, and buy an
industrial size refrigerator for the main kitchen.
After several months of fact finding and investigation by an ad hoc committee chaired by Pastor
Steve, the Board of Managers, under the leadership of Steve Sliger, recommended that Faith Baptist
Church dissociate from ABC/USA. The liberal stance which the denomination has taken on
homosexuality, becoming gender neutral, and the role of women as pastors has elevated the Baptist
distinctive of autonomy above the Word of God. A petition supporting the Board’s recommendation was
signed by 73% of our members in October, 2017 and a letter stating our decision was sent to the
Indiana/Kentucky Regional Office of American Baptist Churches in November.
Additionally, our Board of Managers recommended that Faith Baptist Church affiliate with the
Northern Baptist Association because of the uncertainty surrounding the United States Government and
its support of and possible attempt to dictate to churches in the future. Rather than becoming an
Independent Baptist Church, being part of a larger body will be an advantage. It will also provide the
opportunity to interact with other Association churches, one of the defining characteristics of Baptist
life. Information sessions, question and answer opportunities and a visit from the Indiana, Michigan and
Ohio Regional Director for the NBA took place. At the Annual Meeting December 10, 2017, the
congregation voted to join the Northern Baptist Association.
Several outreach programs have developed within the last few years. Tana Theard has handled the
church-wide Baby Bottle Campaign for Hope Center in January or February. Persons wishing to
participate place their loose change in a bottle supplied by the Center and return it at month’s end.
Proceeds are used to purchase baby items needed by girls helped by the center.
Through the leadership of Laura Corya we have supported Wounded American Veterans for several
Years. The Pathfinders Sunday School Class and some of the Gather Groups have each “adopted” a
Veteran, providing Christmas gifts for him and members of his family. The congregation-at-large has
donated food and gift cards for gasoline, restaurants and groceries. In some instances monthly food
gifts to the adopted families have continued throughout the year.
A weekly Tuesday morning women’s Bible study, initiated by Deanna Brewer in 2011 was led by
Cheryl Troup from 2013-2015 after Brewers relocated to Cincinnati. Judy Moore assumed leadership
in 2016 and the number of participants grew from 8 in 2011 to 25 in 2017; not all the women are
from Faith Baptist. The group officially named itself 5L Bible Study: Lively, Lovely Ladies Leaning on the
Lord. Pastor Steve conducts a Wednesday morning Seniors’ Bible study at the church and a small one at
Savannah Springs Apartments twice a month on Thursdays.
An evening meal on the second Wednesday of each month for families of Pre-School and School Care
children was initiated in 2017 by Outreach Ministries. To establish rapport and get to know these people
families of Ministry committee members and volunteers from the congregation and staff shared the
meal with approximately 100 participants each month.
Constants through the years in the life of Faith Baptist Church and when they began have been:
American Baptist Women’s Group – 1968; Baptist Youth Fellowship -1968; Softball Team – 1970; Vaca-
tion Bible School – 1971; Pre-school – 1972; Bible Sunday for 3rd Graders – early 1970’s; Chili Supper
and Pie Auction – 1970’s; XYZ – 1977; American Baptist Men’s Group –1978; Handbell Choir – 1981;
Teacher Appreciation – 1994; Fall Festival – 1994; Dare to Care – 1997; Talent Show – 2002; Ladies Book
Club – 2005; Contemporary Church Service – 2014.
Traditions that have been repeated include Food Collection for Associated Churches Foodbank on the
first Sunday of each month, the Egg Hunt for children, High School and College Graduation Sunday, the all-church bonfire, Thanksgiving Feast, Hanging of the Greens, Lighting of the Advent Candles and
Christmas Eve Service.
Just like any family, in the 50 years of its existence our church family has had its ups and downs,
its happy times and sad times, its challenges and accomplishments. Led by steadfast, God-directed
leaders we have experienced all of these milestones together. We have learned from “mistakes,”
made necessary adjustments, forgiven and forgotten. We can see plainly WHERE WE’VE BEEN. In the
next 50 years we will remain strong as a family, continue to share the Good News, strive to do God’s
will, and be guided by the Holy Spirit. It will be exciting to see WHERE WE ARE GOING!!