History of First Baptist Church Alabaster
On the evening of September 12, 1957, a group of twenty-four people met in the home of John and Ila Smith to pray for guidance in organizing a Baptist church in Alabaster. With the words of Matthew 9:29, “Be it done to you according to your faith,” the group began meeting in various homes and started a Sunday School. On October 13, 1957, the name “First Baptist Church of Alabaster” was adopted and the church, with 44 charter members, moved into the basement of the Hi-way Café on Main Street in Alabaster.
In November of 1957, Rev. Marion Corley became the first pastor. A permanent home was needed for the church and eight lots were purchased in Alabaster. Construction was begun on a building for educational and nursery space. The congregation, now with 87 members and a Sunday School enrollment of 128, moved into these facilities in November of 1958. The church was accepted into the Shelby Baptist Association on October 7, 1959 with a membership of 127.
In July of 1961, groundbreaking ceremonies were held and construction was begun on the first sanctuary. This was completed in 1962 and the church now had over 200 members. Bro. Corley was called to the Foreign Mission Board and he resigned as pastor effective July 23, 1962.
Rev. Billy Kennedy was called as pastor on September 30, 1962. Under his leadership, attendance continued to grow. He had a strong influence upon the young people. The newsletter, The Messenger, was started during his tenure. Bro Kennedy resigned as pastor effective January 3, 1965.
Rev. Olen Nall became pastor in July of 1965. Other buildings were added to the site including the first two story educational building that was completed in the summer of 1973. Full-time staff persons were also added. Plans were under way to construct a larger sanctuary and additional educational space when in February of 1980, Bro. Nall was killed in an automobile accident. At the time of his death, the church had grown to over 900 members.
Dr. Wayne Crumpton began his ministry as pastor of First Baptist in September of 1980. Construction plans that were being developed were expanded. This resulted in the construction of educational space for preschool and the new sanctuary, dedicated in December of 1982. Other buildings were added in 1986 and the church now had over 1400 members.
By 1988, church membership had grown to over 1800 members and two morning worship services were necessary. In 1994 the church adopted the plans to build a Family Life Center and in October of 1996, the church moved into this facility that also housed our Student Sunday School area and a well-equipped kitchen. A Music Suite was also added.
By 2001, the church had grown to over 2700 members making it necessary to go to two Sunday School hours and worship services. The parking lot on the north side of the building was expanded and the church began purchasing homes on the south side of the church property for the projected growth of First Baptist. Groundbreaking was held in July of 2001 for the first phase of a revised master building plan. This phase included a new Children and Preschool building which was completed in March of 2002. As a further feature of this phase of our building plan, the sanctuary was completely renovated in the Spring of 2003 and was re-dedicated on May 25, 2003. Additional work was completed to add parking and landscaping on the southeast area of the property around the Fellowship Hall.
On the evening of September 7, 2003, “Brother Wayne” announced his intentions to retire effective December 31, 2003. After twenty-three faithful years of service, he has led the First Baptist Church to triple in size not only numerically but also in facilities. More than that, he has led us all to be more faithful in our commitment to Jesus as Lord.
A Pastor Search Committee presented the man God has prepared to lead this church into an even brighter future of ministry. By a resounding and overwhelming vote of the congregation on November 6, 2005, Dr. Neil A. Knierim was called to be the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Alabaster. From a small, but faithful beginning of 44 members to a church with over 2,700 members, God has truly blessed this church with continuous growth and ministry to this community. May we continue to move forward in our “journey of faith.”
