First Baptist Church Of Rock Island

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The First Baptist Church Of Rock Island began when a group of seven people met in a small cabin in June of 1817.

As membership grew, they met in several locations and then bought an old brick school house in the center of Spencer Square, which is now downtown Rock Island.

In 1844 several churches in Illinois between New Boston and Galena formed the Rock Island Baptist Association.

In 1853 several members of the congregation asked for letters of dismissal so they could organize First Baptist Church of Moline.

In 1921 the first permanent building was erected at  3rd Avenue and 15th Street where Memorial Christian Church is now. And in 1921 the Swedish Baptist Church turned its assets over to First Baptist. Their remaining members also joined First Baptist. Rev. Titus Gillet was our Pastor.

During the following years our church built several facilities including a Mission House in far western Rock Island and a Chapel in the extreme eastern part of the city.  The Mission House was later given to the Second Baptist Congregation.  The Chapel later became Edgewood Baptist Church.

Twenty years later the congregation again began to talk about building. The site chosen was diagonally across the intersection from the first one.  Reverend Davis, the pastor , raised quite a goodly sum but upon his sudden death, many of the promises were not kept.  As a result, the building was unfinished and the congregation met elsewhere for a year or so. It was finally completed due to the generosity of Mr. & Mrs. John Boyer and the Kahlke brothers. The next years saw great growth in First Baptist. The pasonage had to be remodeled into Sunday School rooms, and in 1947 a Quonset hut was purchased for Sunday school space as well.

In 1955 a site for a new building was purchased at 3020 30th Street. The bulding was completed in 1957. Rev. Willard G Foote was pastor during this time, from 1951 to 1959. He resigned as minister of our church on November 30, 1959, to accept a posting as minister of the First Baptist Church at Carbondale, Illinois.

On June 12, 1960, Rev. Wallace R.Harless became our new minister and was formally installed on June 26, 1960. Pastor Harless served until May 31, 1969. Since then the Reverends Frazier, Dixon, Shields, Duszak, and Brown have served our church.

In October of 2002, Rev. Jack Brown left suddendly and Pastor Jack Smith agreed to serve as interim, staying until the calling of Rev. Janet L. Waychoff in February, 2004. Pastor Janet was formally installed on May 2, 2004. Pastor Janet is a gaduate of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard Illinois.

As a result of her vision and energy the membership is increasing after years of decline. She has a heart for evangelism, and outreach. As an example, the church began to promote an AWANA program in September, 2004. It reaches out to children in our church and community. It meets on Monday evenings from September to April and is a fun way for kids to learn about God and His Word.

 AWANA TESTIMONIALS 

AWANA

EVERY KIDS A WINNER!!!

LEARNED THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENTS.         BRITTNEY AGE 9

I WAS TAUGHT TO READ THE BIBLE.  KEVIN AGE 11

I LIKE THE RACING.                  ALON AGE 6

I LEARNED BIBLE VERSES.  MELENIE AGE 7

AWANA IS FUN I SPECIALLY LIKED PLAYING GAMES.  ADI AGE 6

THE STORY LOVA YA. THE CANDY AND THE GAME CIRCLE.  TITANIA AGE 12

I LIKED RACING.              DESTINEY AGE 7

I LIKED GOING TO CHURCH.  TEYA AGE 8

I LIKE THE GAMES OVER HERE.  ERIC MITCHELL AGE 12

ONE THING I LEARNED THE VERSE 1ST CORINTHIANS 15:4 THAT HE WAS BURRIED THE HE WAS RAISED ON THE 3 RD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.                          KARRIE AGE 9

I ENJOY THE FUN..            MICHAET AGE 11

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT GOD.  ANDRE AGE 7

I GAINED KNOWLEDDGE OF THE LORD.                                         DANTE AGE 12

PLAYING.                                TEANNA AGE 8

COME AND SEEING FRIEDS AND FAMILY AND ALL THE NICE ADULTS THAT HELP.  JUILIEN BENTLEY AGE 12

JESUS WALKS ON WATER 

 MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

My family, peace 

                           Ron Bawmann

it brings comfort and warmth.  Cheryl Scott

Family, love, faith, and closeness to God.  Barb Miller

I love my church. I love Pastor Janet. I know wherever I am, God is always with me.        

            Shirley Fitzpatrick

A place of comfort, spiritual strenght and friendship.  

          Neila Fitzpatrick

A church full of love and people willing to change, grow, and do ministry in new and creative ways.

Pastor Janet

Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, joy, friendship, believe, laughter, Bible study, baptism, Awana, Grand Prix, carnivals, Labor Day Parade, Freddie, Suzie & Gracie, murals, Where Eagles Soar, Rev. Janet L. Waychoff, awesomeness of it all.  Bev Davis

Fellowship.  Walter Drovesky

It's my family in God! Pat Mitchell

Since 1957 the First Baptist Church has been a joy comfort and strength to me.   Pauline Blackmon

First Baptist Church is the first church that Ray and I have joined together. It's wonderful that we can praise and worship with our family of God.  Ray & Sue Bollaert

It means a whole new family to  me and gives me strength to make it through the bad days. Dan Barrett

Many memories.  Barbara Ellison

"HOME".  M/MH. Haberthur

Unconditional acceptance of me. Lorraine Comer

First Baptist Church is where we wer married, raised our children and continue to gorw in Christian faith.  Jerry & Sheila Nesbitt

This is a faithful saying of founding church fathers: Jesus Christ died for me because it is incredible! I believe he rose from the dead because it is impossible! The meaning of life Christ died and woke up after he died so we could wake up before we die.               Randy Rogers

A place to enjoy fellowship and worship our heavenly father. Dorothy Shannon