Staff, Statement of Faith, Weekly Schedule, What is a Free Will Baptist
First Church is a Free Will Baptist congregation in Gastonia, North Carolina. We subscribe to a Fundamental and Evangelical Statement of Faith meaning that we believe the Bible to be the inspired and holy Word of God, sufficient for all guidance in life, faith and practice. We are a Congregational Church meaning we do not believe that there is any command in scripture for inter-church unions and that the ultimate authority on local church matters rests with that local body. With this system comes the belief that the responsibility to preserve sound Biblical doctrine lies with the individual local church. All members are equal under the direct headship of Jesus Christ who alone is our leader, guide, and protector. We also hold that all believers comprise the priesthood of the New Testament Church. Based on these principles we hold to a democratic form of government.
A History of First Free Will Baptist Church
Around the turn of the 20th century, a handful of Free Will Baptists arrived by train to work in the Whitney Mill, near Spartanburg, SC. They were poor in material goods, yet possessed a deeply abiding faith in the providential hand of God. They had one purpose for being and that was continue, faithful in honoring God and His will for their lives.
Shortly after arriving, these travelers began to conduct a series of cottage prayer meetings. Dramatic stories are told of the revival spirit that soon blanketed the entire mill village. The leader of the group, Grayson Sawyer, was a man mighty in prayer. He could be found at any hour of the day or night, on his knees praying for the people of their community. As a result, many believed, and the number who attended the prayer meetings swelled. On one occasion, so many had gathered at a certain home that they overflowed onto the porch, which soon gave way under the immense load.
In the course of time, two of the families, whose lives had been touched by the Whitney prayer revival, moved north to settle near Gastonia, North Carolina. These families, the Willis Davis' and the J.H. Franks', soon initiated a new series of cottage prayer meetings. Once again a spirit of revival resulted in many conversions, and it was not long before the little groups organized the First Free Will Baptist Church of Gastonia. The exact date is not known. However, it is generally agreed that the congregation of the church took place sometime between 1918 and 1920.
After worshiping in a small frame building on North Rhine Street during its early years, in 1950, the church built a new sanctuary on the corner of 5th Avenue and Willow Street. Between the years 1950 and 1962, the church maintained a solid testimony in its surrounding community, and saw a steady growth both numerically and spiritually.
In 1962, the church asked Rev. W.H. Calvert to serve as Pastor. During his solid 33 year ministry, they experienced further growth in every area of the work.
In 1974, the congregation purchased a twelve and a half acre track of land on Union Road for the purpose of future relocation. At the time, very few could have predicted the phenomenal growth which would occur along the Union Road corridor. However, the Union Road area is now the fastest growing residential section of Gaston County, with new homes, apartments, and condominiums being completed regularly. The area is quickly becoming a bedroom community of Charlotte and one filled with many spiritual needs. it is obvious that God had His hand in the selection of the Union Road property.
After a number of years of frustration, hard work, and prayer, a new sanctuary was ready for occupancy at the Union road site on November 9, 1986. Almost immediately, the church experienced a new vibrancy, as new families visited the Union Road sanctuary, many of whom were eventually added to the church family. Pastor Calvert continued to minister into the 1990's with faithful pastoral care as his unmistakable trademark.
Eventually, however, Pastor Calvert sensed that the church had, or was, about to plateau. Consequently, he began to seek God's will concerning the future of First Church. In 1993, he reached a major decision. It was time, he concluded, fora younger man to assume the pastorate of the church he had loved and served for more than thirty years. Confidently, he contacted homegrown son, Rev. Randall E. Sawyer, who was serving at Southeastern FWB College at the time. Pastor Calvert proposed an arrangement whereby Saywer would serve as Co-Pastor for two years, allowing him to acclimate himself to the work and the area, then assume the pastorate the third year. This proposal was unanimously accepted by the congregation, and on May 26, 1996, both men prepared for the "passing of the torch."
A number of local and out of town guests joined the church family as the sanctuary was filled to overflowing for Pastor Calvert's final message. At the close of the service, deacons past and present, led by Chairman Bill Lingerfelt, filed down the aisle carrying a lighted torch. Upon reaching the pulpit, the torch was handed to the out-going Pastor. His remarks were few, but challenging. His final word to the congregation was, "I am at peace with the decision I made three years ago, and I urge you to follow your new Pastor as faithfully and prayerfully as you have followed me these many years." Then, as a symbol of his confidence in God's future for the church, Calvert passed the torch to Rev. Sawyer, embraced him, and asked Chairman Bill Lingerfelt to lead in a final word of prayer.
Following the prayer, Pastor Sawyer stepped down from the pulpit, reached for his wife's hand, and walked down the aisle carrying the lighted torch. It was a very intense, beautiful moment for the church which will long live in their memories. Because of Pastor Calvert's willingness to relinquish the leadership of his beloved church to a younger man, God's blessings have been evident on the congregation.
Since 1996, First Church has experienced substantial growth in many areas. After a total restructuring, the average attendance in Sunday School had nearly doubled. Because of the increase in worship attendees, the church went to two Sunday morning worship services. New staff positions have been created and filled, and a number of new programs initiated including comprehensive sports ministries, nursing home programs, and summer internship programs for college students, just to name a few. The congregation has since celebrated the opening of the W.H. Calvert Family Life Center, which houses our athletic facility, fellowship area, and child care ministry. Along with these "at home" developments, the church has enjoyed the remarkable expansion of its missions vision, which includes missions trips, an annual missions conference, and an increase of 400% in budgeted support for home and foreign missions.
Major challenges remain, primarily because of the dramatic shift in community demographics. First Church, once surrounded by textile plants, must now shape its ministry to reach a much more diverse group of people. Baby Boomers, constantly moving into the area, are in search of a full-service church ministry, from childcare, to day school, to sports programs. Busters and Generation Xers, though skeptical about spirituality, must be reached and trained as well. The growing population of singles remains a dominate challenge, as they search for community, fellowship, and avenues of ministry. Senior citizens, soon to be the largest segment of the American population, need to feel both needed and wanted.
The challenges are great. The opportunity is exciting. Soli Deo Gloria! May God continue to enlarge the First Church vision, and empower His people to make an impact by Putting Arms of Love Around our Community and the World.