Our Campus
First Baptist Church & Christian School is located on a lovely 34-acre campus three miles south of downtown Elyria, on the corner of Rt. 10 and Rt. 301S (Lagrange Rd.). The campus consists of the church building and offices, the school building and offices, a large gymnasium with a beautiful wooden floor, a large soccer field, an updated, inviting playground, and plenty of open space as well as wooded space. All buildings are connected for full availability regardless of weather.
Our History
Rev. Willis R. Hull became pastor in 1971, with a burden for Christian education and a vision for expansion. First Baptist Christian School began in 1976, after the church severed ties with the Elyria Christian Academy, with which it was associated for two years prior. In 1977, the church voted to purchase 33 acres on Lagrange Rd. at a cost of $100,000.00. A gym was constructed first, and then the building proper was completed and dedicated on February 20, 1983, at a cost of $562,500.00.
What followed was the longest pastorate in First Baptist’s history and a wonderful time of growth and unity – Dr. Bradley W. Quick served for over twenty-six years, until his homegoing in August of 2010. During this pastorate, the youth group grew and began annual mission trips to locales both near and far, young men served as summer interns and gained experience by participating in many of First Baptist’s ministries, the pastoral staff expanded to include four assistant pastors, and seven individuals/family units went out from this congregation into full-time missionary service. After years of double services and another mortgage burning, construction commenced on a 29,962 square feet addition that included an 1100 seat auditorium, a sizeable foyer, an office suite, a large nursery, various Sunday School rooms, a choir warm-up room, a baptismal changing area, a conference room, and additional restrooms. Because of God’s blessings and a large physical plant (completed in 2002), God enabled First Baptist to reach out even more into Elyria and the surrounding communities, through golf outings, wild game dinners, Good News clubs, ladies’ and men’s retreats, annual Christmas Musicales, and much more. First Baptist also hosted the OARBC (Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches) annual meeting, the BMM (Baptist Mid-Missions) annual conferences, Hebron Sunday School workshops, and the GARBC (General Association of Regular baptist Churches) annual conference.
In 2011, God brought a new leader to First Baptist Church–Rev. Patrick Odle–just in time for the church’s 175th celebration, at which a time capsule was dedicated and the Quick Memorial Ministry Fund was established. Having grown up and been discipled at First Baptist, as well as attending FBCS, two new assistant pastors, Josh Butler and Jon Casbohm, were added to the pastoral staff. The commitment of Pastors Butler & Casbohm allowed the youth group to grow and various unique outreaches to extend into the community. The addition of an energetic senior adult pastor, Craig Golden, led to monthly luncheons and regular exciting trips for our older community, and a new position, Business Administrator, was established, which enabled the church to concentrate on improving and maintaining the wonderful facilities. In 2014, First Baptist Christian School faced a $150,000 deficit and a potential closure, but God miraculously answered prayers and provided for this crucial ministry to families to continue and thrive. As Pastor Odle challenged the church body with the Greater Things Stewardship Campaign, believers sacrificially gave and God provided. In 2018, the $760,000 mortgage was paid off and $100,000 was given to Bibles International for scripture translation. After a temporary shut-down during the Pandemic of 2020, First Baptist stepped forward in faith, recognizing that God was active in a unique way. Painting, bathroom remodels, and the renovation of the gymnasium–now called the Ministry Activities Center–continued with the help of volunteers and missionary builders from ChurchCare Construction, a branch of Baptist Church Planters. God was also at work in Pastor Odle’s heart, as he heard the call to leave the pastorate and serve as president of Baptist Mid-Missions in Cleveland.
While there can be uncertainty about the future, we face the years ahead with hope and confidence in an unchanging God who is in control and continues to build His church. In February of 2021, our church called David Burman Jr., to be the newest lead pastor of First Baptist Church. We look forward to the days ahead as he shepherds our church and the Lord continues to lead!
Our Beliefs
DECLARATION OF FAITH
The Scriptures
The True God
We believe that there is only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent, eternal Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exodus 20:2, 3; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem men (John 1:1, 2, 14; Luke 1:25-38; Isaiah 7:14; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 5:20).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (I Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 27:27-50).
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor and Advocate; and that He will come again in keeping with His promises (Acts 1:9-1 I; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2: I; John 14:2, 3).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father, and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in creation, that in His revelation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the Agent in the New Birth; and that He seals, baptizes, empowers, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, fills and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God (John 14:16, 17; Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; Genesis 1:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8-1 1).
We believe that the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance) is the evidence of His indwelling rather than speaking in tongues or other spectacular demonstrations which are not for this age (Galatians 5:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 13).
The Angelic Realm
We believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless spirit beings known as angels; that many of these continued in their holy state and are the ministers of God; that they are a glorious company who worship God, excel in strength and execute His will as ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who are the heirs of salvation, guiding, guarding and defending them; and that they will accompany Christ at His return and at the punishment of the wicked (Colossians 1:16; Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 1: 14; Psalm 9 1:1 1; 2 Kings 6:17; Luke 16:22; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8).
We believe that Lucifer, now known as Satan or the Devil, was created in holiness, but, through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels, becoming the enemy of God; that he is now the prince of the power of the air, the unholy god of this age, the ruler of all the powers of darkness, man’s greatest tempter and the accuser of the saints; that these fallen angels, though defeated in the cross of Christ, still continue to oppose God and His work; and that they will ultimately be judged by God and cast into the lake of fire to suffer everlasting punishment, which is their righteous due (Hebrews 1:4; 12:22; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4: Ephesians 6:11, 12; Revelation 20:10).
Creation
The Fall of Man
Salvation
We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation; that the new birth is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith and newness of life; and that His righteousness is imputed to us, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood (Romans 8.1; Acts 16:31; John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17- 1 9; Colossians 2:13).
We believe that all who take Christ as Saviour are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ (John 10:28, 29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6).
The Church
We believe that the local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word; that it is governed by a democratic, congregational government; that its officers are Pastors and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures.
We believe that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to co-operate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and that in all matters, the will of the local church is final (Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4-.1 1; Acts 20-.17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Colossians 1:8; Ephesians 5-.23, 24; Acts 15).
The Ordinances
Separation
The Christian Home
We believe it is totally against the command and teaching of the Word of God to in any way change or pervert this order; that homosexuality, lesbianism, or any other sexual relationship outside of marriage is contrary to the Word of God. We do not accept these as alternate lifestyles (Romans 1:18-32).
We believe that from the beginning, God never intended for man and wife to either be separated or divorced. The Lord, speaking through Paul, instructed the wife not to leave her husband and the husband not to put away his wife. We believe then, that divorce, or divorce and remarriage, is contrary to God’s perfect will (Matthew 19:6; 1 Corinthians 7:10,11).
Civil Government
Things Come Home
We believe that the dead in Christ are absent from the body and present with the Lord, and that in the resurrection the bodies of believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ for His Church and caught up with transformed, living saints to meet the Lord in the air; and that the wicked dead will be raised at the close of the Millennial Kingdom, and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their final doom to be forever separated from God in conscious suffering in the lake of fire (John 5:21-30; 1 Thessalonians 4-16; Revelation 7:9-17; 20:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:8).
The Righteous and the Wicked
Church Covenant
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to give it a sacred pre-eminence over all institutions of human origin; to recognize that the meetings for worship, evangelism, and prayer are a solemn obligation as well as a holy privilege for each of us; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all gossiping, backbiting, and unrighteous anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and the non-medical use of drugs; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the work of the Lord in this age of grace.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; and to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation, and being mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
Quick Links
Apply Today
Applying is easy using our Online Application. We encourage families to apply online as it simplifies submission and provides parents a tool for tracking online the status of their admission after their application has been submitted.
School Calendar
We are excited to embark on another year of learning, growth, and fun-filled activities. Our school calendar is designed to keep you informed about important dates and events throughout the academic year. Please note that some dates are subject to change, and we encourage you to stay connected with our website and school announcements for updates.
Athletics
Athletics, where students come together to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth. Our athletic program is designed to instill a love for physical activity, foster discipline, and build lasting memories. Whether you're an aspiring athlete or simply looking to stay active, we have something for everyone!