Our History
In 1986, Perry and Diane Paxton came to Napoleon as a praxis team appointed by the Home Mission Board. Their mission: Do survey work and begin a Bible study leading to establish a church under the umbrella of the Southern Baptist Convention.
May 1987: With Jim Wiech serving as the Church's first Pastor, Faith Baptist Chapel was born. The
Mother
Church, Gorham Baptist, was located on Dettmen Rd. east of
Jackson. The name was later changed to Grace Church.
June 1987: Wednesday evening Bible studies were held at the home of Gary and Melba Burnham.
Sept. 1987: The first Sunday morning services were held in the Napoleon Lions Club building.
Oct. 1987: Pastor Wiech began holding Bible studies and Church services in the basement of his home.
June 1988: Backyard Bible clubs were held at the Wiech residence and in the Stettler subdivision.
May 1989: Property located at the corner of Wheaton Rd. and M-50 was purchased for the new church.
June 1989: First VBS was held in a tent on the property.
May-Nov. 1989: First building, a 32' x 40' pole barn, was remodeled and renovated into the first worship center.
May 1990: The new building was dedicated to God as a facility where Jesus Christ would be glorified and from which the Lord's work would be carefully and prayerfully carried out.
June 1990: First VBS in the building.
April 1992: Jim Wiech resigned as Pastor and remained as interim until a new Pastor began.
Nov. 1992 - Mar. 2003: Joe Cook, along with his wife Jan, came from
Hudson to serve as Pastor. When the year 2003 was ushered in, Joe and Jan announced their intentions to leave Faith Baptist Chapel, and go to
Alabama, where Joe could continue teaching and preaching, while being nearer to their children and grandchildren.
June 1998: The new 40' x 72' sanctuary was begun with the help of a group of Christians from Tennessee. Twenty five men and women devoted more than 1200 hours to the project. The members of FBC did the interior finish work voluntarily.
April 2003: Jim Wiech returned as Faith Baptist Chapel's Interim Pastor.
June 2003: A pavilion and garage were built on the north side of the parking lot.
June 2004: Jim Wiech was called as Pastor. FBC decided to enclose the pavilion and make it the FBC Youth Center.
Oct. 2004: Johnny Merrell was called as Youth Director.
Nov. 2004: Jared Currie was called as Assistant Youth Director
May 2005: Johnny Merrell, after graduating from NTBI, returned to his home church in Oklahoma to serve as junior high Youth Pastor.
May 2005: Jared Currie was called as Youth Director with Melanie Currie as Assistant.
Oct. 2005: A new garage was built and the existing garage converted into another classroom to help with the growing number of children. A partition was installed in the fellowship area to add another classroom.
Dec. 2005: The church voted to enlarge the parking lot and grade it for proper drainage. This work went into the spring with trees removed and areas to the east and south prepared for additions to the existing building.
July 2006: Aaron Sweigart was called as Youth Director. Aaron is married to Sarah, who will be the assistant.
September 17, 2006: FBC celebrated it's 20th anniversary and began the addition that will become the connector to the future gymnasium. This will be the new youth room for now.
May 2007: The parking lot was enlarged and blacktopped.
June 2007: Faith voted to sponsor a new mission in West Lansing, Michigan.
July 2007: The youth building was converted to a Pre-School building.
July 2008: The youth returned to the "Youth Building" again and the new addition was turned into the children's room.
July 2008: Aaron and Sarah Sweigart returned to Florida to lead youth at their home church.
August 2008: Bruce and Kris Mast were called as youth directors.
June 2010: Nate and Shawna left for the mission field.
November 14, 2010: FBC ordained Bruce Mast as Youth Pastor.
2011: Faith has begun a building fund to upgrade the electrical and add an addition on the back of the church for classrooms and a gymnasium/all purpose room.
April 2014: Bruce mast resigned as yout pastor.
April 2014: Alec Pattin, an student at NTBI has become our new youth leader.
God truly has and continues to bless our church, for this we thank-you Lord.
