Gardendale First Baptist Church

Gardendale First Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist church located at 316 Mountain Crest Boulevard adjacent to I-65 between Fieldstown Road (Exit 271) and Mount Olive Road (Exit 272). The senior pastor is Kevin Hamm, who has held that position since April 2006.

History

• The church traces its history to the 1876 founding of what was then called Chalybeate Baptist Church on a 1-acre plot donated for the purpose by James Kimmons.
• In 1960 eight acres were purchased at 940 Main Street in downtown Gardendale for $36,000.
• In 1963 a bond issue was sold and a new building (now Marler Hall) was erected with educational space, temporary auditorium, and office space for a total of $250,000.
• In 1968 another bond issue led to the construction of an additional two-story educational wing and transepts to the temporary auditorium.
• In 1976 construction began on a new sanctuary.
• In 1978 the new sanctuary opened it's doors for the first time on Easter Sunday.
• In 2002 the church purchased 145 acres along I-65 in Gardendale for their North Campus.
• In 2004 Upward Park was completed with 3 baseball fields and 1 soccer field.
• In 2005 the church hosted a community-wide Easter service at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. Over 10,000 people attended.
• In 2010 the church completed its present sanctuary and youth/adult education space on the North campus. The $19.7 million, 104,000 square-foot worship center seats 2,700, but is designed for a future expansion to seat as many as 4,200. The first services were held there on August 8, 2010. A 125-foot steel cross serves as a landmark for the site, visible from I-65.
• In 2013 the church completed its Kidz Kingdom building, a two-story, 36,600-square-foot structure that connects to the main church building and houses all the children's ministries at the church.

Pastors

• Kevin Hamm (2006 – present)
• Steve Gaines (c. 1991 – 2005)
• David Dykes
• Lewis Marler
• W. G. Nunn
• William H. Bryant
• A. M. Cunningham
• D. E. Parsons
• J. W. Elliot
• Grady Mossis
• Homer Marsh
• W. F. Wimberly
• T. C. Walden
• C. B. Phillips
• O. M. Moore
• A. D. Huett
• E. U. Calvert
• L. C. Payne
• M. T. Branham
• A. H. Holcomb
• J. S. Jernigan
• J. A. Moncrief
• B. F. Hughes
• W. C. McLaughlin
• E. M. McDaniel
• J. S. Jones
• W. J. McCrary
• W. C. Echols
• James Grimes

See also

• Majestic Cross

References

• Martin, Wayne. (January 23, 2007). "First Baptist to resume work on new campus." The Birmingham News.
• Ruisi, Anne (March 10, 2009) "Gardendale, Alabama First Baptist Church gets loan for new church." Birmingham News
• Songer, Joe (March 3, 2010) "Towering cross nearly ready beside Interstate 65 at Gardendale." Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (March 6, 2010) "Gardendale First Baptist nears completion on megachurch complex." Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (August 7, 2010) "Gardendale First Baptist opens new campus Sunday." Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (September 17, 2012) "Gardendale's First Baptist Church plans $6 million children's building" Birmingham News
• Jones, Pauline Parker. (1976) "This is Gardendale". p. 25

External links

• Gardendale First Baptist Church website