Gardendale First Baptist Church

Gardendale First Baptist Church (GFBC) 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 1991 the Family Life Center was completed at the South Campus.
• 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 2,500, 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

Upward Park at the North Campus

Kevin Hamm (2006 – present) Steve Gaines (1991 – 2005) David Dykes ( – 1991) Lewis Marler (1970 – ) W. G. Nunn (1961 – 1970) William H. Bryant (1956 – 1961) A. M. Cunningham (1952 – 1956) D. E. Parsons (1945 – 1952) J. W. Elliot (1943 – 1945) Grady Morris (1940 – 1943) Homer Marsh (1938 – 1940) W. F. Wimberly (1937 – 1938) T. C. Walden (1935 – 1937) C. B. Phillips (1933 – 1935) Otis M. Moore (1931 – 1932) A. D. Huett (1929 – 1931)

Everette U. Calvert (1927 – 1929) L. C. Payne (1925 – 1927) M. T. Branham (1916 – 1924) Alfred H. Holcomb (1912 – 1916) James S. Jernigan (1906 – 1908) James A. Moncrief (1904 – 1906 and 1908 – 1912) Benjamin F. Hughes (1900 – 1904) W. C. McLaughlin (1891 – 1900) E. M. McDaniel (1889 – 1891) J. S. Jones (1886 – 1889) W. J. McCrary (1882 – 1886) W. C. Echols (1879 – 1882) James Grimes (1876 – 1879)

See also

• Majestic Cross

References

• Jones, Pauline Parker. (1976) "This is Gardendale". p. 25
• 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

External links

• Gardendale First Baptist Church website
• Gardendale First Baptist Church Student Ministry website