First Baptist Church of Hoover
First Baptist Church of Hoover (established 1954) is a Southern Baptist church located at 2025 Patton Chapel Road North in Hoover. Randy Atkinson is pastor, assisted by ministers Ron Hilburn, David Liles, and Michael Luna.
The church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, Alabama Baptist Association, and the Birmingham Baptist Association. As of 2011, the church has a membership of approximately 350 people.
History
The Patton Chapel Mission was organized in 1952. LeRoy Anthony, a relative of some of the charter members and a student at Howard College was the mission pastor. It met in the home of Ben and Ocie Weems who gave the land on which the first building was erected. Growth was slow in this sparsely settled part of Jefferson County. The average attendance during the first ten years was in the fifties. The church was constituted as the Patton Chapel Baptist Church on January 31, 1954 and affiliated with the Bessemer Baptist Association. An upturn in attendance (to around 125 per week) occurred under the leadership of Mack McCollum, who took the pulpit in 1963.
McCollum, an AmSouth Bank senior vice-president, left the city for two years for professional training. Ron Heddle served as the interim pastor until McCollum could return. While he was pastor the church purchased more property on Patton Chapel Road. Three houses stood on that property, one was later used for the church offices. McCollum's successor, Steve Minor, became the church's first full-time pastor.
Under the leadership of Dan Springfield, the church reached out to the community and bused children to church. The highest average attendance in Sunday School in the history of the church was 275 during the "bus ministry" years. For a short time the church ran up to ten buses. The older facilities were inadequate to house the attendance and the current worship center was erected.
Under the pastorship of David York the church considered relocating but decided to remain on Patton Chapel Road. However, under the leadership of John Ferree, a group left FBC Hoover to start a mission in Riverchase. It was later closed. Robert Burris and Donna were called to serve as Southern Baptist Missionaries. Before they left for Taiwan they developed a stronger missions program in the church. His interest in missions was reflected in his organized efforts to reach the un-churched in the Hoover area.
Fourth Decade: 1984-1994
The coming of Richard Trader, a native of West End in Birmingham brought an acceleration of growth and excitement in the church. Dr. Trader had served the Bemie Points and Bluff Park Churches, both of which are located in the area and was well-know and highly respected by these churches. In response to his strong preaching ministry a number of very resourceful members came to FBC Hoover from other churches. The highest sustained growth of the church was experienced while he was here. The two-story education/office building was erected in the eighties. Then Bob Thornton who provided competent leadership came. He was a personal soul-winner and witnessed wherever he went. He and Faye developed a strong ministry among young adults. He was assisted by Dr. George Jackson who was an avid visitor in the homes of shut-ins and prospects. During their ministry the church completed the second floor of the education building. The Thornton's left for Gadsden where Bob serves as director of missions for the Etowah Baptist Association.
Fifth Decade: 1994-2004
During the last ten years the church has been served by Ken Jordan and then by Earl Tew. Ken came from the Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville (now Lifeway Christian Resources). He was the pastor of FBC until he was called by the Maryland Baptist Convention to serve on staff of the convention. His training and expertise in program planning and his skills in sermon preparation and delivery served the church well. Earl Tew came as interim while completing his ministry as director of missions at the Birmingham Baptist Association. After retirement from the association the church called him to serve as pastor. The financial base of the church was inadequate for a full salary but the office demanded full-time service. As the income level rose so did the salary of the pastor and other employees. The church launched a campaign entitled "Renewing the Dream" - the dream of being free of debt and having adequate financial resources to do what we felt God had called the church to do. As of January 2004, the church has given $248,370.18 through "Renewing the Dream", paid off all indebtedness and has completed the following capital needs projects: corrected surface water problems around the church, replaced three major a/c units, renovated the chapel as a youth facility, renovated the kitchen, fellowship hall and music rehearsal suite, redecorated the worship center, re-paved the parking lot, installed a public address system in the fellowship hall and replaced the p.a. system in the worship center and a pager system in the preschool and purchased several new items of equipment. A ministry to Hispanics has been launched. The church has completed eight semesters of FAITH - Sunday School Evangelism Strategy - a major outreach ministry.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Charter members
The charter members of First Baptist Church of Hoover, Alabama are all related and come from the Russell/Everett Families. The primary charter member and church founder was Lester "Uncle Lec" Russell. He also served as the first head deacon of the church. William Sexton was the other deacon from the first deacon board. William Russell, Ben Weems, and Douglas Spain were charter members also serving a term as deacon. Leroy Anthony, first pastor, was Lester Russell's nephew.
The complete list of charter members is Rev. Leroy Anthony, Claudia Everett, Fal Everett, Lona Greer, Mary Greer, Helen McClendon, J. E. Parker, Mrs. J. E. Parker, Fleda Russell, Minnie Russell, William Russell, Lester Russell, Nora Sexton, William J. Sexton, Douglas Spain, Ben Weems, and Ocie Weems.
Church government
As a Southern Baptist Church; the church is independent to set its own governing structure. The deacon board serves as the board of directors, with the pastor serving as CEO. The church family holds the overall authority to govern the church.
Current staff
Pastors
- Rev. Leroy Anthony (1954-55)
- Rev. Drew Harrington (1955-58)
- Rev. L.C. Woods (1958-60)
- Rev. J. L. Aders (1960-61)
- Rev. Billy Oswold (1961-63)
- Rev. Mack McCollum (1963-67) (1969-73) *McCollum took a two year leave
- Rev. Ron Heddle (1967-69) interim
- Rev. Steve Minor (1973-75)
- Rev. Dan Springfield (1975-76)
- Rev. David York (1976-78)
- Rev. Robert Burris (1978-83)
- Dr. Richard Trader (1983-89)
- Rev. Robert Thornton (1989-92)
- Dr. George Jackson (1992-94) interim
- Rev. Ken Jordan (1994-96) (1997-00)
- Rev. Carlton C Russell (1996-97) interim
- Dr. Earl Tew (2000-05)
- Dr. Randy Atkinson (2005- )
References
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