Fellowship Baptist Church South Bend IN

Fellowship Baptist Church began over seventy-five years ago in a tent meeting where a group of believers burdened to reach lost souls for Christ began what came to be known as the Belleville Community Mission. Out of this humble beginning grew a church dedicated to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ by winning and discipling the lost through prayerful, Spirit filled preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

Today, that ministry continues with new and heartfelt dedication to the needs of twenty-first century men, women and children, and also with the same fervor and dedication to the Lord and His Word held by its pioneer founders.

It is where families and individuals gather to hear the Word of God proclaimed, worship, bow in prayer, and do the work of evangelism. Families are together in every aspect of ministry at Fellowship Baptist Church! Each family worships together, prays together, serves together and sits under the preaching of God's Word together.

 

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http://www.fellowshipbaptistsb.org/  

 

 

From the South-East - From the 20/31 bypass take Mayflower exit North. Turn right at first light (Sample) then a quick left on Ford Street; proceed five blocks to the church on the left.

From the North - From the 20/31 bypass take IN-2 (Western Ave.) exit East toward South Bend. Turn right onto Summit and proceed to the Church on the right.

From Downtown - Take Western Ave. 3.4 miles West through town. Turn left onto Summit and proceed to the Church on the right.  

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Fellowship Baptist Church has a long and varied history dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to discipling saints to faithfully follow the Lord. The ministry began in the spring of 1930 when the First Baptist Church of South Bend saw great need for a mission work on the West side of the city.

Mrs. Mary Stewart under the leadership of the Pastor J. Burt Bouwman made a survey of the area. As a result of the survey, the first meeting was organized as a Sunday School held on May 4, 1930, in a tent at 416 S. Dundee St . That same fall, the mission was moved into a house at 420 S. Dundee St. and one and one-half years later the original building was brought in and set up at 431 S. Dundee St. From 1931 to 1944 the Belleville Community Mission continued under various pastors, student pastors, Missionaries and lay people.

On Sunday, November 12, 1944, a meeting was called to order by the Reverend C. Louis Kau, a student pastor from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, for the purpose of organizing a church. The church was named Stewart Memorial Baptist Church in honor of Mrs. Mary Stewart. There were thirty-seven charter members, and Reverend C. Louis Kau was called to be the first pastor.

On May 13, 1945, a recognition service was held at the church to welcome it into the fellowship of the Northern Association of the Northern Baptist Convention. The church continued as part of the Northern Baptist Convention until the late 1960's when it decided to disassociate itself with the Convention and become an autonomous, independent, baptist church.

In 1950 two lots adjoining the church were purchased to expand the property. However, soon after the coming of Pastor Robert Edwards, it became evident that there was need for more space. On December14, 1950, a committee was created to have building plans drawn up and to find a more desirable location for a new church.

In March 1951 the church accepted plans for a new building, but in the next few months it became evident that the inaccessibility of a proper location and government restriction would make it impossible to build in the near future. Therefore, on September 12, 1951 the trustees were instructed to obtain plans for enlarging and remodeling the present building. One week later the plans were presented to the church and accepted.

This $17,000 enlargement and remodeling program doubled the seating capacity, and greatly enlarged the Sunday School facilities. It was made possible by the gifts and labors of God's people and by the grace of God completely free of debt.

On June 14, 1953 the ground was broken for a new building in the vacant lot which was later to be the corner of Ford Street and Scenic Drive. Ten acres of land were purchased from the Colpaert Realty Corporation and construction was started immediately upon the new building.

On Sunday, August 16, 1953, the formal cornerstone laying ceremony took place and the hand of the Lord was evident in a magnificent way. Construction proceeded at a normal rate until finally, on January 16, 1955, the first service was held in the new building.

The total expenses were in the neighborhood of $115,000 for a building valued upon completion at $350,000. Perhaps the most amazing accomplishment in the South Bend and Mishawaka area was realized when on March 13, 1955, the formal dedication of the church took place. As far as can be determined, no other building in the area, of this size and structure, has ever been built with primarily volunteer labor.

In the fall of 1965, under the direction of Rev. Robert L. Edwards, the Stewart Memorial Baptist Church purchased what later became the New Carlisle Baptist Church and held services there. The church building and property were later sold in 1967.

Through the years, the church continued its outreach into the community through various programs including Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Teen programs. In the fall of 1973, the church began the Awana Youth Program under the direction of Rev. F. Whetstone.

In September 1979 the church elected to change its name to the Fellowship Baptist Church of South Bend. Varied reasons made this change attractive as the church sought with a renewed vigor to reach the community for Christ.

In September 1981, under the direction of Pastor David Smeltz, the Fellowship Baptist Church began the Fellowship Christian Academy and Pre-School later consolidated into one school named Fellowship Baptist School which continued through 2007.

In November of 2003 Virgil W. Wesco was called as Pastor. The church was reorganized continuing to hold to the Bible based, separated, Baptist doctrinal position but with a family integrated organization of ministries to better help families, young people and individuals meet the challenges of living in the post modern world environment.

A History of the Pastors of Fellowship Baptist Church

C. Louis Kau November 14, 1944 to May 25, 1945 I. C. Overman (Interim) May 25, 1945 to August 29, 1945 G. E. Carlson August 29, 1945 to January 31, 1946 E. C. Longfellow May 1, 1946 to April 30, 1950 R. L. Edwards August 6, 1950 to November 1966 F. A. Whetstone May 1967 to July 1977 D. E. Bartlett January 1978 to October 1980 David Smeltz January 1981 to July 22, 1984 T. J. Wallace July 23, 1984 to 2001 Larry Flatt (Interim) January 2003 to November 21, 2003 Virgil W. Wesco, Sr. November 21, 2003 to March 31, 2015 Stephen J. Wesco April 1, 2015 to Present