The nation stood at the dawn of a new century. The question in people's minds was much the same as in ours today - what will the coming century bring? As we at First Baptist Church of West Los Angeles enter into a new era as a church, we pause to look back at the first 105 years of our history.
In 1901, Santa Monica Boulevard was named Oregon Avenue; Barrington was called Eleventh Street; and West Los Angeles was known as the town of Sawtelle, California. Just thirteen years old, Sawtelle was a growing suburban town settled around the establishment of the Pacific branch of the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The ten-mile distance to Los Angeles was a full day's journey by horse and buggy. On November 5th, sixteen believers gathered to start the first church in the little town. Five days later, the First Baptist Church of Sawtelle held its first service in Wyant's Hall. There were 40 charter members in attendance. Reverend George Taylor from Pasadena conducted the first service and continued to pastor the church until April 18, 1909. An architect and sculptor, Reverend Taylor sold his land to the church and built its first building there at the corner of Oregon Avenue and Sixth Street, which is now Santa Monica Boulevard and Purdue Avenue. The one-room structure, roughly one-third the size of our present sanctuary, was dedicated in October, 1902.
The church struggled during the first ten years of its existence. Its debt to Rev. Taylor for land and building construction was compounding, while the Sunday School and youth programs were dwindling. In October of 1910, after several interim pastors, Rev. E. W. Mecum, a former home missionary to rural Wyoming, was called as the church's second permanent pastor. During Rev. Mecum's four-year tenure, the church grew to 96 members, and a new ten-room parsonage was built in 1913 with donated lumber from the old Santa Monica Bath House. Volunteers from the church hauled the lumber up from the ocean in pushcarts along a rough and deeply rutted Oregon Avenue.
In June of 1921, Rev. T. L. Smith was called as the church's third permanent pastor. The town of Sawtelle was growing, and by 1923, the church found itself in the heart of Sawtelle's business district. Land values increased rapidly, and the church quickly outgrew its accommodations. Concern mounted over the ability for attendees to focus on worship amidst the surrounding clamor. In June of that year, the church took a leap of faith and purchased five lots in a Walnut grove at Idaho Street and Eleventh Street- now Barrington Avenue - "sufficiently far away" from the downtown business district. All of the church's structures were moved to this site in November, and plans were made to build larger facilities. The church's beloved pastor Smith died two months later before the new building plans were realized; but, under his leadership and forethought, the church became debt free and established an ongoing building fund to provide for future church growth.
Rev. H .C. Mathews became the next pastor in April of 1924. Under his leadership, the church undertook great fundraising efforts and groundbreaking for a new building began on September 24, 1924. The first worship service was held the following April in the new red brick structure, today's sanctuary building. It included a large 200 seat sanctuary, a pastor's study in the bell tower, and nearly thirty Sunday School classrooms. In memory of her late husband, Mrs. T. L. Smith donated a lighted revolving cross for the top of the bell tower that remained until the tower was rebuilt in 1992.
In late 1926, Rev. Mathews resigned, and Dr. F. G. Davies was called to pastor the church early the following year. The community around the church was changing, bringing new opportunities and challenges. Sawtelle was incorporated into Los Angeles in 1929, and the church's name was officially changed to the First Baptist Church of West Los Angeles. That same year, UCLA was established, providing opportunities for student ministry. In March of 1933, still recovering from the effects of the Great Depression, California was rocked by the massive Long Beach earthquake. J. Frank Howard, co-contributor of "On This Rock: A History of First Baptist Church of West Los Angeles 1901-1992" summarizes the damage- "Dr. Davies was in the pastor's study, the room off the sanctuary which was accessible from outside the front of the church. Feeling the earthquake, he stepped out on the porch. The upper portion of the tower fell down right in front of him. Had he stepped out any further he would have been killed. The Lord was surely watching out for him." The next year a replacement tower was built out of wood, stucco and reinforced steel. Dr. Davies resigned in February of 1935, but he left behind a legacy of growth. Under his leadership the church saw the beginning of a nursery, Children's Church, and an increase in Sunday School and youth groups.
Rev. E. A. Earns, a man respected for his sincerity and earnest manner, was called to pastor the church in July of 1935. The church was enjoying tremendous growth, nearly tripling its membership to 368 by 1936. The church finally liquidated its debt to the Los Angeles City Mission Society that had provided monetary support since the 1920's. The church had finally graduated from being a 'mission' church to a 'missionary' church.
Following Rev. Earns' death in 1942, Rev. J. W. Jenkins was called to be the church's next pastor. It was during his ministry that the church building underwent a major renovation. A beautiful stained glass window - still present today - was installed in memory of those who served in World War II; the sanctuary was totally remodeled and its seating capacity was increased by one-third. The newly renovated building was dedicated on November 16, 1947. Rev. Jenkins stepped down as pastor in February of 1948.
Eight months later, Dr. William C. Thomas, a former World War II Air Force Chaplain and missionary to India, was called to be the church's senior pastor. Missions was the church's primary focus under Dr. Thomas. One of the church's first action under Pastor Thomas' leadership was to support Dorothy Wright, a member of the congregation, as the church's very first full time missionary. The church was once again growing; according to J. Frank Howard, "the first Annual Meeting held after Dr. Thomas' first year was certainly one to be remembered. A reception line was formed to welcome new members. There were more new members than old members welcoming them." In 1951, the church again took another step of faith and groundbreaking for a new church office wing began. The new wing would house a nursery, a chapel, administration offices, and a fellowship hall- known today as Fletcher Lounge. Later, in 1953, the church took another major step of faith by purchasing several surrounding properties for future church growth. The former Wellesley house was willed to the church that same year and became available for exclusive use by the church in 1977.
As the church's footprint continued to increase, so did its membership. Attendance increased enough to necessitate two Sunday morning worship services. By the early 1960's construction began on an Education building, located on a portion of the recently acquired properties. The two-story Education building would house a gymnasium, a kitchen, and many new Sunday School classrooms. The new education facilities, permityted the church to focus more effectively on improving the youth ministry of the church. The church's building program motto reveals its continuing reliance on God's provision: "Christ has no hands but ours to do His work today…To the degree that our faith speaks through our fingers… We, under God, will build." Dedicated in December of 1962, the new education building was named "Carey Hall" in memory of the pioneer missionary, William Carey (1761-1834).
The 1960's saw many new ministry opportunities for the church: the Exceptional Children's Foundation held day classes in the sanctuary building; sermons were broadcast over the radio between 1960 and 1976; and Moody Institute of Science films were shown in the south parking lot on Tuesday evenings. By 1961, the church posted its highest membership to date- 926. Three packed worship services were held every Sunday morning. Soon thereafter, however, increasing property values began forcing many families to move to the suburbs and attendance began to diminish. In 1978, after 30 years of faithful service and a legacy of determined missionary focus, Dr. Thomas stepped down from the pulpit and went into semi-retirement.
In February, 1979, Dr. George A. Huber was called to serve as the senior pastor of the church. Under Dr. Huber's leadership, the church adopted its first purpose statement. It focused on Worship, Witness, Wisdom, Watch Care, and World Missions. In 1981 and in keeping with its purpose statement, the church established West Los Angeles Baptist School for youngsters grades seven through twelve and instituted the AWANA program for boys and girls in the mid 1980's. Pastor Jim Leonard joined the church staff in 1986 as both the Pastor of Counseling and administration. Two years later, his title changed to Executive Pastor, after which he served as Interim Sr. Pastor when Dr. Huber stepped down in November of 1990.
In 1992 the nearly sixty year old bell tower was again rebuilt, this time at the request of the city in order to meet current building and safety codes. The revolving cross, donated nearly seventy years prior, was taken down, and the tower was fitted with cross-patterned stained glass windows. A time capsule, buried in 1924, was found under the cornerstone. It contained the original plans for the old tower and the church's membership list.
In March, 1992, Rev. Paul Edwards was called to serve as the church's tenth senior pastor. Rev. Edwards was regarded as a man of discernment and integrity. During his tenure, the church began to regenerate, attracting people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, and reviving the tradition of younger people being involved in church leadership. The worship style began to change to reflect an increasingly diverse generational makeup of the church, incorporating a 'blended' style of worship that combined both traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs. Dr. Will Bredberg came on staff in 1995 to serve as the church's Discipleship Pastor. Dr. Bredberg has worked with small groups fellowship, the Careers group, the homeless ministry and the Alpha program.
In August, 1997, Pastor Paul Edwards was called to pastor Village Baptist Church in Beaverton, Oregon. Pastor Leonard once again ably stepped into the role of Interim Pastor and provided the church with a sense of continuity of purpose and direction. In addition, R.W. Mackey, a good friend of the church and the chair of the Business Department at the Master's College in Santa Clarita, California, often stepped in to fill the pulpit during this interim period. Professor Mackey brought to the church a solid theological background and an ability to communicate the scriptures in a very relevant contemporary manner. His service was very much appreciated.
In March of 1999, Rev. Jerry Wilke was called to become the church's present Senior Pastor. He and his wife Janelle came to the church from Colorado, where he pastored Community Baptist of Arvada for over ten years. Since the Wilkes' arrival, the church has continued to grow and once again we find ourselves running short of space. For the first time since the 1960's, the church is expanding its campus. Worship styles reflect the makeup of the current membership and the church continues to support over thirty missionaries and half a dozen other evangelical orgaizations.
Today, we here at the First Baptist Church of West Los Angeles are privileged to be part of a unified body of believers representing many generations and cultural backgrounds, all working together towards a common goal in Christ. We have a rich heritage; and while our history has given our church a unique depth, we are expectantly looking to the future. As Pastor Leonard summarizes, "the Church [previously] looked back to find its best days. Now I believe it is looking forward. We are celebrating not only what God has done, but we are anticipating what He will do."