A Brief Church History

On September 2, 1977, a few families met to seek God's will in establishing a fundamental Baptist Church in Aboite Township. The first Sunday evening service took place the following week at the Roanoke Conservation Club with an attendance of about sixty people. In October of 1977, the group of believers began holding evening services in the auditorium at General Telephone on Highway 24 West. Several men in the fellowship filled the pulpit until Bruce Pickell from Grace Seminary became the guest preacher for several months. In the ensuing months the services expanded to include Sunday morning worship, and the following temporary officers were elected: Dillard Stephans, moderator, Bill Byrum, treasurer; and Jan Adkins, clerk.

The church charter opened January 1, 1978, and closed with fifty-one members on June 30, 1978. The Aboite Baptist Church was incorporated February 14, 1978. Two weeks later, the congregation began holding morning worship services in the Hope Presbyterian Church located at the corner of Homestead and Liberty Mills Road. The church called Gordon Finley from Bluffton, Indiana, as an interim pastor.

By Sunday March 12, 1978, the services included Sunday school at 8:45 A.M., Sunday morning worship at 9:30 A.M., and Sunday evening service at 6:00 P.M. In the spring of 1978, the congregation of sixty members voted to call Gene Schwenk from Hudson, Iowa, as the pastor. Pastor Schwenk held his first services on Sunday, September 3.

By unanimous vote, the church adopted a constitution on October 19, 1978, and decided to seek fellowship with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches and the Indiana Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches. Under the leadership of Pastor Schwenk, the church prospered spiritually and numerically. Several new ministries began including the following: a ladies' fellowship, prayer groups, an evangelism program, and a missions ministry. Hope Presbyterian Church still served as a temporary meeting place as the church began to grow.

As the planned for the future, the church began to look for property where they might build. Twelve acres of land on Liberty Mills Road was purchased from Mr. August Meyer for $60,000. Later, in 1979, the site at which they were meeting on the corner of Liberty Mills and Homestead Road became available and was purchased from Hope Presbyterian.

As the church continued to grow, it soon became apparent that they would have to expand the facilities at Homestead Road. In the summer 1983, the church started a fund raising program and received more than $20,000 from the congregation for the construction of a new sanctuary. After building the new sanctuary, the church purchased a new organ and remodeled the original structure.

In the fall of 1988, Aboite Baptist Church called Timothy Allwein as its second pastor. Under his leadership the church began rethinking its philosophy of ministry, re-evaluating and improving its existing programs, and implementing a number of new ministries. In 1990, TLC's (a small group ministry aimed at adults) and Awana Clubs (a ministry aimed at children) made their debut. 1991 brought a Word of Life program for the teens.

Also in 1991, the congregation made a decision to sell the twelve acres purchased in 1979 and focus future plans on the current four acre site. This sale allowed the church to retire all its debts and to set aside funds for future expansion. The following year preliminary plans were drafted by a local engineering firm for future development of the remaining parcel.

From 1990 to 1993, Aboite Baptist Church made several improvements to its building and property. These included remodeling the kitchen; redecorating the foyer, restrooms, classrooms, and auditorium; and paving and lighting the parking area.

In 1993, Dave Hackley joined the ministry team as a pastoral intern. Dave and his wife Julie worked closely with Pastor and Mrs. Allwein to gain hands-on ministry experience. The church participated in Dave's ordination at one of our sister churches in Fort Wayne.

In 1995 Aboite Baptist Church called Timothy Wheeler as its third pastor.

Since then, the leadership has devoted much time to the development of a comprehensive philosophy of ministry focused on the Great Commission of Christ. Then in 1997, the congregation voted to assist Brad McGuire in training for the ministry.

On August 7, 2001, Aboite Baptist Church received a building permit to begin construction on a new sanctuary wing attached to the current structure. This new addition has been in the planning since 1999. The new addition doubles the amount of available seating, in addition to freeing up the old sanctuary for other activities.

In November 2002, Stan Schneider was elected by church members as a lay pastor, to assist in the duties of a church elder.

God's blessing has been evident these last years as we have seen spiritual growth among the body. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation as we commit to serving Him in the coming days.