Our Story

How it all started...

The history of Lakewood Baptist Church began in the summer of 1956 when Rev. Robert Hails, Pastor of Chandler St. Baptist Church, now Hillcrest Baptist Church, together with some energetic young people, began looking for a place where they might start a Baptist Sunday School. Lakewood, being a fair sized community with only three churches, seemed a likely place to locate. The first task was to find a place to hold the classes. This proved to be quite difficult until they were graciously
given permission to use the basement of the Lakewood Village Hall.

Expanding the vision...

Early in 1960 the Village Board informed us that the rooms we were using in the basement of the building were to be taken over by the police department, but that we were welcome to use the top floor recreation hall. We began to realize we accepted their generosity and graciousness long enough, and we should be looking for new quarters.

After much prayer and consideration, we located a large home at 8 Gifford Avenue. The owner, Mrs. Myrtle Young agreed to sell the house for $6,000 with a small down payment. She also said she would carry the mortgage. Our first service in the newly acquired building was on Easter Sunday 1961, conducted by Rev. Anderson.

Where we are headed...

Many people have poured their hearts and lives into the community of believers here in Lakewood. The building has been rebuilt and expanded, but most importantly we can bear witness that Christ has been faithful to build and sustain His church. As people have come to know Christ and be known by Him, He has added to our number and grown us in holiness.

If you’re looking for a community of believers to come alongside you in your journey with the Lord and encourage you to know and reflect the beauty of His holiness, it would be our joy to have you join us!

Our Church Covenant

Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Savior, and to confess Him as Lord, and on confession of this faith having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully covenant with one another, as one body in Christ, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, we will strive to forsake the ways of sin and to walk together in Christian love and in the paths of righteousness. With this in view we will work together for both the peace and purity of this church, to sustain its worship and steadfastly to cherish and hold its ordinances, discipline and doctrines, to contribute, as faithful stewards, such time, talent and money, in the measure that God prospers each of us, that the responsibility for the work of the local church and the world-wide ministry of spreading the Gospel be faithfully and effectively discharged.
We will also strive to maintain family and private devotions, to teach the Bible to our children, to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances, to be just in our dealings and faithful in our engagements, to be an example in our conduct, to avoid unkind words and unrighteous anger, to abstain from the abuse and sale of any substance which can lead to the destruction of mind, body, and soul, and to avoid any form of evil. (Eph. 5:15-19, 1 Thes. 5:21-22, Gal. 5:19-21)
We will further strive to give and receive admonition with meekness and affection, to remember each other in prayer, and to aid each other in case of sickness and distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech, to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and, mindful of the Scriptures, to seek it without delay, to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our Lord’s return. We moreover purpose that when we move from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some local church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of the Word of God.

Be a part of our story...

Join us every Sunday as we gather for Sunday School at 9:00am and to worship together at 10:15am.