One hundred years and three buildings later, members of First Baptist Church of Lake Orion will celebrate their centennial on Nov. 20-21, with a homecoming and event open to the whole community.
The church, which has been located in the building on Scripps Road since 1972, and added a school for grades K-12 three years ago, began its history as the Orion Baptist group held their first meeting on Oct. 30, 1904.
They organized into the Orion Baptist Church on June 5, 1905, meeting in the Orion Town Hall, under the leadership of Reverend F.B. Cutler, pastor of the Oxford Baptist Church.
Cutler accepted a call to Chicago, and the Orion group diminished in size and finally disbanded. When Cutler returned to Oxford as pastor for the second time, he regathered the Orion Baptists, and they were offered the facilities of the Congregational Church.
The Congregational Church was the first church erected in Orion Township in 1854, and was no longer in use as a church. Today, it is known as Union Church in the Village of Lake Orion.
Cutler eventually resigned from Oxford and became pastor of the Orion group, which was organized into the First Baptist Church of Lake Orion. In 1921, the Congregationalists deeded their church property to the Baptists for the price of one dollar, with the stipulation it be used for church services only, or become property of the village.
This building continued to be used by the Baptists until 1972.
Reverend Delore Doebler became pastor in March 1941, and was at First Baptist until Oct. 14, 1942. When Doebler left to start a new church, about one-third of the congregation at First Baptist went with him.
They built a new church building about a mile away, in the area currently known as Bunny Run, and called it Emmanuel Baptist Church.
In 1945, while Reverend Earl Cook was pastor, a basement, baptistery and a choir loft were added to the church building to accommodate the growing congregation and Sunday School. During his tenure, the church purchased its first parsonage, replacing the many different houses the church had rented over the years.
Under the leadership of Reverend Walter Ballagh in 1954, the First Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church merged.
Emmanuel’s pastor, Reverend Louie (Maurice) Horn had left the church, and urged his congregation there (which had remained close with First Baptist) to rejoin the First Baptist church rather than call a new pastor.
The building used by Emmanuel was moved and merged with the building being used by First Baptist Church. A pastor’s study, nursery, ladies lounge and church office were added.
Under the director of Reverend C. Frank Mills in 1969, land was purchased for the erection of a new church. On June 10, 1970, the church authorized a $500,000 bond program to finance the building of a new church (the current church on Scripps Road).
Ground was broken for the new church in April 1971. The first service was held in the new building on Sept. 3, 1972. The remaining property, parsonage and additional house were sold and a new parsonage was purchased near the new church building.
The church’s current pastor, Juan M. Moreno, came to First Baptist in 1997. The church’s educational wing, where the school is located, was founded in August 2002. There are currently 115 students enrolled there.
The church also houses a Christian Counseling service, open to the community, as well as a Bible Institute.
‘We are planning a celebration for Nov. 20-21, for those connected to and presently in the ministry,? said Moreno.
Past pastors, associate pastors and missionaries, as well as some local dignitaries like state representative James Marleau, and township officials Alice Young, Jill Bastian and Jerry Dywasuk, as well as county commissioner Eric Wilson, will be at the service on Nov. 21.
The centennial celebration at First Baptist kicks off on Nov. 20, with an open house from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., open to the community.
Events will include: Ladies? hour, Memory Lane (five rooms set up to the tell the story of the church’s history, Sunday school and programs), activities in the gymnasium (including a volleyball game and other opportunities for youth participation), music programs, a video presentation and a puppet show.
On Nov. 21, a continental breakfast will be held at 8:15 a.m., and a worship service from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.. There will be two speakers, missionaries Duane King and Lyle Peterson.
This service will be followed by a catered meal, ensembles and videos, Memory Lane, and finally a praise service at 2:30 p.m., focusing on what God is doing with the present generation at the church, as well as what to do in the future. Former First Baptist youth group member, and current pastor of a church in Grand Rapids, Jeff Burr will be the guest speaker. Present member and Lake Orion chiropractor Dr. Mark Brett will also give testimony.
‘We’ve been planning this since the beginning of the summer,? Moreno said. ‘We want to extend a general invitation to anyone in the community who has had a connection with First Baptist Church in the years? past.?
The First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is located at 255 E. Scripps Road. Regular Sunday worship times are 9 a.m., school and adult/teen Bible fellowships, and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. worship services.
For more information about the Centennial celebration on Nov. 20-21, contact the church at 693-6203