Do these steps leading up to the First Central Baptist Church realize how many prayers and dreams they’ve been walked upon? The very foundation of First Central Baptist Church echoes with the faith of its founders. It all began not so far away, on Wright Street, in a repurposed Jewish Synagogue.
Picture this: October 1978. A small group of believers, seven to be exact, gathered for their first service in this new space. Among them were Reverend Purcell Brown and Deacon Hilton Holcombe, the driving forces behind this nascent congregation. Can you imagine the hope and the uncertainty in their hearts?
This wasn’t just a building; it was a beacon of faith. A place where Liberian families, drawn to the warmth of the community, found a spiritual home. A place where ‘Mother Taylor’, as Erma Taylor was affectionately called, nurtured the Sunday School, instilled the values of service in the youth who became ushers, and brought the vibrancy of Liberian culture to life with ‘Africa Day’ celebrations.
The early years of First Central Baptist Church were a testament to resilience. They faced the resignation of their founding pastor, Reverend Brown, in 1981. However, their faith didn’t waver. They rallied, found a new leader in Reverend Richard Phillips, and continued to grow their ministries, establishing missionary boards and nurturing the youth. Despite their unwavering spirit, they faced more challenges when Reverend Phillips’s health declined in 1984. Their faith was tested yet again, leading them to a crossroads. Should they keep the church alive? The building needed repairs, kerosene heaters barely kept the winter chill at bay, and even the pastor’s quarters were rented out to make ends meet. It was a difficult time, but their faith, much like the very foundation of this building, remained strong. They turned to what they knew best: prayer. Their prayers were answered in December 1984 when they called upon Reverend Calvin Rice, a man who would lead them into a new era of growth and expansion. But that, my friends, is a story for another time.