HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH EAST END

(1896-2009)

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

~Acts 16:5 ~

In 1896, under the divine guidance and blessing of God, a small group of worshipers of Jesus of Nazareth banded together. It is stated in a publication by the Corporation of Newport News, dated 1946, that this small group of worshipers was led by Rev. Anthony Johnson of New Kent County. They worshiped first under a tree and then in a house at Oak Avenue and 29^th Street.  First Baptist Church East End was organized in 1898. A wooden edifice was completed July 4, 1898. A brick edifice was completed in 1921. The current edifice was purchased August 5, 1963. The new church edifice is currently under construction with a tentative completion date sometime during the early months of 2007.        

          From 1896-1898 Reverend Anthony Johnson led the first small group of worshipers. He left his charge, Ebenezer Church, in New Kent County, to come to Newport News with several families from his congregation, the Claytons, the Andersons, and the Pages.          

          From 1898-1910 Reverend J. B. Allen served as Pastor. During his tenure, he was responsible for completing the building of a wooden church structure and laying the cornerstone for the building on July 4, 1898. Rev. Allen initiated the first church revival in September of 1898. He is also responsible for  organizing the Missionary Ministry.         

          From 1910-1918 Reverend W. H. Harris became Pastor of First Baptist Church East End.  Reverend Harris was from Chase City County.  During Reverend Harris’ term, several members of First Baptist Church East End formed Christian Union Church on Chestnut Avenue. 

          From 1918-1929 Reverend J. H. Smith from Matthews County, led the congregation of First Baptist Church East End with about  twenty-eight members. In 1918 Reverend Smith organized the first Usher Board. He increased the membership and built a brick edifice at the 29^th and Oak Avenue location in 1921.  

          From 1929-1932 Reverend W. T. Young served three years as Pastor. He was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.          

          From 1932-1936 Reverend Y. B. Williams served four years as Pastor.  He was from Greensboro, North Carolina.         

          From 1936-1948 Reverend Doctor Isaiah Henry Ruffin served as Pastor of First Baptist Church East End. He served as Pastor for 12 years. Reverend Ruffin was from Hopewell, Virginia.  Reverend Ruffin built one of the largest congregations in the city of Newport News. He was endowed with the ability to preach and sing. He organized the Nurses Unit, the Pastor’s Aid, the I. H. Chorus, Ruffin Brothers and Sisters, Ballard Brothers, Faithful Five, Keys of Faith, Second Senior Echoes, Jewel Singers, Parker Four Singers, and the Gospel Eight. F. B. Ballard organized the  First Senior Choir under Reverend Ruffin. Under Reverend Ruffin’s leadership of twelve years, many improvements in the church were made and the congregation increased to the capacity of the church building.         

            From 1948-1985 Reverend Woodrow Martin Brown, Sr. was called as Pastor. Reverend Brown, Sr. was a native of Southampton County. He was installed on December 19, 1948. Upon accepting the pastorship of this church, Reverend Brown immediately began to prepare the hearts and minds of the people for divine leadership. He was a man of great insight and vision with many gifts from God. He was a man of such great spirituality that the sick looked to him almost as a doctor and the troubled members saw him as a counselor. He was responsible for renovating the church, reorganizing the church school on a departmental basis, and placing a memorial stone on Reverend Ruffin’s grave.         

          On October 29, 1961 plans for a new church on 29^th and Oak Avenue were pictured on the church bulletin. Before the new church was built, on April 28, 1963, the old church was destroyed by fire. During this time several members formed Providence Baptist Church on 30^th  Street; while the pastor and the majority of members purchased an edifice at 649 30^th Street on August 5, 1963.

          Reverend Brown, Sr. organized the Service Board, the Deaconess Board, the Golden Key Club, and the W. M. Brown Auxiliary. He established Youth Church, the W. M. Brown Gospel Chorus, and the Young Adult Ushers. He initiated Tithing, the Scholarship Fund, the Building Fund, the Family of the Month, the Church Banquet, the Senior Service Board, and the Benevolent Fund. Our present edifice and several buildings were purchased and paid for under Reverend Brown’s leadership. Being gifted by God with the ability to preach His word, the church membership doubled in size.

          During the pastorate of Reverend Brown, Sr., his son, Woodrow was called to the ministry. As the church continued to grow, the church voted Reverend Woodrow Martin Brown, Jr. assistant to the pastor. Reverend Brown, Jr. served as minister for the newly formed eight o’clock service. Reverend Brown, Jr. pastored at Gilfield Baptist Church, Charles City, Virginia for four years. First Baptist Church continued to grow and serve the community. This rapid growth emphasized the need for another “full time” minister and after four years of service to Gilfield Baptist, a “Son” of First Baptist was called to serve as Assistant Pastor. Father and son served our church for ten spirit-filled years.

          Reverend Brown, Sr. served our church congregation with integrity, love, talents, and spiritual guidance until God called him home from his labor in 1985, after thirty-nine years of service and leadership. We are grateful to God that he left us a rich legacy of love and the meaning and desire of unity.         

          From 1985-2000 Reverend Woodrow Martin Brown, Jr. succeeded his father, the late Reverend Woodrow M. Brown, Sr. as pastor of First Baptist Church East End.  Reverend Brown, Jr. continued not only to build on, but to expand the legacy of his forefathers in the ministry. He aligned the church with the American Baptist Churches, USA, and with the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.

          Reverend Brown, Jr. organized The Way, Inc. as a vehicle for the church’s outreach ministries. Because the Way was a non-profit service system, the Juvenile Department of the city of Newport News accepted his proposal to help juveniles through interaction with positive role models in activities designed to promote positive self-images and moral values. Within two years of his pastorate, Reverend Brown, Jr. brought to fruition his vision of The Way, Inc., through the purchase of a Family Life Center. The purpose of the Family Life Center was to provide  an environment in which the church family and families of southeast Newport News and other areas, could participate in spiritual, cultural, educational and recreational activities in a wholesome setting. Reverend Brown, Jr. organized  the Golden Key Club, the League of Women, Men’s Fellowship, the Outreach Ministry and Children’s Church. The church celebrated  the 100^th Church Anniversary (Centennial Celebration)  in 1996. After many years of failing health, Reverend W. M. Brown, Jr., retired as pastor of First Baptist Church East End in March of 2000.         

          From 2002-2003 The Pastoral Search was conducted by the members of First Baptist Church East End.         

          On January 30, 2003 Reverend Doctor William James Marshall was elected as the new pastor of First Baptist Church East End. Pastor Marshall is a native of East Orange, New Jersey. Pastor Marshall assumed the pastorate of First Baptist Church East End, on February 2, 2003. Pastor Marshall is a very humble man who envisioned the church moving in a new direction. He began meeting with all the auxiliaries of the church to inform them of his vision, to let them know what he expected of them and what they could expect of him. His first year, he visited the members of First Baptist Church East End (over 250 homes) including the sick and shut in of the congregation. He served as counselor to those who were facing major crisis in their lives. Pastor Marshall is just what this church needed. He is young, energetic, full of new ideas, family oriented, dedicated to his mission as a pastor and a true and sincere man of God.

          Pastor Marshall reorganized the Sunday School Classes and the Music Ministry and started the Mass Choir. He initiated the Flowers Now Ministry, Evangelism and Discipleship Ministry, Seniorcize Ministry and New Ministers Class. He organized the Pastor’s Advisory Council which consists of church-wide representation from all ministries. Pastor Marshall assisted in the development of the Constitution and By-Laws and an annual church budget. He established Tuesday Night Ministry, Flowers Now Ministry, Puppet Ministry, Greeters Ministry, Adopt-A-Spot Ministry, Bridge Builders Ministry and Praise and Worship Ministry. He was instrumental in establishing the church website and the Intercessory Prayer Group.

          Pastor Marshall established a new church building project wherein the church acquired three properties on Jefferson Avenue between 30th and 31st Streets. A ground breaking ceremony for the new edifice was held on Sunday, December 4, 2005.  The grand opening of the new church, with the "Crystal Cathedral" theme, began Sunday, May 5, 2006.  Under the leadership of Pastor Marshall, members look forward to the continual growth of First Baptist Church East End as we fulfill our mission to bring souls to Christ.