Celebrating a Century of Worship

Beverly Smith beamed with pride Sunday at the centennial celebration of the First Baptist Church.

Sitting in a back pew with her husband, Chet, she pointed to her 77-year-old mother, June Goodale, who was singing in the church choir, and her father, Alvin Goodale, 83, who was working as an usher.

“We moved here from Chicago around 1953, and we have been members of the church ever since,” she said. “This church is my family. This church is my home. Chet and I were married here. Our daughter was married here. This church has been a big part of my life.”

“I’m one of the newcomers,” joked Chet Smith. “I’ve only been a member since 1965.”

On Sunday, the Smiths joined nearly everyone of the congregation’s 800 members at a special afternoon service commemorating the church’s 100th anniversary.

Over the years, the church, near Euclid Street and Garden Grove Boulevard, has opened its door to all ethnic groups and has branched out to include Korean and Middle Eastern fellowships in its mission to spread the Gospel.

The church’s stated mission is “to reach new people, to make disciples and teach them to be obedient to Christ.”

Several speakers praised the congregation’s longevity and dedication.

The Rev. Leonard Janssen credited the church’s success in part to its willingness to reach out to all ethnic groups for members.

“This is an outreaching church, and that’s why I think it’s [still] alive,” Janssen said.

The Rev. Steve Jenkins, who formerly served as the congregation’s youth pastor, gave thanks for the opportunity to bring the older and younger members together to share memories.

Guest speaker the Rev. Joe King said church members in the year 2097 “will be able to say that people 200 years ago made plans for who we are.”

“If they could only see us now,” King said. “We’re living with a great past and an even greater future.”

Beverly Beller, who has belonged to the church for about 10 years, said she attended various churches before deciding on the First Baptist Church.

“They were all good churches, but I feel at home here,” Beller said. “This is a fundamental, Bible-believing church. I am fed the word every Sunday, and it helps me make it through the week. This is family, and that’s what a church should be.”

Founded in February 1897, the church originally had 10 members who met on the second floor of a schoolhouse. Sometime later, the members constructed the church and other buildings on its present site. At its peak in the 1970s, the church had more than 1,000 members.

On Sunday, the 31-member chorale group, dressed in powder blue robes, sang a special centennial hymn composed by church member Robyn Schaefer. The words and music wafted through the open door out onto busy Euclid Street: “Thank you for your faithful flock, throughout this century. First Baptist Church of Garden Grove will always faithful be.”