First Baptist celebrates 150 years of caring and community

WHEATON – For the last century-and-a-half, one Wheaton church has spread its message of community and love.

The First Baptist Church of Wheaton celebrated its 150th anniversary May 8.

When the church was first founded in Glen Ellyn by area missionaries, the American Civil War was raging and Abraham Lincoln had been re-elected.

The philosophy of outreach on which the church was founded has remained constant through its history, said the Rev. Mike Rowe. Most recently, the church – now located at 1310 N. Main St. – has focused on the growing diversity of Wheaton and DuPage County.

"There are multiple nationalities in the area, multiple cultures, language groups, skin colors," Rowe said. "We've got to reach out for them and care for them. We are making it a specific value that we are going to welcome the diversity of our community in Christ and becoming one with one another."

Over the past several decades, the church has added Spanish and Russian versions of its weekly services, a daily pre-school and homework club for local children – many of whose parents are immigrants or refugees – and a community garden for its parishioners and neighbors at the Wheaton Square Apartments.

More than a dozen languages are spoken among the church's 400-some members, Rowe said.

"Our country has changed, our world has changed," said church Director of Communication and Technology Andrew Fuller. "But we were founded on the premise of community development and caring for the community. That's what the first 17 missionary pastors came to do, and that's been the pinnacle for our church all along."

World Relief DuPage Executive Director Emily Gray said her agency has partnered with First Baptist to provide resources to the large immigrant population at the nearby apartment complex. World Relief works with the U.S. State Department to place refugees in the community, often at Wheaton Square.

Though the nonprofit collaborates with about 70 churches annually, Gray said First Baptist is one of the leaders in the county.

"What stands out to me about First Baptist is that they have developed a love and care about their community," she said. "They don't see missions just as something that happens by sending people overseas."

That's not to say the church doesn't send missionaries around the world. Currently, it has 34 missionary units across the globe, Rowe said.

"We joke that the sun never sets on the ministry of First Baptist," he said.

The church has also helped form other institutions throughout its history – First Baptist Church in Elmhurst in 1910, Grace Baptist in Lombard in 1957, Fellowship Church in Carol Stream in 1963 and Jefferson Street Community Church in Hanover Park in 1981 were all established by First Baptist.

"This is our community, our identity," Rowe said. "Our vision is that we want to be a very positive impact in helping and serving those that live around us. Whether they become a Baptist or not – that's not our concern. Our goal is to love and serve them as Christ called us to love and serve them."

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The history of First Baptist Church of Wheaton

• 1838 – First Baptist Church community started
• May 7, 1864 – Constitution officially signed with a congregation of 20 members in Glen Ellyn, then called Danby
• Dec. 5, 1867 – First Baptist moves into its own building on the northeast corner of Main Street and Seminary Avenue in Wheaton
• May 1904 – First Baptist dedicates its second building and is officially incorporated
• 1921– First Baptist surpasses 350 members
• June 12, 1960 – First Baptist moves to its current location at 1310 N. Main St.
• 1974 – Congregation opens Toddlers Campus Preschool