History of Cedar Creek Baptist Church

Jacksonville, Florida

1939 – 2000

Southern Baptists are a unique group.  We are autonomous.  Where there is a body of believers, we may establish a new work. Such was the case of those who sought a new place of worship in the fall of 1939. 

On September 26, 1939, a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing a new church. This meeting was held in the home of Mrs. Grace Manuels on Lane Avenue.  Attending this organizational meeting were:  Rev. C. W. Burdgess, Mrs. Grace Manuels, Mrs. McDonald, Mr. Elmer Schanse, Mr. John Lindsey, and Mrs. Mary Lindsey.  These six (6) people, with a vision, formed the Cedar Creek Baptist Church , and in so doing, became the charter members of this new church.  The first service was held three days later on September 29, 1939.   Rev. C. W. Burdgess was called as the first pastor.  Also serving were Mr. John Lindsey, treasurer and Mrs. Mary Lindsey, church clerk.  Mr. Sam L. Watson was elected Sunday School superintendent and choir director on November 16, 1939.

                Word of the “new church” spread across the west side of Jacksonville .  In less than three months the church was growing.  In December of 1939, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Vining donated the first piece of property to the church.  According to the deed, this property must always be used for “Baptist church purposes only”.  Shortly after receiving the property, the members began work on a church building.  The church was built on what is now the corner of Park Street and Lane Avenue.

                Our written records from 1939 to 1942 were destroyed in a fire at the home of the church clerk.  In lieu of written records, the writer interviewed persons who were a part of this very important time in our history. 

The winds of war were blowing across the world during these years.  On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and this would be the beginning of a long and devastating war.  During 1940, Cedar Creek Baptist Church became known far and wide for its close walk with God and especially for its music.  People came from as far away as Georgia to hear our choir.  Our quartet, made up of Sam Watson, his two children and Clifford Sears, sang on the radio each week.  Every Wednesday night at the little wooden church, the quartet and the band made up of a violin, bass and two guitars, would play and sing praises to the Lord!  The sermons were evangelical, the music was good, the services were so inspired of God that people would stand outside the church and look through the windows and door because there weren’t enough seats.  Times were different then.  On 5th Sundays, churches would have “5th Sunday meetings”.  Each 5th Sunday they would gather at a different church.  The fare of the 5th Sunday was good preaching, singing and eating!  Although they were known as “5th Sundays”, they actually began on Friday night, continued on Saturday and ended with dinner on the grounds on the 5th Sunday.

                During these years, the church flourished under the pastorates of Rev. Burdgess and Rev. Sikes.  Near the end of 1940, Sam Watson, the choir leader, deacon and church leader was called to preach and was the first pastor ordained to preach at Cedar Creek Baptist Church .  Rev. Sam Watson would see the church through the next few years.

                Those interviewed remembered the great youth groups, BTU (Baptist Training Union), the forerunner of discipleship training, spirit-filled revivals, good preaching and lots of people.  For the little church on the corner, things were good.  However, in December of 1941, the war that had begun in Europe raised its ugly head and looked directly at the United States .  On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor .  There was no staying out of the war now...we were in!  Our young men immediately began to join the service and the women, who until now, had been housewives and mothers, began to flood the workforce.  The world began to change and things at the little church on the corner also changed.  Our young men were leaving, young people who might have waited to be married, married right away before the groom had to leave for his tour of duty.  The war touched our church family.  Restoring and building had to be put on hold.  Most of America ’s natural resources and technology were going directly to the war effort. The little church on the corner, which had always been a house of praise and worship, learned to be a house of prayer.

                Cedar Creek had always been a church with a “Mission Heart”.  In December of 1944, under the pastorate of Rev. Frank Grosse, with a balance on hand of $53.04, agreed to give $5.00 a month to missions.  The pastor’s salary was $10.00.

                Rev. Wright Bishop and Rev. Archie Carter, both of whom had been ordained by Cedar Creek, served short terms as pastors, during 1945.  Then in 1946 the church recalled Rev. Frank Grosse to pastor.  Under the direction of Rev. Grosse, four Sunday School rooms were completed.  The church building was moved, and the first well was drilled.

On September 21, 1947, the church called by unanimous decision, its first full-time pastor, Rev. Gerald Van Trueren.  His salary was $25.00 per week.  Rev. Van Trueren began an aggressive 20-point program for re-organizing the church.  During his tenure, the inside of the church was completed and a rest room was installed.

                In 1948, Rev. George Mikell was called to pastor the church.  During his ministry, the building that would become the main sanctuary, for many years to come, was begun.  This new church building was started with $3400.00.  Most of the work was done by members of the church.  The total cost of the church building was approximately $9600.00 from its inception through 1952.

                Additional Sunday School rooms were constructed during the ministry of Rev. A. L. Fewox.  The church was sealed and the rostrum built.  Much labor was done on the existing building during these years.  By September of 1956 the total estimated cost of the existing building since 1939 was $17,840.00.

                September 30, 1956, Rev. Purvis Lawson came as pastor by unanimous vote.  Rev. Van Trueren had been our first full-time pastor. Rev. Mikell and Rev. Fewox had been bi-vocational.  Rev. Lawson came into the pastorate full-time.  The church was stable, and catching up with the times.  They voted to move the new pastor and to purchase the first parsonage.  His salary was $75.00 a week, with a monthly expense account of $10.00.  On May 1, 1957, the plans were approved for a new educational building.  This building was completed and the sanctuary was renovated.  New pews and new rest rooms were a part of the renovation.  The church was now a part of a young, growing community.  This would be the beginning of growth that would span the next decades.

                In 1966 a call was extended to a pastor from Knoxville , TN.   His name was Rev. John Ellenburg.  “Bro. John”, as he preferred to be called, would begin an outreach program, yet unseen in this part of Jacksonville .  First Baptist Jacksonville had begun a similar program.  Under Brother John’s direction, many Wednesday nights we sent 100 adults visiting.  During this time we had over 200 children, youth and workers staying back.  God blessed the faithfulness of his people.  The church grew as people learned how to share their faith.  Many of the people realized for the first time that God had called them to share the gospel, not just the pastor.  In this time of growth, additional land was purchased.  The church issued its first bonds totaling $43,000.00.  These funds were used for new office equipment, a new fellowship hall, which was 100 ft. X 40 ft.  This would house the church offices, dining room and kitchen.  The new dining room and kitchen were well used, as they were the catalyst for the visitation program.  Dinners were served for 25 cents a plate.  This visitation program would be continued during the next few years.  The membership grew to over 800.  The church still had a heart for missions.  In August of 1970, the church voted to give all the Sunday night offerings to a small church in Bayard , FL.   God continued to bless the work at Cedar Creek.

                In 1975, Cedar Creek Baptist called Rev. Charles Pollock.  During the ministry of Rev. Pollock, the church purchased 2 more lots.  This purchase gave the church all the land from Park Street to Cedar Creek, which was about 6 acres.  This is the property as it is today.  Renovation of the nursery, rewiring and air conditioning of the old building, renovation of the old social hall into departments for the 4 & 5 year old preschoolers was completed under the pastorate of Rev. Pollock.  In October of 1978, construction was begun on a new 600-seat sanctuary.  It was completed in May of 1979.  This is our present sanctuary.  The property was landscaped and paved at this time.

                January 30, 1983, the church extended a call to Rev. Don Long.  During his tenure, an educational building was completed and additional paving for a parking lot was added.  Offices for church staff wee added in the fellowship hall.

                Rev. Jim Hensley was called to pastor in 1987.  Under his leadership, the business office was computerized and we began our first newsletter, “The Cedar Creek Challenger”.  Renovations to our Sunday School annex were also completed during this time.

                Rev. John Montgomery , who had been an evangelist, was called to serve as interim pastor until 1991, when the church called him to serve as the full-time pastor.  He is still serving in this capacity.  Rev. Montgomery, better known to everyone as Bro. John has been one of our most innovative pastors.  He has always been willing to step “out of the box” to ensure programs were available to the entire membership.  Under his leadership the newsletter was upgraded and is now called “The Vision”. 

In 1993, Cedar Creek Baptist received two distinguished awards for Sunday School growth from the Jacksonville Baptist Association.  The awards categories included Growth in Sunday School Enrollment and the Percentage Increase in Sunday School Enrollment.  In 1995 the church adopted a "Master Plan" for growth expansion, developed by Architect Charles Van Ant Associates.  The master plan anticipates future growth potential and determines the location of future buildings on the existing campus.

In 1996, "Challenge To Build", a capital fund raising program, was adopted by the church to raise funds for the renovation project.  In 1997, the demolition of building #1 officially began.  As a way to save money, many of our members assisted in the demolition. 

During 1997 we adopted a new mission statement and a list of Core Values to provide direction for the church in the twenty-first century.   

The "Wall of Honor", a capital fund raising program was adopted by the church  to raise additional funds for the renovation project.  The "Wall of Honor" was displayed in the foyer of our newly renovated building to honor those who had vision and faith.

The renovation of the old building on the corner of Park and Lane, where our original building was erected in 1939, has been completed and houses a new fellowship hall, kitchen, bathrooms, and Sunday School rooms.  Our charter members and the Vinings, who originally donated the property, would be proud to see the beautiful building now on this corner.  With the opening of this new building, the old fellowship hall will be used to house the youth and singles, with a portion set aside for children’s church.  The original Sunday School annex will house our nursery, preschool and children’s departments.  The church continues to grow and God continues to bless his work.

                This 6 acres and the buildings constructed mean many things to many people.  Some of our members met Jesus here for the first time.  Many were baptized or began their married life here.  Others have said farewell to loved ones who have gone to meet the Lord.  Still others remember Vacation Bible School , playing and enjoying fellowship, and dinner on the grounds.

                We have come from humble beginnings, with a group of people who had a vision.  That vision has been passed down through the years.  We have moved from one century into a new millennium.  God is still in control.  The Vision continues, the torch has been passed, the torch bearers are prepared to continue the race into this new century.  By His Spirit, we will “...continue to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, 13).  “...and we are being transformed into His likeness with every-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord”. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

          As we dedicate this new building and re-dedicate this entire property, we give glory, honor and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith and our soon coming King.