HISTORY
Having been led by the Holy Spirit, several baptized believers in Jesus Christ joined together in the name of and under the guidance of God, sharing their common faith in Jesus Christ and their concern for furthering God’s work through common activities, governed by His will as revealed in the New Testament, constituted themselves as a church and organized on May 20, 1994.
Application approval for name reservation was granted by the Secretary of State (Georgia), on April 21, 1994, for “First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Inc.” A “Certificate of Incorporation” was signed by the Secretary of State, (Georgia), on May 27, 1994 with an effective date of May 20, 1994.
The first few organizational meetings were held at the home of Brother Joseph and Sister Rochelle Canada. On March 16, 1994, we held our initial service at the Paine College Odeum (thanks to Brother Quincy Robertson, Vice President of Paine College) and thereafter every second and third Sundays. Minister Enoch Ward, Jr., was instrumental in taking the lead on this project.
Assisting in our services each of those Sundays were pianists, Mrs. Betty Marshall and Mrs. Rosena Bain and “The Monroe Singers”, Sister Gloria Ward, Sister Mary Ann Turner, and Sister Lynn Monroe Jones sang for us.
In April 1994, we began Wednesday evening bible study and church conferences at the Belle Terrace Community Center. Mrs. Katherine Morton was instrumental in making arrangements with the center's director.
First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Inc., extended the call to Reverend Enoch Ward, Jr. on June 5, 1994 immediately after his ordination service at Rocky Ford Baptist Church, Millen Georgia, Rev. W. D. Sapp, Pastor. Reverend Ward accepted the call on June 5, 1994 and became its first pastor.
The organizers of First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Inc., were; Angela Canada, Clarence Canada, Jr., Clarence Canada, Sr., Dorothy Canada, Hattie Canada, Irene Canada, Joseph Canada, Rochelle Canada, Peggie Koon, Wayne Koon, Justin Black Koon, Henry Glover, Jr., Karen Glover, Debra Robertson, Paulette Robertson, Ronald Robertson, Eddie Robertson, and Reverend Enoch Ward, Jr. Under “Watch Care”, Sisters Betty Marshall and Irene Ward.
Selected as the first Deacons; Clarence Canada, Sr., Joseph Canada and Eddie Robertson. Trustees; Clarence Canada, Sr., Eddie Robertson, Hattie Canada, Irene Canada, Joseph Canada, Rochelle Canada, Peggie Koon, and Wayne Koon. Treasurer; Eddie Robertson, Assistant Treasurer, Wayne Koon. Church Clerk; Irene Canada, Financial Secretary, Peggie Koon. Deaconess; Rochelle Canada, Hattie Canada and Irene Ward. Ushers; Dorothy Canada, Clarence Canada, Jr., Kevin Glover and Justin Black Koon.
On December 1, 1994, a few months after organizing, we signed a contract to purchase a 12 ½ acres site at 3719 Belair Road, Augusta, Georgia 30909. With the necessary administrative procedures in place we accepted our responsibilities as a church and reached out to those in need. We adopted a needy family and made contributions to the United Negro College Fund.
“The Exodus” The first three years (May 1994 - March 1997) we worshipped in Paine College’s Odeum. When Paine College needed the space, we had to vacate. We were blessed to have a trailer located on the church site. The men of the church renovated the trailer and rendered it suitable for worship services. The Church occupied the trailer on the second Sunday of March 1997. We are now an “Every Sunday Church”, including Sunday School.
“The Vision”. Building a permanent house for the Lord. We rolled up our sleeves, made plans, prayed and invited Mr. James H. Hall, III, of the Atlanta area to visit with us and evaluate our plans. After much discussion changes and consideration, the church commissioned Mr. Hall to develop a “Master Plan” for First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Inc. On May 16, 1998, Mr. Hall delivered a draft of the master plan. The church studied, made changes and approved the draft and asked for a final rendering.
We began 1999 by accepting the final rendition from Mr. Hall and immediately engaged an Engineering Firm (Zimmerman, Evans and Leopold, Inc. of Augusta, Georgia) to develop a site plan. Shortly after, Mr. James E. Trowell of Aiken, South Carolina was selected to build Phase I. A ground-breaking ceremony was conducted on September 17, 2000.
We missed our target date a few times, but finally occupied the sanctuary on the First Sunday of October 2001 and conducted the dedicatory service on the Third Sunday of October 2001. Thanks to God, we continued to focus on our sole purpose, serving and praising the Lord and reaching out to our fellowman. We started the journey with (14) souls and have been blessed with over (160) additions.
Shortly after the dedication of 2001, the planning committee began its work on expanding. In August 2011, the congregation unanimously approved the plan and a funding package. Ground breaking for the extension was conducted on September 4, 2011.
The favorable hand of the Lord led the architect, the builder and the on-site supervisor in completing a work that would give us needed space to further God’s Kingdom here at First Metropolitan Baptist Church. On April 7, 2013, we celebrated this completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony. On May 19, 2013, as we celebrated our 19th Anniversary, we made ready to study in our classrooms, we shared a meal together in our fellowship hall utilizing the capabilities of our commercial kitchen.
On the Lord’s day, May 18, 2014, we celebrated our 20th church anniversary. We dedicated our Fellowship Hall, giving all the honor and the glory to our Lord and Savior. With space to study and fellowship, we will continue kingdom building at First Metropolitan Baptist Church.
