A New Beginning
In 1955, Fellowship Church first began as a mission of the First Southern Baptist Church of Banning, using California Baptist University students as preachers for gatherings held at the Women's Club in Beaumont. Fast forward to October 8, 1961, the church was officially established as the First Southern Baptist Church of Beaumont with 33 founding members and Weldon Bernard as its first pastor. Two years later, the first building was constructed on 5 acres of land, dedicated on October 27, 1963.
Praying for what only God could do
For its first 15 years, various men shepherded the growing church including John Lewis (1964), Don Hathcock (1966), Fred B. Fisher (1971), and Troy Manley (1973). In 1977, God led Cliff Howery to become the senior pastor and Cliff served faithfully for 7 years. During his tenure, the Good News of Jesus Christ was faithfully shared, leading to many conversions and baptisms. Under his leadership, a new auditorium and educational wing were also constructed to accommodate the growing needs of the church and provide space for future ministry.
“I would be more than happy to be your pastor if you would pray with me to this end, that the things that happen in this place would be so supernatural, that the only way to explain them is the fact that God did it.”
A Long obedience in the same direction
In 1984, Cliff and his family were called to serve the Lord in Canada. As he transitioned to this new role, God's faithfulness was again on display as Dr. Walter Price was invited to be the next senior pastor. Pastor Walter and his family moved to Beaumont and the church experienced God's blessing in numerous ways.
Pastor Walter's unwavering dedication to biblical teachings helped strengthen and grow the church over 32 years. His steadfast proclamation of the Word of God led countless individuals to become followers of Jesus and receive discipleship. As the city of Beaumont quadrupled in size and underwent various changes, Pastor Walter and the other leaders remained faithful in guiding and nurturing the church through seasons of growth. Alongside the city's expansion, the church campus also expanded with new buildings and additions, reflecting the vibrant growth taking place. Additionally, the church spread the Gospel through fruitful partnerships with missionaries and Christian organizations worldwide, sharing the love of Christ with many. By God's grace, Pastor Walter's leadership helped shape the church and community for the better.
God's Faithful Provision and Kindness
As Pastor Walter approached retirement, our church began to fervently pray and plan for who would step into the role of senior pastor. In response to those prayers, Mark Rogers was called by God to take on that role. Following years of theological training and ministry work in the Midwest, Mark, his wife Stephanie, and their three daughters made their way back home to California.
Mark initially joined us as the associate senior pastor in 2014, and in 2016, he officially became our senior pastor. This transition was a testament to God's faithfulness as our church community displayed a deeply humble and graceful spirit. This new chapter in our church's history is off to an incredible start, and we're excited to see where God takes us next.
FOLLOWING JESUS IN 2020
The year 2020 tested our church and the world with the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. At Fellowship Church, we adapted to worshiping online, hosting multiple services due to capacity constraints, and even holding outdoor gatherings. Our leaders dedicated countless hours to prayer and discussion to navigate this difficult season in a way that honored Christ. The miraculous strength, health, and unity of our church in the aftermath can only be attributed to God's power. We are so grateful for His grace and guidance.
60TH ANNIVERSARY AND BEYOND
2021 marked a significant milestone at our church: 60 years of following Jesus together here in Beaumont! To commemorate this journey, our church hosted a picnic get-together for the entire congregation. It was a cherished moment to come together and celebrate God's unwavering faithfulness to our church over the years.
We are thrilled to share that in 2022 our church experienced an all-time record for the number of members added in a single year. We welcomed 76 new members to our English and Spanish congregations, and we thank God for this blessing. We are excited for the future and look forward to welcoming many more members in the years ahead.