This is Our Story

Back in 1892, the chapel car “Evangel” was switched off the track into the young town of Everett. The arrival of Evangel, which means “good news” was advertised as “carrying good tidings of great joy for this city of 4000”. It was reported that the godly men who came with the chapel car “stirred up the city”.

First Baptist Church of Everett began as a congregation in this chapel car, “Evangel”, on April 17, 1892. In the beginning, we were only 13 members and 15 Sunday School pupils and for the first year we held Sunday services in Gamel Hall. In the spring of 1893 we leased a lot on Lombard Avenue and constructed a Tabernacle for our church home.

After purchasing this site, we began planning in 1906 for a new church building, completing the Sunday School portion in 1908 and the remainder in 1913. This building was to be our home for the next 47 years. Our numbers grew steadily and by 1929 we grew to 718 members and had more than 600 enrolled in the Sunday School. Our newsletter, the HUB, first went to press in 1934, and radio broadcasts of the Sunday morning services began in January 1955, continuing for more than 20 years.

In the 1950’s we sensed the need for a new church building and broke ground in 1959 to construct our present church home at Pacific and Wetmore, holding the first service here on Palm Sunday in 1960. This was a significant and bold move by the congregation, and required incredible sacrifice.

Even while experiencing growth in our own attendance and facilities, First Baptist has always had a heart to reach lost people throughout Everett and Snohomish County. We planted four churches: Delta Baptist, Memorial Baptist, Faith Fellowship and the Valley Christian Fellowship, in Monroe.

During the 1970 and 80’s,Cross J Ranch, a group home for troubled boys, was established and operated for more than 20 years. We also sponsored the Friendship Club for seniors. In an intentional effort to reach un-churched families, we moved our Easter Service to Everett’s Civic Auditorium and invited the community, first in 1976. In 1989, we started the Good Friday Service and luncheon at our church, and both of these services continue each year.

In 1989 we called our present senior pastor, Brian Harpell and family in. In early 1990, to accommodate growing attendance at worship, we launched a second Sunday morning worship service, with church school classes available during both hours. Our mid-week programs grew to include additional music programs and study groups for all ages, as well as a tutorial program for neighborhood children. In 1990 an $850,000 building expansion and renovation project was launched, resulting in improved office facilities and the addition of the Pacific Room, which provided a much needed area for receptions, weddings and meetings.

Our “Centennial Celebration” was two years later in 1992 and since then God has continued to bless our efforts to reach out to our community with the Good News about Jesus Christ. During the 1990’s we expanded our staff, including our very first full-time children’s pastor. We also took a courageous step of faith in purchasing the Colby Professional Center in anticipation of a growing need for more parking and a possible community center in the future.

Well, God is God of the impossible and in 2007 we dedicated to the Glory of God, our brand new FB Community Center. Our vision is to see this center used 24/7 to reach our community and draw them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s 2007, our 115th Anniversary, and now you have the privilege of helping write “the rest of the story”.