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From 'Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ of Nevada City' to First Baptist of today
By Steve Moyer
Nevada Daily Mail
The First Baptist Church in Nevada has a long history, it started in 1858 with 14 members, however no one is sure where that first church building was located.
"Some of our older members have said they think some of the records were burned in 1863 when federal troops burned the town," William Cox, pastor, said. "At the time it was called the Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ of Nevada City."
After the town was burned the congregation met in a school until a building was erected in 1878. One wall of the church is still standing, it forms part of a building on East Walnut used to house an auto parts store. "You can still see where the cathedral style windows have been bricked up," Cox said. "They met in that building until the church at Main and Hunter was built in 1900 and we used that one until 1997."
Cox said the old church was purchased by a developer but he didn't know who the current owner is.
"For a while the school district rented some space there and the CCPA used part of it for a theater but as far as I know there's nothing in there now," Cox said. "It's a shame that it's deteriorating like it is. It would have been good to see another congregation go in there."
While the congregation moved to a new building in 1997 they brought along a pipe organ and some of the stained glass windows from the old building.
"We have the windows in the hallway now," Cox said. "We also have a pipe organ J. R. Davis donated in 1950 that he bought for $50,000. He was a very active church member and donated it in memory of his wife."
The church has a large membership, numbering 1,500 in total. Asked why he thought the church was so successful Cox said the church had always been a leader in the community and ascribed that success to several characteristics he felt the church exhibited. "One of the things that has characterized the church is stability," Cox said. "In the last 50 years the church has only had two pastors, the Rev. O.B. Dodson from 1955 to 1978 and I've been here since 1978."
Cox said that the church was forward-looking and mission-minded.
"The other thing that has characterized our church is that we've been mission-minded both in the United States and around the world," Cox said. "We started a mission in Stockton that became the First Baptist Church of Stockton. We're also working in Fairground Estates right here in town."
Innovation and creativity are also hallmarks of the church according to Cox. "The church built a gymnasium in the early 1900s," Cox said. "It was unusual to see a church have a gymnasium in the 1920s but we did. That willingness to take a risk still characterizes us today."
One of the ways the church displays its propensity for innovation is the addition of a contemporary service to complement the traditional service at 10:30.
"We have a contemporary service at 9:15. I preach the same sermon at both services but the music is the main difference," Cox said. "For the contemporary service there are guitars, drums and keyboards. For the traditional service we use the piano, organ and hymns."
"We've reached more of our new members through the contemporary service," Cox said. "It's been great."
Cox praised the congregation for their caring attitude toward one another. "Our commitment to caring for one another, fellowship with one another is strong," Cox said. "There's really a sense of trying to build relationships with each other and to build a strong, caring pastoral ministry."
Cox cited the church's conservatism as another factor in the church's popularity. "The last thing I think I'd say is we're a pretty conservative church in terms of our values," Cox said. "We're Christ-centered and Bible oriented, we look to the Bible as the source of authority."
The church has started a "40 Days of Community" campaign. Based on Rick Warren's best-seller "The Purpose Driven Life" and its follow-up. the campaign, in its second year, urges the congregation and guests to break up into small groups of 10 or so and read a devotion each day.
Cox said,"In 40 Days of Community the emphasis is on finding each other. That's why we're helping in Fairground Estates. It's really nothing new. It's getting back to basics when people met in each other's homes."