Faith Baptist Church History

Pastor George and Ruby Joseph
1966 - 1994

Pastor Stephen and Vanessa Pekins
1994 - Present

Rev. George M. and Ruby F. Joseph founded Faith Baptist Church, in October of 1966 at 1517 South High Street, South Bend, Indiana. The Joseph's believed that the founding of a church in South Bend would be by faith in God, and so the name Faith Baptist Church. was chosen. In the basement of their house on High Street, with just six children, the Josephs started a 2 hr., Sunday school ministry, which later included training for church.

The Josephs moved out of the house in 1968 and used the entire building as the church. As the ministry grew, the house next door was purchased and used as and educational building for children's ministry. The garage in the back of the house was remolded for a recreational center for the young people. The ministry had grown to about 12 adults and over 65 children and young people. Faith was incorporated with the State of Indiana on July 17, 1967. The work became recognized as a fully organized Baptist Church in 1968 and was accepted into fellowship with the IFRBC and GARBC in 1969. It was officially chartered in September of 1969. In 1973, the house on High Street was sold, and in the spring of 1974, the church moved to its present location at 1002 Blaine Avenue.

The growth of the ministry did not end after the establishment of the church, it continued with the Josephs founding and establishing a Christian Education Bible Institute. Using personal funds, the Josephs began to purchase teaching films, teaching aids, and other teaching tools. In September of 1974, Faith Baptist Bible Institute opened its doors for the first time, with the Josephs being the initial instructors. The purpose of the institute was and still is to prepare individuals to be ministers of the gospel, as missionaries, teachers and Christian workers.

In March of 1987 the church held a mortgage burning ceremony. The building was paid off! By July of 1989, the church had grown to a membership of around 250 and Pastor Joseph was preparing to lead the church into building a recreational center in hopes of reaching out to the community, especially the young people. It was during that period that turbulent times occurred. On April 21, 1990, the turbulence ended in a split and from the split, three other churches were formed, namely: Grace Community Church and New Covenant Baptist Church, both of South Bend and Southside Baptist Church of Elkhart, Indiana.

Pastor and Sister Joseph were two faithful servants of God, who labored unceasingly for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They served at Faith Baptist for 28 years. The Josephs were lead by the Lord to pass the work on to someone else. Pastor Joseph recommended, to the church, one of our missionaries, Pastor Stephen Perkins as his successor.

In June of 1994, the church unanimously voted to call Pastor Perkins to carry the torch by being only the second Pastor of Faith Baptist Church. Pastor Joseph's last day at Faith Baptist was Sunday, August 21, 1994. He handed over the leadership of Faith Baptist to Pastor Perkins on Monday, August 22, 1994 and Pastor Stephen Perkins became the second Pastor, starting with a membership between 70 and 75.

Pastor Perkins began his ministry at Faith Baptist seeking to bring about spiritual healing and a renewed vision to continue what God had laid upon the hearts of Pastor and Sister Joseph. Pastor Perkins has continued to provide leadership and instruction over the Bible Institute. The Institute teaches certificate level courses and has a student enrolment between 10-20 students per class each semester.

Under Pastor Perkins’ leadership, a mission statement has been adopted and several new ministries have been started, such as: a website; a food pantry that provides food for people in the community; praise dancers consisting of several young ladies, a praise team to lead us in worship, supporting our sons mentoring ministry (SOS) for young males in grades 5-10, and an upward basketball camp held every summer for boys and girls in grades K-5 through 5^th.

Pastor Perkins and his family came to us from Indianapolis, IN where he served under the auspices of Evangelical Baptist Missions as an inner-city church planter and a volunteer assistant chaplain for the State of Indiana in the prison system.

He has a Graduate of Theology Diploma and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biblical Studies from Carver Baptist Bible College & Seminary of Kansas City, MO. He also has 32 credits in Business Administration from ITT Technical Institute in Indianapolis, IN. He has a Master’s of Ministry Degree from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. He has been married to Sister Vanessa Perkins his entire adult years (34 years). They have 4 children-one deceased and 3 granddaughters.

In past years our Sunday attendance has averaged just over 100. Though our Sunday morning attendance now averages around 80, God has allowed us to have a spiritual impact on many men, women and children in our community and those who have relocated to other cities and states. Praise the Lord! To God be the glory, great things He has done!