Church History

In the beginning years...Rev. J.G. Johnson, Rev. Roger Goodman, and Rev. Malcolm VanAntwerp were the first beginnings of the First Baptist Church of Coon Rapids.

The first service was held on May5, 1956 with 47 people attending Sunday School, 57 at morning worship and 35 at the evening service at the original Coon Rapids city hall building (formerly the Joyce Memorial Methodist Church) on Hanson and Northdale Boulevard. The Minnesota Baptist Conference purchased the building for $5,875.

In August of 1956, the Baptist General Conference hired Arlen Svare, a Bethel Seminary student , to survey the area...Coon Rapids then was only a "village."

Arlen says, "On August 1, 1956, I began a door to door canvas, beginning at Foley Boulevard, parking my car at Old Highway #10 and heading north. This I did all the month of August, and it resulted in a gathering of people into a Bible Study that became the congregation."

On Sunday, August 4, 1957, the church was officially organzied with 28 charter members. Betty Hardle was one of those members as was Ralph's late father, Ed Hughes. Arlen was called as the first pastor.

"I helped support myself by driving school bus out of Anoka, by selling garden produce and by hunting pheasants in Coon Rapids proper (with the very last license issued by the village). Having made myself known as a hunter, the police chief asked me to help him destroy rabid animals, pets or otherwise, wherever I may find them, because the prevalence was so great as to pose a grave risk to the people." In a Minneapolis Star newspaper article it told about 16 boys led by Rev. Arlen Svare trapping gophers in farmer's fields and accepting contributions from the farmers for the youth's camp fund at Big Trout Lake Camp (camp fee was $15 per boy). The Coon Rapids city council paid the boys 25 cents bounty for each gopher. So far they had caught ten.

Arlen also stated that, "when summer 1957 arrived, we wanted to conduct a Bible School and planned a small "parade" through Orrin Thompson and Blaine settlements. We were deluged with children and in future years had to be careful not to invite too many to handle with the facilities we had!"

Pastor Andy Husmann wrote: "It was on October 1, 1958, that I enrolled in Bethel Seminary. I was a Korean veteran, single and I had a desire to serve the Lord somewhere. I had heard throught the MBC office that Pastor Arlen Svare was planting a new church in Coon Rapids. So just before noon that day (October 1, 1958) I called him and asked if he needed any help. We traveled throughout the community and he took a Jr. High Sunday School teacher's quarterly from off the dash board and said, 'We have no teacher for our youth. Would you like to do that starting this Sunday?' I accepted and the class met in the furnace room of the old church building on Northdale Blvd." A few weeks later, Andy Husmann became the church's youth director and was paid $5.00 a week.

In February 1960, Arlen and his wife, Lillian, a toddler and a baby left to begin Baptist General Conference work in Moorhead, Minnesota. Our church was the first for the Svare's in a career of church planting (8 total) that spanned 35 years.

Andy was then asked to be the Interim Pastor in addition to being the youth director and says, "the Search Committee was looking for a new pastor, while the people wanted me as the pastor. In June, I sensed that my presence was causing a conflict, so I resigned and left, which caused even more conflict. Finally in August, the Search Committee called and asked me to be the candidate. I consented, a vote was held, I received the call and we began our full-time ministry as Sr. Pastor on September 1, 1960. My salary was $300 a month. In the meanwhile, the church was experiencing phenomenal growth."

On October 16,1960, the first service were held at our present building on Foley Boulevard. The formal dedication was on November 20, 1960. Without the help of First Baptist Church of Willmar, Minnesota (who loaned funds for the down payment) and Mrs. O.J. Jorke, who sold the land to the church for less than market value, the building would not have been possible. An addition to the first unit was dedicated on Sept.29, 1963.

" I served as the Sr. Pastor, youth director and the Jr. High Sunday School teacher. At one time, there we three sets of twins in that class. Our entire youth department was so large that we remodeled the basement of Aaron and Dorothy Simon’s home next door and held all of our youth classed there. Before long, we went to two morning worship services and a few years later put on an addition which greatly enhanced our expanding ministry."

"We served at FBC for a total of seven years. They were formative years for us. Arlen was called as the first pastor. On September 12, 1959, Donna and I were married at the Powderhorn Baptist Church in Minneapolis and almost every person from FBC came to the wedding. Two of our three sons were born while we served there and it was there that the church ordained me to the Gospel ministry on May 12, 1963. We have so many precious memories and are grateful for the privilege of serving you."

During the time of his ministry the Lord blessed the church with unbelievable growth. Membership on May 1, 1959 was 38 and on May 1, 1965 was 175.

Pastor Andy and Donna Husmann served for seven years at Fergus Falls, then 12 years at Mona Shores in Muskegon, Michigan, followed by 13 years as the Michigan Executive Minister. He is retired and serving his fourth interim pastorate. They have 3 sons, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Rev. Clayton Bolinder accepted the call of the church to become our third pastor and began his ministry February 1, 1966. He and his wife, Hazel, served the church until his retirement in January of 1971.

In 1970 the church voted to establish the Christ Child Preschool. The aim of the school is to provide preschool experience in a Christian setting for a nominal cost.

On June 15, 1971, Robert Clouse became the fourth pastor of the church. He served until May 15, 1975. During 1974 a group of Bethel students began attending our church. Among them were Larry and Kay Odle. Larry was called as a youth pastor in the fall of ‘74. He served as interim pastor in the summer of ‘75. He accepted the call as our fifth full time pastor on October 15, 1975.

In a letter dated July 9, 2007, Rev. Larry & Kay Odle (Jesse and Beth (Odle) Tweed) wrote:

Dear Friends at First Baptist, Coon Rapids:

As Kay and I think back about our days with you in our very first church, we are reminded again of your grace-filled love. This just-married seminary couple needed all the help and support we could get and you provided in abundance. You took wonderful care of us and allowed us to experience ministry in a warm and positive environment. We consider starting pastoral ministry at First Baptist one of the best gifts God ever gave us. Thank you so much!

So many memories flood in as we think about those days: Our first home just a few streets from church and the miraculous coming of our children into the Odle and the FBCCR families. The amazing provision of food, housekeeping and childcare by the women of the church when Kay was stricken with hemoplegic migraine condition and had to be bedridden for almost three months. How in the middle of my ordination council grilling, one of the ladies came in with a stool for me to sit on and announced, "We think our pastor ought to be able to sit down, he’s had the flu!" (If memory serves, I think that was Lu Howe). I remember having to ask George Nelson to dig up all the tomato plants and geraniums from the window gardens because I was allergic to them. I was on the pastoral search committee and found out they were having meetings without me and had decided to call me as their pastor (I may be the only pastor who was on his own search committee!). My first wedding (Herman and Margaret Kok), my first baptisms (including Pat Doty, who I almost dropped!) and so many other firsts. You were my training ground and your patient willingness to allow me freedom of ministry will always be precious.

Kay well remembers meeting Scottie Danielson hiding around a corner at church crying. When she asked him if he was alright, he punched her in the stomach and ran off. She recalls the preschool ministry working with Lana Borchardt and praying with the kids for the safe recovery of lost hamsters, Hanna and Harry. Her best memories revolve around you group with Dean Peterson, Joel Ellingson, the Leitte girls, the Howe boys, Keith and Linda Benson and the Gordy Olson crew, to name a few. Our memories would not be complete without mentioning Grandma Betty (Mattson), who was to us truly family and grandma to our kids. I remember Jay Kendall and I doing her funeral and both sobbing like babies. I stood in the pulpit and blubbered out, "Grandma Betty would be so mad at us if she was here!"

"These and so many more thoughts return as we ponder our over eight years at FBCCR. Please know that we regret deeply not being able to be with you for this significant event and we offer you our congratulations and love across the miles. May our dear Lord continue to bless and empower your church for greater ministry."

During the fall of 1976 the church undertook a capital improvement program. Air conditioning was added to the sanctuary (now fireside room), cabinets and appliances were added to the kitchen, new pews and pulpit furniture were purchased and the front of the sanctuary was remodeled. In August of 1977, our Twentieth Anniversary, our membership was 85. At the Twenty-fifth Anniversary in 1982, membership was back up to 127 members.

In September 1981, the church called its sixth pastor, Rev. Charles Rehman. Pastor Rehman previously served at First Baptist Church of Albert Lea, Berean Baptist in Burnsville and several churches on the east coast with his wife, Jan.

Rev. Richard Turnwall with his wife, Marge, came to serve First Baptist as interim pastor in 1984. He was later called to be the seventh pastor of First Baptist Church on April 1, 1985.

In a later dated July 12, 2007, he wrote:

Dear Friends,

First Baptist is special to me because it was the final church that I served under call. We became not only coworkers but dear friends. I particularly remember the summer the church presented Rainbow Island Vacation Bible School for the children. Our contact with the Wetzells was especially meaningful. Betty Hardle was among the leaders we enjoyed very much. The church has dreamed for a long time about building a new facility. We would love to see that dream fulfilled in the future. We still have dreams for that growth.

Marge and I regret that our health has deteriorated so we cannot participate in your celebration. We do wish you well on the occasion of this fifty year milestone and pray that God will strengthen and bless the pastor, the leaders and the congregation.

God is good and his faithfulness is the source of our hope as believers. May First Baptist Church understand and grasp tightly this truth. May God’s Kingdom grow because of your obedience, ministry and worship.

On November 1, 1987, Pastor Craig Dahl became the eighth pastor to serve at First Baptist Church with his wife Vicki and daughter Kirsten. During his pastorate at FBC they brought three more children into the world: Emily, Jon and Amy. A Redecoration Project was undertaken coordinated by Vicki Dahl & Connie Wetzell along with the purchase of a new piano for the sanctuary. The Omega group ministry was formed promoting healthy relationships in our congregation. Backyard Bible Clubs were also started (reaching out to the neighborhoods) replacing traditional VBS at FBC.

Pastor David Johnston was called to First Baptist Church on June 1, 1995 as the ninth pastor in its history. He brought with him his wife, Jean, and two children, Davey & Kristen. We celebrated our 40th Anniversary in August of 1997. Drew Fernelius became our first Assistant Pastor at FBC on October 1, 1997 with his son, Hunter. He led the Sunday night Lighthouse ministry that was reaching the next generation.

Since Pastor Dave’s coming, a new roof was installed on the existing building in August 1997. In 1999 a 3,000 square foot multi-purpose worship/gym area was built. The dedication service was February 20, 2000. A decorating committee was later formed and the fireside room was tiled as well as the gathering room (wains coating too). The church properties were landscaped under the direction of Pastor Dave.

An Outreach Committee was formed which in turn put a greater emphasis on reaching our community through our Drive-thru Living Nativity, summer Vacation Bible Schools, Drive-thru Coffee & Prayer, and Foley Fest (our totally free festival for our neighborhood). In spring of 1996, 15 people from FBC attended the Billy Graham Evangelism training classes for the Billy Graham Crusade in June. Our focus has also turned to prayer emphasis. There is a prayer group (open to everyone) that meets every other weekend at FBC and also a Liberian Prayer Band that meets opposite weekends at the church.

In 1998 we began a relationship with our sister church in Predniprovsky, Ukraine and in the year 2000, mission trips to Nett Lake Indian Reservation began.

In 2004 we changed the name of the Lighthouse ministry to Jacob’s Well which then moved to Sunday mornings in the fireside room in December 2005. We watched it grow and bring in new families from our community. Also, in 2005, we started up a food shelf for the community, volunteered with the youth at Marie Sandvik Center in Minneapolis, which ministers to the homeless. Also, a mission team was sent to minister in hurricane ravaged Louisiana.

The year 2007 was a momentous time in our church. We voted to change the name of First Baptist Church to Crosspoint Church, BGC. It was felt that this would better reflect our church and open more doors to unchurched people in our community. We are celebrating the Year of Jubilee and the 50th anniversary of FBC by emphasizing unity, forgiveness and a fresh start for our fellowship as we begin our second 50 years. Our mission statement was rewritten to: Our mission is to be a Spirit filled New Testament church that loves God and loves people. Our motto is: Love God...Love People.

Pastor Dave shared, "This year, 2007, is the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of First Baptist Church. Over the last 50 years God has shaped and molded FBC into something beautiful that has been used for His glory. May God continue His work in our midst that we might be a gem reflecting His gospel to a lost world."

"You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

Isaiah 62:3