North Cape May
New Jersey
Add an Article
Add an Event
Edit
Raymond Baptist Church
History of Raymond Baptist Church
The Raymond Baptist Church finds its humble beginnings as the Raymond Community Bible Club. Its first pastor was Ivor Sellevoog. In the spring of 1950, the group began making plans to be incorporated as the Evangelical Community Church of Raymond, which was later finalized under the leadership of new pastor, Robert Draper. With great enthusiasm, the church's first Sunday School program was started in September of 1950. During this time, the present annex building was purchased and served as the church meeting place for many years. The church looks to February 12, 1951 as the date of its official beginnings.
John Johnson came to serve as pastor of this young congregation from 1951 to 1954. Later, Jack Cavanaugh was called to be pastor serving until 1957. Through the influence of Reverend Cavanaugh and Gerald Bradley who followed him, the church became affiliated with Conservative Baptist Association and changed its name to Raymond Baptist Church.
In September of 1962, Richard Johnson began his 19 years of service as pastor. In 1964, land was purchased for the construction of the present church building. In 1965, the foundation was poured and capped as use for worship services. In 1967, the present sanctuary was completed. Reverend Johnson served until September of 1981. Reverend Roy Glave came to serve as pastor in 1982 until March of 1986. In 1984, Mike Chouinard was hired on a part time basis as Associate Pastor. In March of 1986, Reverend Glave faced serious health concerns and retired. Mike then served as interim pastor until January of 1987 at which time he was voted to be the pastor. He was later ordained in 1992.
On August 31, 2003, after 17 years as Pastor, Mike Chouinard gave his last sermon as Pastor and retired from the ministry to take a position in the Raymond school system as he felt that God was leading him to work with the youth in the community. Mike remains an active member of our church family, heading the Youth Group and participating in several other ministries.
In March of 2004 we moved into our new church building on the RBC campus. We now use all three buildings for various meeting rooms, Sunday School classes, Youth Group meetings and functions. The new building seats 300 attendees comfortably with the ability to remove temporary walls to expand to 500 when the time comes.
In October 2005, we welcomed Dr. Reverend Kevin McBride as our new pastor. Pastor McBride graduated from Boston University with a major in Aerospace Engineering, and was an Aerospace Engineer before entering the ministry after graduating from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He grew up in New York and then moved to Boston where he met his wife, Diane. He was Senior Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Portland, ME prior to coming to RBC and has been in the Pastorate for over 14 years.
As we celebrate over fifty years as a church, we rejoice at the changes in the church and surrounding community. and continue to look for ways to reach out the community. We sponsor several missionaries throughout the world as well as provide Bible study and outreach programs for people in the local area.
The Raymond Baptist Church finds its humble beginnings as the Raymond Community Bible Club. Its first pastor was Ivor Sellevoog. In the spring of 1950, the group began making plans to be incorporated as the Evangelical Community Church of Raymond, which was later finalized under the leadership of new pastor, Robert Draper. With great enthusiasm, the church's first Sunday School program was started in September of 1950. During this time, the present annex building was purchased and served as the church meeting place for many years. The church looks to February 12, 1951 as the date of its official beginnings.
John Johnson came to serve as pastor of this young congregation from 1951 to 1954. Later, Jack Cavanaugh was called to be pastor serving until 1957. Through the influence of Reverend Cavanaugh and Gerald Bradley who followed him, the church became affiliated with Conservative Baptist Association and changed its name to Raymond Baptist Church.
In September of 1962, Richard Johnson began his 19 years of service as pastor. In 1964, land was purchased for the construction of the present church building. In 1965, the foundation was poured and capped as use for worship services. In 1967, the present sanctuary was completed. Reverend Johnson served until September of 1981. Reverend Roy Glave came to serve as pastor in 1982 until March of 1986. In 1984, Mike Chouinard was hired on a part time basis as Associate Pastor. In March of 1986, Reverend Glave faced serious health concerns and retired. Mike then served as interim pastor until January of 1987 at which time he was voted to be the pastor. He was later ordained in 1992.
On August 31, 2003, after 17 years as Pastor, Mike Chouinard gave his last sermon as Pastor and retired from the ministry to take a position in the Raymond school system as he felt that God was leading him to work with the youth in the community. Mike remains an active member of our church family, heading the Youth Group and participating in several other ministries.
In March of 2004 we moved into our new church building on the RBC campus. We now use all three buildings for various meeting rooms, Sunday School classes, Youth Group meetings and functions. The new building seats 300 attendees comfortably with the ability to remove temporary walls to expand to 500 when the time comes.
In October 2005, we welcomed Dr. Reverend Kevin McBride as our new pastor. Pastor McBride graduated from Boston University with a major in Aerospace Engineering, and was an Aerospace Engineer before entering the ministry after graduating from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He grew up in New York and then moved to Boston where he met his wife, Diane. He was Senior Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Portland, ME prior to coming to RBC and has been in the Pastorate for over 14 years.
As we celebrate over fifty years as a church, we rejoice at the changes in the church and surrounding community. and continue to look for ways to reach out the community. We sponsor several missionaries throughout the world as well as provide Bible study and outreach programs for people in the local area.