Our Mission is to win the lost and empower believers to become fully functioning followers of Christ.
History
"I will love thee, O Lord, my
strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn
of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who
is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies". Psalm 1: 8
| Colossian Baptist Church was organized in the year of 1867 in Mulberry Island, Virginia, by a small group of members from the First Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia together with a few community members. |
Colossian Baptist Church on Mulberry Island 1914 |
Some of the organizers were Reverend Henry Harris, Reverend Walter Williams, Brothers George Taliferro, Phillip Conray, William Brown, John Turner, Edward Seldon, Richard Hughes and Roger Ray, all members of First Baptist Church, Hampton, Virginia.
Worship services began in an old barn on the Follies Farm in Mulberry Island, Virginia, under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Walter Williams, who served faithfully for five years.
In 1872, Reverend Thomas Poole was elected pastor and served for 15 years before tendering his resignation. In 1887, Reverend Thomas Wright was elected pastor and served for six years when God called him from labor to rest in 1893.
In 1894, Reverend Aaron Wyatt was elected pastor and served for 16 years. During Reverend Wyatt’s pastoral leadership the Follies Farm barn, “our church” was destroyed by fire. Nevertheless, with a combination of inspiration, ambition, determination and invaluable leadership, in 1903 the faithful members entered our second edifice.
Colossian Baptist Church After the 1914 storm |
In 1910, Reverend Frank Ashby was elected Pastor, but served for a short period; and for a while the church was without a Pastor. During the year 1911, the Reverend David D. Harris was elected pastor and served for 24 years. In 1914 the church was destroyed by a windstorm and was rebuilt in 1915. In 1917 our country became involved in World |
War I and in 1918 the United States Government purchased the church and its property on Mulberry Island, Virginia, presently known as United States Army Transportation Center, Fort Eustis. The church was rebuilt on its current location. In 1935, Reverend Harris was called from labor to rest.
| In 1935, Reverend Thomas Ash was elected Pastor, but served for only a short period of time. In 1935, Reverend Andrew D. Holmes was elected pastor and served until 1955 when his health began to fail. Under the leadership of Reverend Holmes the church’s first Youth Choir and Youth Department was organized. In 1954 Reverend Holmes was called from labor to rest. |
Mrs. Florence Wiley, wife of Mr. George H.
Taliferro 1936 |
Rev F. A. Rylander, Our
9th Pastor
1955 |
In 1955, Reverend Frank Rylander was elected pastor and served until his health began to fail. In 1962, Reverend Rylander retired as Honorary Pastor. During this time, Reverend William Cheeseman and Reverend Elick Edlow who also served as the Youth Director were delegated to pastor on the 1st and 3d Sundays which were set aside for Youth Sunday. |
| In 1962, Reverend James M. Lee became Supply Pastor of the church and served for four years before being elected as pastor. Many goals were set and accomplished during his leadership. Reverend Lloyd F. Williams, Sr., was licensed into the ministry and became a Son of the Church. Under Pastor Lee’s leadership seven auxiliaries were formed which included the |
 Rev James M. Lee Our 10th Pastor 1966
|
reorganization of the Youth Choir. Other Auxiliaries included the Second Senior Choir, Male Chorus, Nurses Aide, Pastor’s Aide, Gleaners Board and the Altar Guild. Under Pastor Lee’s leadership the first and third Sunday morning worship services were added.
Colossian Baptist Church 1968
|
Construction of a new edifice began in 1967, was completed in 1968 and is our present edifice. In 1978 the mortgage note was “burned”. In 1981 Pastor Lee was injured and was hospitalized for an extended period of time. During his absence, he recommended that Reverend Irvin D. Melvin serve as Interim Pastor. In May, 1983, Pastor Lee tendered his resignation. |
On October 9, 1983 Reverend Irvin D. Melvin was elected as Pastor. Under his leadership the church grew tremendously, both spiritually and in its membership. The 8:00 a.m. service was added to Sunday Morning Worship.
| The Youth Department was again reorganized and an Advisory Council was formed and construction of the Education and Fellowship Annex was complete. New pews, pulpit furniture and wall-to-wall carpet were installed throughout the sanctuary. Trees and other shrubbery, which had been planted along the parking areas and walkways, were rearranged. A more effective healing and cooling system was installed. |
Rev Irvin D. Melvin Our 1st Full-time
Pastor 1989 |
Two deacons were licensed into the ministry. Reverend Joshua Slack, a licensed Minister who became a member of Colossian, was ordained. The Irvin D. Melvin Gospel Choir was organized and later became the CBC Gospel Chorus.
In September, 1989 Reverend Melvin became the first full-time Pastor of the Church. In August 1991 a new piano was purchased to enhance the music of our worship services. In June 1991 we were blessed with two new deacons and one half acre of land was leased to the church. A new PA system was installed and “No Parking” signs were placed throughout the parking lot to allow easier accessibility to the Church in case of an emergency. An organ and a 15 passenger van was purchased. To enhance worship services between 8:00 and 11:30 a.m. a Prayer and Praise Team was organized and they also served before Bible Study on Wednesday nights. Other auxiliaries included the Men’s and Christian Women’s Fellowships; Mid-day Bible Study, Praise Dancers, Food Ministry, and the funeral repast, also the Audio Tape Ministry. Ten deacons were ordained.
In October 1993, Reverend Melvin tendered his resignation. In the absence of a Pastor, Deacon Board Chairman, Robert Valentine was appointed to provide Evangelists to fill the pulpit. The church continued to prosper and grow under the leadership of our Joint Board. In December a Pulpit and Search Committee was formed.
Colossian Baptist Church 1994 |
In July 1994 the mortgage note on the Education and Fellowship Annex was retired. Also, in November 1994 a new Marquis was erected and two deacons were ordained as members of the Deacon Board. |
In February 1995 during a special church call meeting, Reverend Steven W. Banks was voted as Pastor-elect. On July 9, 1995, Reverend Banks was elected the second full-time Pastor.
| Under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Banks the church membership continued to grow. The Bread Ministry and the SHARE Program were implemented as community outreach programs. A Video-Tape Ministry was started; The tape Ministry was reestablished. During a special call meeting on October 18, 1995 four new members were approved by the church to become Deacons. Under Pastor Banks |
Rev Steven W. Banks Our 12th Pastor
1995 |
leadership, the first female minister, Sister Cynthia Parson was licensed. Six Deacons were ordained and five Trustees were elected.
In April 1997 Pastor Banks tendered his resignation as Pastor. The church also lost six Deacons and six Trustees. During this time the pulpit was being filled by the Pulpit Committee.
Rev Lloyd F. Williams, Sr. 1996 |
While Colossian was without a Pastor, Reverend Lloyd F. Williams, Sr., a son of the church, served as temporary Interim Pastor by assisting the Deacons in Baptism, Holy Communion, Bible Study on Wednesday nights, performing marriage ceremonies and presiding over funerals, preaching and teaching to enhance the spirituality of the church. |
During this time the Deacon Board consisted of 12 Deacons and one Deacon-elect. Twelve members made up the Trustee Board.
In April 1999 during a special church call meeting, Reverend Peter A. Evans was elected to become the third full-time pastor of this great church. He began his duties as Pastor on Sunday, April 18, 1999. On May 30, 1999, Pastor Evans was installed as Pastor.
| Under Pastor Evans’ leadership, Colossian has continued to grow spiritually in membership and financially. Pastor Evans’ theme from his installation service comes from a scripture that is very uplifting for our members – Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I |
Rev Peter A. Evans, Pastor Colossian Baptist Church 1999 |
press toward the goal for the calling of God in Christ Jesus." His theme is “Forgetting Those Things Which are Behind Me, I Press Forward Toward the Mark.”
Under Pastor Evans’ leadership the title of organizations was changed from Boards to Ministry and a new Church Secretary was hired. Colossian once again became very active in the Peninsula Baptist Sunday School Union and has retained the banner several times.
Under Pastor’s leadership there are eight Associate Ministers, three were licensed to the ministry by Pastor Evans. Five Deacons were ordained, and two Trustees were appointed to the Board.
Pastor Evans upgraded our sound system with the addition of a new drum set and a new electric piano which has enhanced the worship services. The First and Second Senior Choirs and the Gospel Chorus were combined into the Sanctuary Choir. To intensify our sound he hired an organist and a bass guitar player whose talents are very uplifting.
On December 9, 2000, our church had its first Membership Appreciation Banquet with an excess of over 300 members attending. The affair showed appreciation, love and the spirit of Christ in all that was done.
New carpet was installed throughout the church; re-upholstering of the pulpit; choir stand and sanctuary; new light fixtures were installed in the sanctuary. The parking lot was also resurfaced. At present, a Computer Lab is being initiated.
Under Pastor Evan’s leadership several classes was instituted: Deacon Training, Leadership Training and Teacher Training. The New Members class has been changed to New Members Orientation Course. The annual Youth Revival was added during the 3d week of April.
The following new ministries have been instituted: Intercessory Prayer, and the Computer Lab. Several other ministries have been reorganized: The Christian Education Ministry, Women’s Fellowship Ministry, Men’s Fellowship Ministry; re-organization of the Youth Ministry. Age groups were formed into four youth groups – Mighty Eagles, Seeds of Promise, Juda’s Pride and the Pathfinders. Also, under the Youth Ministry a Nursery was opened for infants to four years of age.
In October 2001 Two members are added as trustees of the church.
The Finance Office has undergone a considerable change. The Finance office staff completely automated the membership records. Colossian has reaffirmed its mission of becoming a complete tithing church. Colossian hired the first full-time financial secretary in 2005.
In 2002 a committee was selected to address and up-date the Constitution and By-Laws of Colossian.
Three Deacons were ordained, Two members were added to the Trustee Board and One Minister became an Associate Minister.
Colossian’s commitment to building a new edifice is on the drawing table. Pastor Evans initiated the building fund pledge program in which members were asked to pledge as much as they could for the year 2002.
The annual homecoming dinner has been changed from Sunday to a picnic on Saturday which is held on the church grounds.
Four new Trustees were introduced to the congregation in 2003: We also welcomed two more Associate Ministers to the pulpit.
In 2004 the church voted to change the church colors from red and white to purple and gold. Pastor instituted the project of a new church directory to be done solely by the members.
Also, in October 2004 the church website was officially put into place.
In February 2005 the following new ministries have been instituted: Health Education; Bereavement; Greeters’; Theatre, and we went into partnership with Greenwood Elementary School for a Community Learning Center that will enrich the academic, social, and cultural needs of the community.
On August 13, 2005 we held our groundbreaking services.
Through our unending faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our love to all mankind and a deep determination to stay Christ centered, we are blessed to have presented to you this history of Colossian Baptist Church. One hundred thirty-eight years of worship services from an old barn on Follies Farm, Mulberry Island, Virginia to its present location at 856 Old Fort Eustis Boulevard in the city of Newport News, Virginia.
Lord, when I sense Your call to serve, Help me to follow through; I must not just stand by and pray, When there is work to do.
End