Statement of Faith
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exod. 20:2-3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11)
We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient in the original languages, the final written authority and trustworthy for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith. The primary purpose of the Bible is to point to Jesus Christ, the living Lord of the Church. (Psalms 19:7-8; Romans 1:2; 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:21-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
We proclaim the Good News of the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, knowing that salvation (forgiveness of sins, release from guilt and condemnation, reconciliation with God) and eternal life are granted in grace to all who trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This Gospel is the central message of the Bible. (Jonah 2:9; Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 2:14-17; Isa. 53:4-7; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24)
We affirm that God is sovereign overall and that this sovereignty is expressed and realized through Jesus Christ. Therefore, we affirm the Lordship of Christ over the world and the church. We joyously confess that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. We are called in loyalty to Jesus Christ to proclaim the power of the Holy Spirit, the Good News of God’s reconciling grace, and to declare the saving power of the Gospel to every human being and to every human institution. We celebrate Christ’s charge to “make disciples of all nations” and to bear witness to God’s redeeming reign in human affairs. (Matthew 28:18-20).
Although Baptists have produced numerous confessions to express our common understandings of Christian faith, we hold the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as our final authority.
THEREFORE:
With Baptist brothers and sisters around the world, we believe:
Our History:
A survey of the community of Waldron was conducted by Rev. W.T. Markland in the spring of 1896. Mr. Markland was a Baptist minister living near Shelbyville. Mr. Markland found several others in sympathy with the movement. The organization meeting was announced for September 29, 1896. There were seventeen charter members. On September 30, 1896, the first business meeting was called.
The church joined the Flat Rock Baptist Association on June 17, 1897. The first Lord's Supper was observed on the second Sunday in June 1897. The cornerstone for the first building was laid in 1902 and the building was dedicated May 1, 1903. The cost of the first building and land was $4,400. The first baptismal service in the church baptistery was conducted November 8, 1903. The first funeral conducted in the church was on November 26, 1903. The mortgage on the first building was burned in May 1907. The first full-time services were held under the leadership of Rev. S. G. Huntington who became pastor September 12, 1911.
In 1921 a vision of a new building was born, and five of the present lots were purchased. On August 28, 1947, the ground was broken for the present building and the cornerstone was laid December 28, 1947. The first services were held in the new building March 6, 1949, and the building was used completely for the first time April 2, 1950. The church purchased the house east of the building and it was occupied as the parsonage September 1, 1953. The parsonage was dedicated at the home-coming on September 30, 1953. The new building was built at the cost of $110,000 and the mortgage was burned on the sixtieth anniversary of the church, September 30, 1956.
The Waldron Baptist Church has been affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA since its inception in 1896. We are proud of the heritage of Baptists in America and are pleased to be a cooperating member with sister churches in the Flat Rock Baptist Association, the Indiana Baptist Convention, and American Baptist Churches in the USA.
At Waldron Baptist, Christ's Church is alive and well. Yes, rural flight has taken its toll. But the Church continues to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to worship, and to minister. We know our place in the world as we generously share in a missionary enterprise that encircles the globe. We try to make sense of a world whose complexity is growing at a staggering rate. This church nurtures values in the youth, offers a helping hand in times of trouble, has an open ear for hurts and frustrations, and provides a ready refuge for peace.
We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (Exod. 20:2-3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev. 4:11)
We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient in the original languages, the final written authority and trustworthy for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith. The primary purpose of the Bible is to point to Jesus Christ, the living Lord of the Church. (Psalms 19:7-8; Romans 1:2; 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:21-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
We proclaim the Good News of the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, knowing that salvation (forgiveness of sins, release from guilt and condemnation, reconciliation with God) and eternal life are granted in grace to all who trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This Gospel is the central message of the Bible. (Jonah 2:9; Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24-25; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 2:14-17; Isa. 53:4-7; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24)
We affirm that God is sovereign overall and that this sovereignty is expressed and realized through Jesus Christ. Therefore, we affirm the Lordship of Christ over the world and the church. We joyously confess that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. We are called in loyalty to Jesus Christ to proclaim the power of the Holy Spirit, the Good News of God’s reconciling grace, and to declare the saving power of the Gospel to every human being and to every human institution. We celebrate Christ’s charge to “make disciples of all nations” and to bear witness to God’s redeeming reign in human affairs. (Matthew 28:18-20).
Although Baptists have produced numerous confessions to express our common understandings of Christian faith, we hold the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as our final authority.
THEREFORE:
With Baptist brothers and sisters around the world, we believe:
- That the Bible is the final authority and trustworthy for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit within the community of faith;
- That the Church is a gathered fellowship of regenerated believers, a sign of the coming universal reign of God;
- That the freedom to respond to the Lordship of Christ in all circumstances is fundamental to the Christian gospel and to human dignity; and
- That witness to Christ is the ongoing task of every Christian and of every church.
- A Redeemed People
- who claim a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ;
- who follow the Lord in believer’s baptism;
- who gather as a believer’s church;
- who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the Lord’s Supper;
- who honor the priesthood of all believers; and
- who live their faith as visible saints.
- A Biblical People
- who affirm the centrality and sufficiency of Scripture in our lives;
- who pursue the study of God’s inspired Word as a mandate for faith and practice; and
- who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the understanding of Scripture, while respecting the common interpretation of Scripture within the community of believers.
- Who submit to the teaching of Scripture that God’s design for sexual intimacy places it within the context of marriage between one man and one woman, and acknowledge that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Biblical teaching. (Leviticus 18:22, Genesis 2:24, Jude 1:7, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:26-27, Matthew 19:3-9)
- A Worshiping People
- who gather regularly to praise God;
- who receive nourishment by communion with the Risen Christ;
- who share an open and public confession of faith; and
- who believe that personal devotion brings vitality to corporate celebration.
- A Contemporary People
- who have a remembrance for the past and a vision for the future;
- who are committed to religious liberty and to the separation of church and state;
- who call our present world to make Jesus Christ Lord of all life; and
- who trust the Holy Spirit for insight and power to live in the present age.
Our History:
A survey of the community of Waldron was conducted by Rev. W.T. Markland in the spring of 1896. Mr. Markland was a Baptist minister living near Shelbyville. Mr. Markland found several others in sympathy with the movement. The organization meeting was announced for September 29, 1896. There were seventeen charter members. On September 30, 1896, the first business meeting was called.
The church joined the Flat Rock Baptist Association on June 17, 1897. The first Lord's Supper was observed on the second Sunday in June 1897. The cornerstone for the first building was laid in 1902 and the building was dedicated May 1, 1903. The cost of the first building and land was $4,400. The first baptismal service in the church baptistery was conducted November 8, 1903. The first funeral conducted in the church was on November 26, 1903. The mortgage on the first building was burned in May 1907. The first full-time services were held under the leadership of Rev. S. G. Huntington who became pastor September 12, 1911.
In 1921 a vision of a new building was born, and five of the present lots were purchased. On August 28, 1947, the ground was broken for the present building and the cornerstone was laid December 28, 1947. The first services were held in the new building March 6, 1949, and the building was used completely for the first time April 2, 1950. The church purchased the house east of the building and it was occupied as the parsonage September 1, 1953. The parsonage was dedicated at the home-coming on September 30, 1953. The new building was built at the cost of $110,000 and the mortgage was burned on the sixtieth anniversary of the church, September 30, 1956.
The Waldron Baptist Church has been affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA since its inception in 1896. We are proud of the heritage of Baptists in America and are pleased to be a cooperating member with sister churches in the Flat Rock Baptist Association, the Indiana Baptist Convention, and American Baptist Churches in the USA.
At Waldron Baptist, Christ's Church is alive and well. Yes, rural flight has taken its toll. But the Church continues to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to worship, and to minister. We know our place in the world as we generously share in a missionary enterprise that encircles the globe. We try to make sense of a world whose complexity is growing at a staggering rate. This church nurtures values in the youth, offers a helping hand in times of trouble, has an open ear for hurts and frustrations, and provides a ready refuge for peace.