What We Believe
As I began to decide what I wanted to say to those who might visit our website, I of course wanted to put the most positive spin I could … that we have an exciting children’s ministry, active youth ministry, how we visit nursing homes with our children, that our praise and worship and services are filled with the Spirit of the Living God. But the truth is, we are just like anyone else. We face struggles in and out of the church body. We have grandparents raising their grandchildren, those who have difficulty making ends meet, spiritual battles that are overwhelming, those with friends and loved ones who battle addictions. We all face a chaotic world intent on defeating and coming against us, wanting us to give in and give up.
The one thing I know for sure is that those of us at First Baptist Cherokee refuse to relent, and we continue to fight the good fight. We believe in the unending power of the one True God. We believe that impossible is a word that faith refuses to accept. We believe faith must come first and then the impossible becomes possible, that little is much when God is in it. Here at Cherokee First we have seen God prove Himself over and over and we are beginning to rather operate in the impossible than the possible. We celebrate Satan’s defeat and are accustomed to watching him go down (no pun intended).
Are we perfect? The answer is no, but it has been said “if you find the perfect church, don’t join it because you’ll ruin it”. No one church is perfect, yet there is the perfect one for you. As a pastor, I hope each member believes they are a part of the greatest fellowship in the world.
And anyway, our success isn’t contingent on what we can do, it’s solely because of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done.
PURPOSE OF CHEROKEE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
The First Baptist Church of Cherokee believing in the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God and as the sole authority for faith and practice, while acknowledging, adherence to all the teachings of Jesus Christ, declares its purpose as follows:
The First Baptist Church of Cherokee, Alabama was organized on 1862. During the Civil War the original church building was used by Confederate soldiers as a hospital for the wounded. The first Sunday school (known as Sabbath Day School) was organized on July 21, 1894 by Bro. W.M. Whitlock, who was pastor at that time. During the early 1900’s the Lord blessed the church and many came into the fellowship of the church. The church purchased the first pastorium, located near the original church building and the pastorium was dedicated on May 23, 1920 in memory of Mrs. Lallie V. Holesapple. On October 9, 1955, the church held its first service in the basement of the new building until completion of the new auditorium. The first service in the new auditorium was held August 5, 1956. On August 24, 1958 the dedication of the new church building and the laying of cornerstone was held. In 1959 James Wallace donated two acres of land, located on White Pike, for a new pastorium. This is the present pastorium which was dedicated in March 1960. The Educational Building was constructed in 1967 adjoining the auditorium. In 1998 a new fellowship hall, youth room, and offices were added. The building was dedicated on October 4, 1998. Since 1891 there have been 28 pastors to lead this fellowship.
