First Baptist Church of Coon Rapids, Minnesota collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Chu-MN -1

Staff Only

Content Description

Historical materials from First Baptist Church of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, closed in 2020. Content includes documents, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, photographs, and an 8mm film reel from 1969 or 1970. Included is also a flash drive with digital photographs, mostly born digital. Several discs of photographs are included, as well as a DVD. There is also a newspaper from the building dedication day in 1960 taken from the cornerstone.

Dates

1957 - 2022

Creator

First Baptist Church of Coon Rapids (Organization)

Historical Note

The first service of First Baptist Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was held on May 5, 1957. The organizational meeting took place on August 4, 1957, with 28 charter members. The church was first served by Rev. Arlen Svare, a Bethel Seminary graduate. They purchased the Village Hall to become the worship space known as Joyce Chapel until it moved to Foley Boulevard in October 1960. A second addition with classroom space for the Sunday School was added in 1963. A multi-purpose sanctuary and gym was added in 2000. One church attendee was Tony Urban, a former prisoner of war and survivor of the Japanese Bataan Death March. The church changed its name to CrossPoint Church in 2006, but later reverted back to First Baptist Church. The last service was held October 24, 2020, after whicht the church was handed over to Converge North Central.

Extent

1.5 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The documents inside the original folders are kept in the order in which they were donated. The photographs from the albums have been separated, but maintain the same order in their folders.

Custodial History

The collection was provided to the History Center by Carolyn Lenz of Converge North Central in March 2022. She obtained the materials after the church closing in 2020 from longtime church member Betty Hardle.