A Brief Historical Sketch of First Baptist Church of New Berlin

     The First Baptist church of New Berlin was organized in the fall of 1975 as an outreach ministry of the Garfield Baptist Church of Wauwatosa. Reverend Donald Gutwein, a native son of Oak Creek, WI, who at that time was pastoring the Edinboro Baptist Church, Edinboro, PA, was called to be the minister of outreach with the responsibility of beginning a new Church in the community of New Berlin. Rev. Gutwein readily accepted the challenge and services began using the facilities of the Saint David’s Episcopal church in New Berlin in January 1976. By January 1977, Pastor Thomas Wright had accepted the call by the Garfield Baptist Church and moved to New Berlin to resume these responsibilities begun by Pastor Gutwein. Sunday services continued at the Saint David’s Episcopal building with Sunday school at 8:30 AM, Worship at 9 AM and 7 PM to accommodate the 10 AM Episcopal worship hour. By the summer of 1977, services had moved to the Waukesha Technical Institute located just off Moorland Road at the North East corner of the New Berlin Industrial Park. Midweek services were held each Wednesday evening using the facilities of the Cleveland Elementary School.

     In July 1977, 6.5 acres were purchased from the Hilltop Lutheran Church (now known as Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church) for the sum of $27,000. By February 1979, sufficient money was on hand to retire the balance of the purchase. The city of New Berlin extended water lines along Casper Drive during the new City Hall’s pending construction.

     In June 1978, the church was recognized as a duly constituted Baptist Church at the annual Wisconsin GARBC meeting held at the Calvary Baptist Church of Wisconsin Rapids. In July of that year the church was recognized and accepted into the national fellowship of the General Association of the Regular Baptist Churches at its national meeting in Dayton Ohio. At that point  Garfield Baptist Church of Wauwatosa considered the First Baptist Church of New Berlin (FBCNB) as a separate entity and encouraged us to chart our course.

     In April 1979, the church was incorporated. In the fall of 1980 the body of believers now known as FBCNB moved to the facilities of the Bethel Hill United Methodist Church on Steigler Road in New Berlin. This enabled us to better identify as an organized church in the community and consolidate all the services into one location. The Rev. Robert Gardner, the Wisconsin GARBC State Representative consented to meet with us concerning possible guidelines for a recognized mission agency and a missionary, in consideration of outside financial support. Three different GARBC mission agencies were contacted to look into our ministry and evaluate it for their involvement.

     The congregation selected the Continental Baptist Mission of Grand Rapids, MI. Rev. Joe Hill was recommended by the mission and excepted the challenge to be our next missionary pastor pending our attaining a recommended financial support level. In August 1981, Rev. Wright accepted the call to pastor the Faith Baptist Church in Elkhart Indiana. The Rev. Med Stadt of Union Grove, WI volunteered his services for interim ministry, which continued until November 1982 when CBM missionaries Joe and Sandy Hill and family arrived.

     In April 1985, the congregation voted to build, and in July of that same year construction began. The new building was ready for occupancy in June 1986, and our first Sunday service was on Sunday, July 20, 1986. On September 20 and 21, the open house and dedication services were held. The City of New Berlin granted us a three-year waiver to complete the asphalt paving of the parking and driveway areas, which were finished on schedule in June 1989.

     The church voted to assume self-support status and because outside support was no longer needed, sever official ties with Continental Baptist Mission January 22, 1989. In February  John Wooden came to candidate for position of Pastor.  The call was extended to him to become our new pastor, pending Pastor Hill’s move. On April 2, 1989, Pastor John Wooden began his ministry at First Baptist Church. His family moved to area in June. The first Sunday for the whole Wooden family was also the last Sunday the Hills were here before moving to Michigan to assume their new ministry with Continental Baptist Missions in Muskegon, MI.

     In December 2000, the mortgage was paid in full due to extra payments through the years and a lump sum paid at the end of the period saving a substantial amount of interest. The church, in keeping with its long-term goal is committed to a vision for expansion by regularly contributing to a fund equal to the previous mortgage payment.

     Thanks to all who had a part in the work up until this point in time. Please continue to pray for the future work of the First Baptist Church in New Berlin.