By His Grace, For His Glory!

"We definitely feel the Lord leading us to establish a church in this community now." was declared by 75 people gathered in the Ingleside Community Clubhouse.  Read about how God has used Ingleside through the years.

• Back to the 1990s - Dual Sunday Schools and the Family Life Center
• Back to the 1980s - Dr. McCoy joins us as Pastor
• Back to the 1970s - the Moller pipe organ and "Reach out"!
• Back to the 1960s - The Educational Building and Children's Church
• Back to the 1950s - The beginning of our Church

When sixteen people gathered in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Newton on Thursday evening October 4, 1951, to consider the possibility of starting a new church in the Ingleside area of north Macon, no one was quite sure what the result would be. In fact, one person present was reported to have said: "Frankly, my friends, I don't know if there is a real need for a church in this community or not but I'm willing to be shown."

In the days that followed, however, the need became clear, the vision began to crystallize, and interest in this new work spread throughout the community. Indeed, on Monday, October 29, seventy-five people gathered in the Ingleside Community Clubhouse and unanimously declared: "We definitely feel the Lord leading us to establish a church in this community now."

With this strong conviction under girding their efforts, rapid progress was made toward officially constituting the church. Thus, on Charter Day, December 23, 1951, Ingleside Baptist Church was formally constituted with 203 charter members.

Almost immediately, this new fellowship of believers recognized their need for a more permanent place to meet. So, on February 13, 1952, the church voted to secure 9.27 acres of land on Wimbish Road. Then, on June 1 of the same year, groundbreaking services were held for the new sanctuary. It cost $178,000 and was formally dedicated on June 7, 1953.

By the end of the Church year in 1958, Ingleside had grown to a robust 703 members and as one Church historian put it, "the need for physical expansion was painfully apparent." Therefore, on December 14, 1958 "the decision was made to begin immediately a $325,000 expansion program including construction of a three-story educational building and all furnishings and equipment, plus a large circular drive and a paved parking area." The ground breaking ceremony was held on January 25 of the following year, and the building was formally dedicated on January 17, 1960.

Ours is a great heritage. Because of the vision, faith, and sacrifice of those who have gone before us, many have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and we are blessed today. Now the torch has been passed to us. It is time for us to expand our vision, deepen our faith, and make genuine sacrifices so that the lost and unchurched of our community may know Christ and so that those who come behind us will know the same blessings that we have enjoyed.