ALPHA & OMEGA FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Through the years

Alpha and Omega First Baptist Church, 3120 Winton St., Youngstown, is marking its 100th anniversary.

Celebration: Banquet is planned at 5 p.m. July 18 at St. Mark Orthodox Church social hall, 3560 Logan Way, Liberty. Tickets are $25; call the church office at 330-743-5986. A service will take place at 11 a.m. July 19 with the Rev. Ricky Tigner of Shiloh Baptist Church in Campbell as guest preacher.

The beginning: Charter members, the Rev. Lewis Canady, the Rev. Walter Jennings, Margaret Jennings, Bertha Yates, George Phillips and J.A. Jennings, organized the church June 25, 1915, in a house on Taft Avenue, now Nelson, in Youngstown. The Rev. Jennings became pastor. The church had other locations before settling on Winton, where a cellar was built. Services were there until an auditorium was built in 1921. Membership increased.

1920-40s: Under Rev. J.P. Perry, 1926-42, the church was cleared of debt and improvements made. In 1943, the Rev. Lonnie Kennedy was pastor and the church was enlarged for a growing membership. In 1947, Rev. A.J. McCreary led the church to build a parsonage, and lots were purchased.

1950s-60s: In 1951, Rev. Lonnie Simon, a son of the church, was licensed to preach. On Aug. 5, 1959, ground was broken for the church; dedication was June 12, 1961. In 1965, Rev. R.J. Mason was pastor and new pews were installed and kitchen completed. Under Rev. Walter Garrett in 1968, lots were bought for parking. From 1969 to his death in 1975, Rev. Payton H. Johnson was pastor; mortgage was paid off, parking lot completed, air conditioning installed, lower auditorium completed and senior citizen banquet organized. A fellowship of Triedstone Baptist Church, Reed’s Chapel and Alpha and Omega formed.

1970s-80s: In 1975, Rev. Frank N. Roach Jr. was pastor and membership increased by 100 people. Angelic and Junior choirs formed and free summer food and health programs organized. In 1979, Dr. Lewis S. Jones focused on rededication to Christian service. There was a weekly radio broadcast, “The Hour of Divine Guidance.” Improvements were office expansion, increase in office staff, air-conditioning system update and new public-address system.

1980s-2000s: Rev. Dr. Johnny R. Heckard led from 1987-98. The church saw parsonage remodeling and expansion, utility garage construction, fellowship hall renovation, installation of a handicap ramp, choir gallery expansion, relocation of the pastor’s study, recording studio installation, parking lot addition and membership increase. Revs. Martin Freeman and Gary Rozier were licensed and ordained and Ministers Lawrence Underwood and Stacy Thomas were licensed to preach. Rev. Everett N. Jennings led from 1999-2000 and the Praise Team was formed and Sunday School membership grew. Rev. Simon, then-retired pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, was interim pastor. The first female minister, Yvonne Hobson, was licensed to preach. Rev. Henry L. McNeil was called in 2003; deacon and trustee ministry training classes were conducted, three computers were purchased, Community Restoration grants received and four preachers added.

2010 to present: Pastor Raymond Mason became interim pastor Dec. 1, 2010, and on June 12, 2011, was welcomed full time. Three deacons were ordained. The boiler system updated. The Miracle Men of God male chorus was started and a new sound system installed.

Source: Church records