Los Lunas
New Mexico
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First Baptist Church of Los Lunas
Our church was founded in 1937 by several Baptist families in Los Lunas and surrounding areas. These people had very little material wealth, but loved the Lord and felt that the "harvest truly was plenteous" in the Los Lunas area.
The church began as a Sunday school in one of the members home and soon moved to a vocational building near the high school (now the middle school). There were a good many people attending from various denominations, as this was the only Protestant church between Belen and Albuquerque.
After several months, the people felt it was the Lord's will for them to organize into a church. On July 4, 1937, with the help of Rev. Vander Linden and two of his deacons, Mr. Hayden and Mr. Lambkin, the First Baptist Church of Los Lunas was organized. The charter was closed with 25 members.
In the beginning, there was much opposition to the church from the Catholic community. One priest was displeased to discover several of the local young people in the parking lot of the high school, listening to the music of our church. The Los Lunas School Board soon informed the church that they could not sing during service. The members sang loudly the following Sunday. They then were told that they would be arrested if they continued to sing. They sang even louder the next Sunday. One Sunday morning, the church met to discover all the chairs had been removed from the building. By this time, they decided it was best to try to find another place to meet.
In 1961, the Catholic Church became interested in buying the church property. After much prayer and consideration, the church voted to sell it at a price of $55,500 and relocate to the property it now occupies at South Los Lentes Road, where one acre of land was donated by Mr. NC Ribble. In March of 1962, the church moved into a new building. In 1974, the church voted to add a fellowship hall and enlarge the kitchen area. In 1992, the church voted to add an educational building separate from the sanctuary and fellowship hall. This building was completed in 1993.
Our church now has a membership of 275 and growing, as Pastor Mike Sams is guiding us through a great leading of the Holy Spirit to minister to our community.
The church began as a Sunday school in one of the members home and soon moved to a vocational building near the high school (now the middle school). There were a good many people attending from various denominations, as this was the only Protestant church between Belen and Albuquerque.
After several months, the people felt it was the Lord's will for them to organize into a church. On July 4, 1937, with the help of Rev. Vander Linden and two of his deacons, Mr. Hayden and Mr. Lambkin, the First Baptist Church of Los Lunas was organized. The charter was closed with 25 members.
In the beginning, there was much opposition to the church from the Catholic community. One priest was displeased to discover several of the local young people in the parking lot of the high school, listening to the music of our church. The Los Lunas School Board soon informed the church that they could not sing during service. The members sang loudly the following Sunday. They then were told that they would be arrested if they continued to sing. They sang even louder the next Sunday. One Sunday morning, the church met to discover all the chairs had been removed from the building. By this time, they decided it was best to try to find another place to meet.
In 1961, the Catholic Church became interested in buying the church property. After much prayer and consideration, the church voted to sell it at a price of $55,500 and relocate to the property it now occupies at South Los Lentes Road, where one acre of land was donated by Mr. NC Ribble. In March of 1962, the church moved into a new building. In 1974, the church voted to add a fellowship hall and enlarge the kitchen area. In 1992, the church voted to add an educational building separate from the sanctuary and fellowship hall. This building was completed in 1993.
Our church now has a membership of 275 and growing, as Pastor Mike Sams is guiding us through a great leading of the Holy Spirit to minister to our community.