Since its original eighty members in 1851, Millington Baptist Church has remained faithful to the call to preach the gospel and to make disciples. We have remained a constant presence in our community; and we have enjoyed God work through strategic missionary partnerships across the globe.

The focus of our history is not about the successes of any particular church or individual. Rather, it is about the triumph of the one true God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is building His church. On the great, wide stage of the drama of human redemption, MBC has been privileged to play a small role.

175 Years of Millington Baptist Church

Rooted, Growing, Multiplying Since 1851

1850s

Millington Baptist Church was formed in 1851 by 80 members of the Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Warren, NJ who were released for this purpose.

During the fall of 1850 and the spring of 1851 the church at Mt. Bethel, under the pastoral care of the Rev. E. C. Ambler, was blessed with the most extensive revival ever known in this area. A general spiritual reawakening swept the entire countryside. Whole families were brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and it was to accommodate these people in the Liberty Corner-Millington area that the desire to start an independent church was born.

Some of the members of the Mt. Bethel Church met at the Pleasant Valley School (located near the present Veterans Administration property) on May 2, 1851. At that time it was decided to organize a new Baptist Church. On May 4th, the Mt. Bethel Church gave a letter of dismissal to 80 of its members to form a new church. On May 20th, the new church was organized and adopted Articles of Faith (New Hampshire Confession) and a Church Covenant. On May 21st, the Council of Recognition met with representatives of Baptist Churches from the area of New Brunswick to Morristown. On May 24th, the members adopted “Rules of Order” and “Articles of Discipline”.

After consideration of several sites, it was decided to erect a House of Worship “at the Junction of the new road”. Until the completion of the new church edifice on September 29, 1852, meetings were held in the Pleasant Valley School House.

May 20, 1851

Millington Baptist Church organized

1851

June 3, 1851

Female Missionary society organized

1851

1851 - 1854

Reverend E.C. Ambler pastored.

1851

September 29, 1852

MBC's doors opened

1852

1854 - 1864

Reverend Andrew Hopper pastored.

1854

1860s

1854-1864

Reverend Andrew Hopper pastored.

1860

1865-1870

Reverend Zelotes Grenell pastored.

1865

1870s

-

1871 - 1912

Reverend Peter Gibb pastored.

1871

June 22, 1875

Female Missionary society reorganized under new name, Women's Missionary Society of Millington

1875

1880s

-

September 26, 1881

Church Memorial service for President James A Garfield

1881

November 17, 1884

Rev. Gibb moved into new parsonage

1884

1886

Church fully Renovated

1886

1890s

-

February 22, 1890

Meeting Held to Legally Change name to The Baptist Church at Millington

1890

October 2, 1892

Dedication Service for new lecture room

1892

May 7, 1893

First indoor baptism

1893

1900s

50th Anniversary

May 26, 1901

50th Anniversary of MBC

1901

Resolved to have Wednesday evening Prayer Meetings only evenings when there was moonlight

1901

1908

Millington Baptist Church becomes the official name

1908

1910s

-

1913 - 1918

Reverend William Mount pastored.

1913

1919 - 1941

Reverend E.E. Valentine pastored. During Rev. Valentine’s pastorate, MBC expanded space for Sunday school, remodeling a barn on the grounds.

1919

1920s

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1919 - 1941

Reverend E.E. Valentine pastored. During Rev. Valentine’s pastorate, MBC expanded space for Sunday school, remodeling a barn on the grounds.

1919

1920s

Rise of Radio Preaching in the Christian sphere

1920

1930s

-

During Rev. Valentine’s pastorate, MBC expanded space for Sunday school, remodeling a barn on the grounds.

1931

Remodeled annex to help appease overcrowding

1931

1934

Billy Graham is saved at a tent revival meeting, MBC would go on to support one of Billy's later revival meetings through singing in the choir, personal invitations, and transportation.

1934

1940s

-

1940s

In the early 1940s MBC began the Daily Vacation Bible School and the Prayer meeting.

1940s

1941 - 1946

Reverend Joseph MacMullen pastored.

1941

1943

The Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society (CBFMS) who MBC does missions partnership with, now called WorldVenture, formed in Chicago

1943

1946 - 1965

Reverend Harry Morris pastored.

1946

1947

The Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBA), which later became the Venture Church Network was organized in Atlantic City, New Jersey

1947

1950s

100th Anniversary

1950s

Church Library opens

1950

May 1951

Centennial Celebration

1951

March 5, 1955

Sunday school addition completed and dedicated

1955

1956

Church initiates Faith Promise Program

1956

May 31, 1956

Perry Draper, the first MBC member to enter the foreign missions field sets sail for Liberia.

1956

1960s

-

June 11, 1961

Dedication service for second Sunday school addition

1961

1966-1980

Reverend Carl Abrahamsen pastored.

1966

1969

MBC member, Charlie Stein begins ministry to Bonnie Brae boys, transferred to the Somerset Hills boys -- a program that has been under the direction of Ed Rahn since the early 1970s.

1969

1970s

After several expansion programs over the years it was decided that a new sanctuary must be built. On March 3, 1974, a new building was dedicated to the glory of God.

1970

The Great Awakening at Asbury college takes place

1970

1974

Dedication service for new building

1974

1976

Millington Baptist Church along with several other local churches founded Ridge Oak affordable senior housing in 1976.

1976

1980s

-

1980

Second service added for 6 months

1980

1981 - 2011

Dr. Peter Pendell joins as Senior Pastor.

1981

1985 - 2003

Glenn Murphy joins as Associate Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach.

1985

1987-1996

Jeff Graves serves as Associate Pastor of Student Ministries.

1987

1990s

In the late 1990s, a strategic focus was placed on the ministry to reach the next generation, eventually this was called “Liquid.”

1990

Renovation of CE building completed

1990

1991

Contemporary Service added

1991

1992

Little Footprints Learning Center opens

1992

1993-1994

Dr. Ernie Zarra pastors as the Associate Pastor of Christian Education.

1993

1994

Third worship service and second Sunday school hour added

1994

1995

Long range planning team leads to a final decision to relocate the church

1995

1996 - 2007

Reverend Al Reilly joins as Associate Pastor.

1996

Counseling Center opens

1996

1997

First Stewardship Campaign "For Such a Time As This" launched

1997

1998

Land Search Committee appointed

1998

1999

88 acres on Mine Brook road purchased for new building

1999

2000s

150th Anniversary

By the year 2007, the ministry had grown so exponentially, that MBC sent out many of its members and one of its pastors to officially plant Liquid Church, still a thriving ministry throughout many parts of NJ today.

During this same time the MBC missions program expanded and began a strategic partnership in Senegal.