The Genesis of the Baptist Church leads back to the days of Jesus Christ and his public ministry if one would be technical or critical. Scriptural precedence for the church is depicted in the Old Testament. The Baptist Church is not an organism. The life of the Church is within itself. She is her own sovereign power, moves at her own will, operates on her own accord. She is the espoused wife of Jesus Christ and at all times overshadowed and warmed by the Holy Spirit.
On Sunday, July 2, 1945, at 3:00 PM, at the Old Firehouse in Oak Grove Monterey, California, the Holy Spirit hovered over this place and Friendship Baptist Church was born, under the guidance of Reverend W. W. Wells (now deceased) as Pastor; Deacon W. Nesblett (deceased); Sister Ruby M. Hendrick (deceased); Church Clerk; Brother Ira Beverly, Treasurer; Sister Sarah Sexton; Reverend F. W. Wells (deceased), the father of Reverend W. W. Wells as members. This Mission had been working for five or six months in various places. On August 31, 1945 the membership decided to purchase a lot and built a Church Edifice. The lot was purchased from Mother Francis Long for the sum of $450.00 in cash. This lot was located at 7th Street and Broadway in Seaside, California. Mother Long's name was placed with the original members to give recognition to her for selling us the ground on which to build the Church Edifice. The Church began to grow as new members were added.
First Trustees were the late Brother W. Neblett, Brother Douglas Beane and Brother Ira B. Beverly. The Charter Members were: Reverend W. W. Wells, Brothers: Robert McClure, Otis Dansby, Alvin Ross and Sisters: E. C. Beverly, Rosie Ross Wells, Frances Long, Jessie Bell Neblett, Corine Woods, Rosie L. Moyas, Sadie Beane, Ruby Brazier Hedrick, Louise Shaffer, Sarah Sexton, Lorrine Olyphant, Hazel Tyler, Viola McClure, Estella McClure, Ida Mae Wells, Evelyn Jones, Lillian Spells, Eunice Dancer Reynolds, Vivian Lilly, Jean M. Burton, Susie Treagel, Joann Brazier, Lessie M. Spells and Sarah Wells.
Sister Sarah Bell was a follower, but not a member. She started the Poor Saints Fund, which is now called the Benevolent Fund.
On September 5, 1945, plans were presented to Deacon Nesblett for the new Church and it was built on the purchased lot and remained there until 1954.
The first Church Mother was Sister Louise Shaffer, the first Missionary President was Mother Frances Long, the first Deacon ordained was Brother Ira Beverly, who also served as the first Sunday School Superintendent, Choir President, BTU Director and Church Treasurer. Sister Jesse Bell Nesblett succeeded him and served 18 years as Church Treasurer. Under Reverend Well's pastorate, many were called to the Church and the First Edifice was completed in September 1946. Reverend G. E. Ellis was added as pastor in May 1947 and moved to Seaside with his wife, Dora. Under his pastorate, the Church grew with twenty-eight members; three candidates for baptism and twenty-five were added by Christian experience. He remained as pastor until late 1947 and served the church faithfully. In November 1947, Reverend W. L. Harris was called as pastor. He served the Church faithfully, enlisting every member into the tithing program.
During his pastorate, the officers of the Church remained the same with one exception. Sister Melba L. Knight was elected Church Clerk, succeeding Sister R. M. Brazier. Sister Knight remained in this position until the Army transferred Brother Knight to Fort Lewis, Washington in April 1948 and Sister Edna M. Washington served as Clerk the remaining portion of the year.
In April 1948, Reverend S. J. Sutton, Jr. answered the call and came to Seaside as pastor of Friendship with his wife, Mary Louise.
His youthful spirit and vitality seemed to lend radiance to the members. Being a friend to all and treating all men as brothers, he won the affections of the members and friends of the Church. He was a powerful, spiritual pastor and came to Friendship preaching and singing like Paul and Silas fused together into one person. He brought with him a program larger than the Church, so that Friendship would always go up and down, and on that program a place for every member. Under his pastorate, stewardship was foremost. He was a firm believer in tithing. An Educational Committee was formed and Friendship started giving educational bonds to all high school graduates. Each year, an auxiliary convention was set in motion within the Church for instructional purposes of working better in offices and other departments. Keeping records was a must. It was under his leadership that the Church purchased 10 lots on Broadway and Judson Streets to build a new Church and also bought a parsonage on Lowell Street. The Church continued to grow and the Building Funds increased. Brothers Hopkins, Green and Banks were ordained Deacons. His pastorate ended in December 1952, when he was called to pastor in Stockton, California.
Reverend J. W. Harris was called to pastor Friendship in 1953. During his pastorate, the membership increased and the Church still grew spiritually and financially. More young people were added to the Church (percentage wise) than under any pastor the Church had had. The Youth Choir was one of the best we have had and the Church purchased its first Youth Choir robes under his pastorate. The First California Baptist State Convention Board in Seaside was also held under his pastorate in 1954. When his pastorate ended in 1954, he organized Bethel Baptist Church of Seaside, now located on Elm Street.
Reverend I. Walter Holt received and accepted the call as pastor in August of 1954 and moved to Seaside with his wife and daughter. He was a man with a vision and inspired by the Lord with the gift of preaching the gospel.
After leaving Friendship as pastor, Reverend Holt started a mission which was named Community Baptist Church, on San Pablo Avenue, in Seaside. It is presently located in Pacific Grove, California. Reverend I. Walter Holt is now deceased.
Reverend C. Lewis McFadden, the seventh pastor, was called to Friendship Baptist Church on May 16, 1956. The Church was 10 years and 11 months old. We were engaged in trying to build a new Church because the membership had outgrown the size of the first edifice which was moved from 7th Street and Broadway to Broadway and Judson Streets.
Under Pastor McFadden's leadership, the lot on 7th Street and Broadway and the 10 lots and Church on Judson and Broadway were sold and the Church purchased our present location at 1440 Broadway, which consisted of 18 lots and a larger building with 13 classrooms and a larger auditorium. The mortgage on this property was burned in 1964. The Church increased its membership and plans were made to build the main sanctuary of the Church at our present location. Under our Pastor's leadership, we were able to accomplish our aim of building a beautiful Church. Through his preaching and teaching many were added to the Church and we grew spiritually as well as financially and numerically, all by the Grace of God. He has blessed Friendship with showers of blessings under Pastor McFadden's leadership. Through the teaching of giving the tithes and offering through the years, we have been the recipients of God's overflowing goodness. There has never been any debt too heavy for the Church to pay. In three years our treasury has never been broken; for this we are truly thankful.
In 1967, our old parsonage was sold to the Seaside Redevelopment Agency and the Church purchased a new 3 bedroom house on LaSalle Avenue in Seaside, where our pastor and his wife and family reside.
We dare not count the numbers who have received the Lord Jesus Christ through his leadership, nor list our trials or hardships for he always counted it as a blessing to be a servant of the Lord.
For this the Friendship Family is blessed and very grateful to Pastor Emeritus C. Lewis McFadden (now deceased) and Mother Sara McFadden.
The Reverend Shelby R. Richards accepted the call to minister on January 6, 1987 and was installed on February 22, 1987. Pastor Richards was accompanied by his wife Jacqueline and three children, Jarron, Janyel and Shenée. Pastor Richards completed his term of service as Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in May 1993.
Reverend Milton Fletcher served as Pulpit Coordinator from June 7, 1993 until December 1993.
Pastor Anthony D. Dunham I was installed on December 12, 1993, and resides in the parsonage with his wife Monica, his children Necol, Anthony II, Monté and Domonique.
Under his leadership we have increased in membership numbers as well as financially. He has introduced new ministries such as our Door-to Door and Feeding the Homeless, Partnership Ministry, After School Assistance Ministry, Salvation Ministry Team, Recovery Ministry Team, Prison Ministry and Audio-Visual Tape Ministry. He has activated a very productive Youth Department. On August 9, 1998 the Friendship Baptist Church Soul Winner's For Christ Drill Team blessed the church will their first drill. We have also been blessed with a Crisis Hotline, a sounding board for members requiring spiritual guidance. Along with minor changes to the church, he has established a nursery. Under his leadership we have purchased two new church buses and in May 2001, an additional bus was donated by two of our members. Already active auxiliaries have become more productive and energetic, among those is the B.T.U. which was revived and reorganized. A Welcome Committee was formed and our prayers were answered for the church to be blessed with an organist.
Nine Deacons have been crowned: Deacon C'Lester Webb, Deacon Willie Ray, Deacon James Smith (August 7, 1995); Deacon Gilbert Fletcher and Deacon Carson Huntley, Jr. (July 19, 1996); Deacon Paul Powell and Deacon Cedric Garrett(June 27, 1999), Deacon Kevin Dreher (August 13, 2000)and Deacon Michael Williams (June 24, 2001).
Friendship has been blessed with six ministers: Reverend Otis Calvin, Reverend Jerry Sullivan, who was the first minister that Pastor Dunham ordained (December 28, 1997), Rev. Joel Young, Pastor Dunham's first son in the ministry (July 24, 1988) and Rev. Carson Huntley, Jr. his second son in the ministry (February 25, 2000), Reverend Sylvester Brown (August 20, 2000) and on the 56th Church Anniversary Deacon Cedric Garrett announced his calling into the ministry.
The outside marquee became operational in February 1997. We thank God for our $50,000 building/remodeling project, completely paid for, which includes more classrooms, a spacious ladies restroom and lounge, kitchen (including appliances) and storage sheds. In addition, the men's restroom remodeling project and Pastor's restroom addition have been completed (another $52,000 and paid for).
January 1, 2000, Friendship became a part of the World Wide Web with it's own website. Our members that reside in Africa, Korea, Japan and throughout the entire United States can stay connected with their church family by logging onto the website at www.friendshipseaside.org.
There have been many activities added to the church calendar and Friendship has continued to enjoy the Lord's blessings. Under our present Pastor, Rev. Anthony D. Dunham I, winning souls is foremost of all programs and projects implemented.
It is our continued prayer that God will bless all those who have served and will serve, dedicating their time and talent to the Lord's House.
