1972
The first worship service at Central Baptist Church was held in February, 1959, by Missionary Bollinger at Naha Baptist Church. Before that day, they had a worship service at the chapel on base with other religious organizations. People organized the church structure quickly, and called missionary Bollinger as a pastor in October 1959. Still, they had a worship service at Naha Baptist Church. Central’s church building was built in June 1961 at its present location, Makiminato. Education facility building was built in October 1963. The church was active from the beginning with a total program. After the beginning Pastor Spencer, Pastor Dotson, Pastor Dudley, Pastor Medling, Pastor Bollinger, and Pastor Edgmond served the congregation. Pastor Glenn Hix has served since 1971. (Hix was pastor 1971-1975). Now, the church has 350 members and Makiminato Chuo Kindergarten belongs to Central. It is specially pointed out that they conduct mission work on the smaller islands. Pastor Dudley has used a small boat to reach the smaller outer islands where it is more difficult for them to hear the gospel. The “Fishers of Men” is a great part of the mission work in Okinawa. Central Baptist Church conducts English conversation classes also. (By Dr. Edward Bollinger )
1974
Our first memories of Central Baptist Church are from 1974-1976 under Pastor Hix. We remember his powerful sermons and the wonderful pulpit prayers. He also helped to name our daughter, Melissa. Our next tour of Okinawa was 1976-1980. We first visited and saw a church of less than 50 people. Shortly thereafter, Pastor Spencer returned and he emphasized visitation. Within a short period we had a congregation of several hundred. I served as a Sunday School teacher, Church Training Director, and a deacon. But the greatest memories are from the mission’s opportunities through Central, Dr. Bollinger and Bernie Wrye. My wife and I had opportunities to teach English and Bible classes at three Okinawan churches and in our home. Some of the students are now pastors. That love of the Okinawan people and winning them to Jesus still burns in our hearts and we credit Central for giving us the opportunities. When Kay and I talk of our memories one incident stands out – it was a “GI party” to clean the old sanctuary. We saw many Christians on their knees scrubbing the floor while others sewed pew cushions. It was miserable work but the fellowship was so swet6 we remember it until this day. We learned no service, even seemingly unimportant, is lacking in value when offered to the Lord. Finally, to see many in the church go into full-time service as pastors was blessing along with friendships gained through the church with people like the Wryes and Ritcheys. Wishing you another forty years of increased service to the Lord. (The Stadley family: GIL AND KAY, CBC 1974-1976; 1976 – 1980.)
1973
When Chiyo and I transferred our letters from the First Baptist Church, Lompoc, California, to Central Baptist Church, Pastor Glen Hix was the pastor. Pastor Hix was the best preacher of the Old Testament that I had ever heard. He would work with the Baptist Men on work days. I remember having to put fiberglass on the roof of the old sanctuary. We had as many as 400 members in the church in 1973. Pastor Hix resigned in 1974 and our music minister, Wayne Maddox accepted the call to be the interim pastor. Brother Wayne resigned after a few months since he felt the call of God to work in the Japanese language ministry in Mainland, Japan. Most of our members were U. S. Army families. Pastor George McClellan was sent by the Foreign Mission Board for a one year interim period. The Army pulled out of Okinawa in 1975 leaving only a few places like Torii Station open. Our membership dropped from 400 to 45-60 members with only 20 people at many services. The David Pogue family was so very faithful during those days; they really gave me encouragement. There was a time that the Central Baptist Church membership wanted to give up the church and consolidate with other churches on the Island. Missionary Bill Medling gave us good counsel and brought Brother Barry Morgan who had been called to resign his Air Force commission and go to seminary to be interim pastor under Missionary Medling’s supervision. After Barry Morgan went PCS, Chaplain Ray Nobles, a Southern Baptist Chaplain with the Sea Bees at Camp Shields, became our interim pastor. Pastor Elton Gray of Koza Baptist Church helped us to get Chaplain Nobles. Pastor Gray was always available to help us with any situations we could not handle. During those times we had a Chinese church and the Machi Chuo Church using our buildings for Sunday School and worship services and a wonderful pre-school program. They had a great pastor, Rev. Junko Sakaguchi. Central Baptist Church continued to keep God’s church going through His Grace and God’s people. Prayer from former missionaries and former members gave CBC spiritual power to continue to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God. Dr. Edward Bollinger had trained many lay people in using English conversation and Bible study in our CBC churches as a ministry to the Okinawan people. In those days many nights during the week folks were using English conversation to lead Okinawans to an understanding of God’s love in his son Jesus Christ. Rev. James Mashburn, a retired Army chaplain, was sent by the FMB to be pastor of CBC for one year. Brother Mashburn did a great job and he had many talents in music which really helped the church. We also were blessed by retired Marine Colonel Ed King and his wife who retired on Okinawa to become missionaries working with the OBC book store. CBC started to grow under Pastor Mashburn. Missionary Bud and Doris Spencer returned to pastor CBC. The church grew to 300 members under Pastor Spencer and had 3 to 4 English conversation classes every week in the church. The WMU was very active in mission work in the outer parts of the Island in places like Tomagusuku Mission in the very southern part of Okinawa. Through those years many men and women were called to full time church service in various ministries. I will not mention any because I might leave out a name. All this information is by memory, I have not given any specific dates but believe the sequence of pastors is correct. God bless all who have faithfully served and are continuing to serve the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the One and only God. (The Wrye family: Bernie and Chiyo, CBC 1973-1980.)
NAHA CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH (1977)
In 1977, I went to Naha to work in Lakeside Baptist Mission which became Naha Calvary Baptist Church which we built on the side of the hill over looking Naha Port. We sold our lakeside property in order to buy the property on the side of the hill – thus, the name changed. Lakeside Baptist Mission actually met in the Naha Chamber of Commerce building. Naha Calvary Baptist Church is now Reiho Baptist Church and it is a Japanese-language church. (Bud Spencer, April 20, 1999)
