North Central Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church plant which began in 2010 under the leadership of Jason Harris. It is located in the state of Utah amidst a prominent LDS community. The fields are white unto harvest here, with around 2% of the state population professing truth faith in Christ.
In 2019, I became the pastor. Since then, the church has worked hard in saving for the purchase of property. In seven years, the building fund grew from $60,000 to $315,000. After moving from the storefront where the church met for previously, North Central began meeting in a local hotel conference room to optimize saving while still ministering to the community.
North Central holds to the complete authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the supremacy and exclusivity of Jesus Christ, and the free offer of the gospel to all who repent and place personal faith in His finished work. Through the years, we’ve seen people come to Christ, be baptized, and be integrated into the church congregation. We’ve engaged in the community through door-to-door evangelism, small Bible studies, holiday community outreach, and ministry to the poor and homeless.
Through several years, and viewing dozens of properties, our church constantly faced the battle of a competitive market and suitability of property to the church. When we least expected it, we found a property in the City of West Haven. Submitting a bid, we prayed in faith this was the place God had for us. Sitting on one acre and square, the land and building would be perfectly suitable for our current and future church needs.
Through the process, we encountered several obstacles that a backwards view shows that God was working. From zoning concerns to engineering questions, God walked alongside our church each step of the way, confirming again and again that this is the place to call our permanent home.
We are so grateful for Church Investors Fund, who came alongside and helped when it was incredibly difficult to get a general pre-approval because we are a church. Their correspondence was professional and expedient, answering any questions we had in a timely manner; they also were very fast in getting us documents and paperwork needed in the process of securing the property. Without them, I’m not sure we would have been able to purchase the property. God knew what our church needed and connected us with Church Investors Fund at just the right time.
The church property is a special blessing for current and future growth because it gives a sense of stability in having a place of our own. In seven years, our church has moved locations three times. Now that we are in West Haven, it is good for the church to have a permanent location that roots us within the community. The current building can seat approximately 50 people, and provides a versatile room for worship and fellowship, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a Sunday School room, a nursery, and an administrative office. In the hotel, all we had was a 1300 square foot room for worship. One can imagine the usefulness the additional space serves our congregation.
We will continue to minister through the community in the same way, and in new ways. From what we know, there is only one other church in the city that preaches the gospel. We hope and pray that our church can be a lighthouse to those who are in darkness. Once our building plans and permits are received from the city, renovations to the existing building will be underway. All plumbing and bathrooms will be consolidated to one portion of the structure, while other interior walls are taken down to provide more space to the existing sanctuary. Paved parking will be installed, and once that is done, work will commence on the garage which will one day serve as our primary sanctuary, seating approximately 75 people.
Our plans for the future leave the back end of the property open so that we can expand our building and provide room for more growth. Ultimately, our church desires to worship God and reach others. Christ is Head of the Church, and our belief is that others will be reached through the proclamation of the Gospel and the efforts we make in building relationships with those who need to be saved.
On behalf of our church, I want to personally thank Church Investors Fund for taking interest in our needs and extending a helping hand to secure this property. We will not forget the kindness you extended and the way that God used you in the life of our church.
Benjamin Avery, Pastor
North Central Baptist Church
West Haven, Utah
