Pastor
Mike Griffin
Ministry Apprentice
Kevin Boyle
Dan McDonald
Casa de Bendicion Pastor
Daniel Milovan
South Florida Thai Christian Church Pastor
David Sangsupan
A History of FBC
Hypoluxo
The First Baptist
Church of Hypoluxo began with a dream - a dream that God wanted a church in
Hypoluxo. One of the leading families who felt this need for the present
population 500, was that of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Porter. Mr. Porter owned much of
the land in the area. He gave a piece of land 232'x 663' to First Baptist
Church of West Palm Beach for the purpose of starting a Baptist work in Hypoluxo.
The church began as
a mission of First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, and was named Hypoluxo
Baptist Chapel. On September 19, 1954, the first services were held in the
Ridge Grove Association Hall on Overlook Road. The following January, just up the
road, there was a ground breaking ceremony for the new chapel building which
was to cost $55,000. Mr. and Mrs. Porter loaned the chapel $25,000 with
interest at 5% to begin in two years.
November 13, 1955
marked the first service in the new chapel. It was a full house - people from
other denominations attended as there was no other church in the community. The
furniture consisted of donated kitchen chairs and planks laid across cement
blocks. The choir sang and the first baptisms were conducted. Candidates had to
change in the closet under the stairs to the baptistery, and the water was icy
cold. Sunday School classes were held in the balcony.
Within a year, work
was started on an addition to the back of the church building, with a long hall
heading west. Three rooms on the left were for the Beginners, Nursery and
Primary classes. On the right was a bathroom and kitchen, and large meeting
room. Today that area houses the office of the treasurer, pastor, secretary,
and Day Care director.
After more than five
years as a mission, the Chapel voted to constitute itself into church named
First Baptist Church of Hypoluxo. The church voted to seek affiliation with the
Palm Lake Baptist Association and the Florida Baptist Convention.
In 1979, Hypoluxo Baptist Day Care
was started in the new long building at the back of the church, connected by a
covered walkway. This very active Day Care is self-supporting and contributes
to the church expenses and upkeep. It is a wonderful Christian ministry.
Over the years, Hypoluxo continues
to be a mission minded church. Teams have gone out to do mission work in
Belize, Haiti, Mali, and Jordan, and most recently in Dominican Republic.
Currently, Hypoluxo hosts a Spanish congregation and a Thai congregation.
Today, the members are proud of the
history left to them by the church’s founders and rejoice over the hundreds who
have come to know Christ through its ministry.