Christ Baptist
Church

In 1974, Pastor J. Harold Jeffries was serving as a church-planting missionary pastor under the direction of Fellowship Baptist for Home Missions. A group began meeting at the Blairstown American Legion Hall. On June 6, 1975, a charter for Christ Baptist Church was signed. The Hainesburg Methodist Church became available for purchase. Christ Baptist held its first service in her new home on Easter Sunday 1979. The building dates back to 1893 and contains a bell weighing 1,084 pounds which continues to be rung every Sunday morning. The stained glass windows were installed in 1927. Christ Baptist became a self-supporting church under the leadership of Pastor Trautman and had the following pastors throughout its history: J. Harold Jeffries (1975-1983) Mark Trautman (1983-1990) Ronald Finch (1992-1997) David Kinneberg (1999-2003) Robert Rodriguez (2006-2011) Derek Makri (2012-Present) A few core members kept the doors opened during intervals without pastors sometimes lasting up to 18 months. The help of interim pastors like Jeff Briden from Parsippany Baptist and retired pastor Charlie Horton was crucial. Edna Gardner is the longest standing church member and has been here for every pastor. By the faithful giving of God’s people, Christ Baptist entered into its first expansion project to improve upon the facility (only one toilet in the building for 50 years). The project officially began in 2024 with plans and septic upgrades and continued in 2025 with township approvals. Ground was broken in March 2026 and the project was completed in August with final approvals received in September 2026. The entire project cost over $480,000 for the septic upgrades, plans, approvals, attorney/architect/engineer fees, parking lot lights, general contractor, new fence, additional parking pavement, and new sidewalks. The 1,000 square foot addition includes two modern restrooms and a new classroom. It also upgraded the entry from the parking lot with a covered area to protect from weather, something church members wished for over many years. By God’s grace, the project was funded without the need for borrowing money. Christ Baptist Church also has a growing mission program supported by the faith-promise giving of the congregation. They currently support 28 individual missionary programs around the world in the amount of $21,120. That amount is exceeded every year because of the generous gifts of the people resulting in additional financial gifts sent to specific works throughout the year. We believe the future is bright for Christ Baptist Church as an independent Baptist church which still sings the traditional hymns and holds to the teaching and preaching from the King James Version. Those who come to Christ Baptist Church do so for the feeding from God’s Word and the fellowship with God’s people. Many have followed the Lord in believer’s baptism and are growing in their walk with the Lord and serving as witnesses in their communities. We rejoice in the great things God has done and continues to do here! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!