‍When I arrived in Union County in 1983, there was approximately 65,000 residents and over one hundred Baptist Churches with positive reputations. Our growth came primarily from the biological birth of long-term family residents, and our outreach was directed toward a well-established community. The DNA of FBCIT has at its core value,“Focused Outreach.” Historically, we know that we possess a “whatever it takes” spirit to reach people with the gospel. Consistently that has meant to pray, train witnesses, buy property, build buildings, knock on doors, and many other expressions to spread the Gospel. Whatever barriers existed that prevented us from maximizing our potential we sought to eliminate.

Today, there are approximately 200,000 more people in Union County than 42 years ago who have come from all over the US with a concentration from the Northeast, where the name Baptist is primarily a term of derision. Three years ago in a deacon’s meeting, it was discussed how several of them had been inviting to church, people they worked with, friends in their neighborhoods and other marketplace settings. When asked what church, naturally they responded, “First Baptist Indian Trail.” When the invitees heard “Baptist,” they recalled what they were led to believe that term meant from their non-southern cultural setting. Immediately, they shared their disinterest in accepting the gracious invite.

That night began a three-year quest to discover the need, importance of, and consequences of eliminating the barrier of reaching the people with which the Lord has surrounded our ministry. After three years of praying, seeking wisdom and guidance from the Lord and with the help of church consultants, we now believe it is time to eliminate the concept that the unchurched around us have because of our name.

Let me be very clear, we are NOT changing our biblical doctrine, what we believe, who we are, our affiliation or our evangelistic fervor and mission. We WILL remain true to our strong trust in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. This proposition is to be known as “The Church at Indian Trail.”

This change only removes a label that to many lost and unchurched people is very negative and unloving. All we are doing is simply changing a sign on the outside, not who we are on the inside. The label changes, but the contents are the same. The same gospel that Rev. C.W. Boatwright preached when he planted this church, the same gospel that Rev. Earl Sossoman preached for 24 years, and the same gospel that I have preached here for 42 years will continue to reverberate from this pulpit but with a different sign out front that eliminates the false assumptions from the minds of the very people we are trying to reach for Jesus.  

Friends, this will only serve to help us do better what we have been doing for all these years. If you have thoughts, questions, or simply want to share your heart, we invite you to join us in prayer and in conversation through the following opportunities: 

Sunday, November 2 | 2PM | Worship Center
A Town Hall Meeting will be open to the entire membership.

Sunday, November 9 | Following the 9:15AM & 11AM Services
A churchwide vote will be held to allow you to join our leadership in affirming this decision.

 Together, let us continue to do whatever it takes to reach our community, county, and country with the love of the Lord Jesus.