Dr. Michael L. McClure, our lead pastor, is known for his in-depth knowledge and effective teaching style of biblical truths applicable to everyday living.
About Us
Learn More About Who We Are
Our Story
Learn more about us, from our humble beginnings to what we’ve grown into today. We support missions, church planting, and flourish with our local community. West Park Baptist Church has become a leading institution of faith in the community. Its many ministries fill the needs of local families and support missionaries around the world. The church continues to teach the same biblical principles since its founding.
The Beginning
In 1971, Pastor David Mikel saw the need for an independent, fundamental Baptist Church that was based on the principles and doctrines of the Bible in the Delray Beach, Florida area. He simultaneously founded the Congress Avenue Baptist Church and Gold Coast Christian Academy. The church and school were located at 501 South Congress Avenue in Delray Beach, which is the present site of the Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s office. Pastor Mikel served the church for more than six years and then felt led to another part of the state.
Growing Ministries
Pastor J. Morgan Haynes was called as the Pastor of Congress Avenue Baptist Church in 1977. In 1982, under Pastor Haynes’ leadership the church property was sold to Palm Beach County. In July of 1982, the church was re-incorporated and re-named as West park Baptist Church. The new church gained legal recognition in August of 1982. In 1984, West Park Baptist Church introduced its first Children’s Day Camp for children ages 5 to 15 years old. The Day Camp Program continues to be successful in reaching families in the community. Read more about our Day Camp.
Under the Pines
Early in 1983, the church relocated to a larger property at 4004 Lake Ida Road and has operated at this location since that time. Also in 1982, Michael L. McClure was called to be the Youth Pastor for West Park Baptist Church. In November of 1983, Pastor Haynes resigned and urged the board of Deacons to call Michael McClure as the interim Pastor. By August of 1984, the church called Michael McClure to be its Pastor.
Dedication
The current church auditorium was named the Rathel L. Moody Memorial Auditorium for Mr. Moody whose efforts raised most of the money for constructing the building. Construction began in 1986 and upon completion was dedicated to the Lord’s service on November 22, 1987.
Our Mission Statement
MISSION STATEMENT OF WEST PARK BAPTIST CHURCH
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” – Matthew 28:18-20
The God-given mission of the church, and therefore, of this local church is outlined in the Great Commission, given above. We are to teach, baptize and then teach again.
TEACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
I. The first thing we are to teach is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- What is the gospel? Paul defined it this way: “For l delivered unto you first of all that which l also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” I Cor. 15:3 & 4
- Notice that he said this was what he had given to the church at Corinth “first of all”. When he wrote to the church in Rome he said: “For l am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
- Our main mission, therefore, is to teach the gospel to as many people as possible. We must do this by whatever scriptural means are available to us. We must teach God’s simple plan of salvation in and through: our Sunday School, Worship services, Bible studies, Day Camp, Self Defense class, teen activities, singles’ activities, men’s and ladies’ fellowships, church visitation, tract distribution, van ministry, missionary support and each and every other outreach ministry of this local church.
BAPTIZE NEW BELIEVERS
II. The second thing we must do is to take those who have received and believed the gospel and baptize them.
- We baptize because our Lord commanded us to do so.
- We do not baptize in order to gain salvation or forgiveness or as a help to gaining salvation or forgiveness.
- We baptize as a witness of our faith in the Lord Jesus Who died for our sins and rose again.
- We baptize as a witness of our faith that we are leaving the old way of life and beginning a new life, following Christ.
- We baptize as a witness of the hope of our own resurrection through Jesus Christ.
- We are to baptize believers only, that is: those who have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- All who are members of this local church must first be saved and then follow our Lord in baptism.
TEACHING BELIEVERS TO GROW SPIRITUALLY
III. The third thing we must do is teach again.
A. The purpose of this teaching is (Ephesians 4:12-16)
- “For the perfecting of the saints…”Jesus said: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 We must be constantly learning and striving to be like our Father. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” I John 3:2When we are born again we are spiritual babies who need to be nourished and taught so that we may “… grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15. We must, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” The church, therefore, must teach the word to believers in order for them to experience spiritual growth so that each one becomes less like the lost world and more like our Heavenly Father. This is the purpose of Sunday School and Bible study programs.
- “for the work of the ministry”. Our Lord’s work must be carried on by His people who are trained to do so. The church and its programs must train the members to be witnesses of the gospel, servants to our fellowmen, and trainers of believers so that they, in turn, can teach others to be witnesses of the gospel, servants to their fellowmen, and trainers of believers.
- “for the edifying of the body of Christ” The “body of Christ” is the church (Ephesians 1:22 & 23; 4:12 & 5:25-30; I Corinthians 12:27). The word “edifying” means building up. The church must be built numerically or else it will die. It is a fact of this world that people die, move on, leave churches, etc. Unless the church is constantly reaching new people it will dwindle to nothing over a period of time. The church must be built spiritually or else it will die. Unless believers are taught the “milk” of the Word until they can be given the “meat” (I Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14) the church will die because it does not have the wisdom and understanding needed to continue. Unless the church is building stronger believers so that those believers are discipled to become Christlike, the church will fail.
UNIFYING THE BODY OF CHRIST – THE CHURCH
III. The third thing we must do is teach again. (continued)
B. This teaching is to be done: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”
This is the mission of the West Park Baptist Church. All current ministries and future endeavors must work together like the gears of a great machine with the common purpose and goal of reaching souls for the Savior and training those new believers to be like Him so that they may reach souls for the Savior and train new believers to be like Him.
We must work together to see:
- More people distributing the gospel via tracts.
- More people involved in personal witnessing and soul-winning.
- More people following the Lord in believer’s baptism.
- More people being trained in the word of God through the current ministries: Van ministry, Sunday School, Worship Services, Bible studios, King’s Kids Children’s churches, Day Camp, Self Defense class, visitation, missionary support, Reformer’s Unanimous, etc.
- More ministries of outreach and growth, developed and led by the congregation.
- More participation in every area as we develop the common vision of the Great Commission.
Our Staff
Minister of Music
Johnson P. Glaude
Mr. Johnson P. Glaude heads our music ministry. He leads the choir, plays the piano, and is a talented vocalist. He also reaches out to offer spiritual guidance to teens through church-related activities.
Assistant to the Pastor
Rev. Christopher K. Lewis
Christopher K. Lewis is the Assistant to the Senior Pastor of West Park Baptist Church. Rev. Lewis helps the senior pastor with various church duties and guides others to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Cathy McClure
Mrs. Cathy McClure, a member of West Park Baptist Church for over 40 years, performs administrative duties and oversees Day Camp management.
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Annette Booher
Mrs. Booher, our beloved sister, has recently gone to be with the Lord. Her years of service have blessed many lives. We look forward to our heavenly reunion with her.
Our Church
