Native Son Returns Home To Plant A Church In West Virginia
By Jimmy Morton, Church Planter

Click here for current project request

Click here to visit the FBC website.

Freedom Baptist Church is a new church start in the Kanawha City area of Charleston, WV. God has given me a passion for the people of Kanawha City to establish His church in the area.

As I have been surveying community needs, people are saying they need activities for youth and children, after-school programs and ministries for the elderly. Within a five mile radius there are over 51,000 people. According to the “2000 Religious Congregations and Membership Survey”, over 65% or 33,150 people are unchurched. We will be the first Southern Baptist Church in the area.

Most people may think that I would be discouraged because I have no land and no building. On the contrary, I am excited; I cannot wait to see what God has planned for Freedom Baptist Church. When you step out in faith there are always some uncertainties. However, when I have uncertainties, I focus on Jesus Christ to help me. I trust God to provide for me.

In 2004 I returned to West Virginia with my wife, Jennifer Morton, and my 21-month-old daughter, Anna Grace Morton. I came back this past month to West Virginia after 14 years away. It feels good to be home.

I love the people of West Virginia and the mountains. God has given me the burden to come back and plant a Southern Baptist Church. I feel there is a great need to serve the people of West Virginia. God has given me a passion for a Kanawha City church.

I grew up in Charleston, WV and graduated from Charleston High School in 1985. I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from Gardner-Webb University, as well as a Master of Divinity Degree with Biblical Languages from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I am currently pursuing my Doctor of Ministry Degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The name, Freedom Baptist Church, is a reflection of Jesus’ own words, which is found in John 8:32, “And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.”

This is an exciting time in the life of the church! Our first Bible study was held on July 14, 2005.  Many positive events have taken place.  Currently we are meeting at 705 South Park Road in the Brookside Chapel.

The Southern Baptist Convention, West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists, Pioneer Baptist Association and Cross Lanes Baptist Church are supporting this new church start.

Thank you for your interest in Freedom Baptist Church. Please, call me, Pastor Jimmy Morton at (304) 590-0222 or write me at P.O. Box 4573, Charleston, WV 25364.
Or you can email me at jmortonjr@msn.com.

Volunteer Opportunities for 2007 include:

Community Survey
Prayer Walking
Back Yard Bible Clubs
Sports Camps
Block Party (Family Carnivals)
Partnership Churches—pray for partnership churches to join with Freedom in this new church start.
 

Newsletter

March  2007

Hello,

Well, so far we have experienced a very cold and snowy winter. For the past two months (January & February 2007) I have been reminded of the WV winters of my childhood. As I reminisce about my childhood; wintry weather, school cancellations, sleigh rides, snowballs, snowmen, bonfires and hot chocolate, I think about the time when I was a youth and observed the Charleston portion of the Kanawha River that was frozen as the result of long term WV frigid temperatures. Even though I enjoyed my childhood winter months I always look forward to the spring and summer.

The recent (2006/2007) winter months have been very productive for Freedom Baptist Church. The winter events, such as the Christmas Eve Lords Supper, Freedom Celebration, community wide showing of “Facing the Giants and our Valentine’s Dinner have all been tremendous successes.

However, I look forward to the spring and summer months. My calendar is filling up with out of state mission teams who are preparing to come to Charleston, WV for their church wide short term mission trips. As a fulltime NAMB employee I look forward to traveling and speaking at various mission conferences. Most of all I look forward to celebrating the resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I cannot wait to see what God is going to accomplish through Freedom Baptist Church this summer (2007). If you are interested or have questions about Freedom Baptist Church, please, do not hesitate to contact me at (304) 590-0222. Or you can visit us at our website at www.freedombaptistwv.org. 

Freedom Baptist Church
Radio Broadcast – WCAW 680 AM

On Sunday mornings at 8:00 am you are able to listen to Pastor Jimmy Morton, Jr. on WCAW 680 AM.

So, be sure to start your Sunday mornings at 8:00 am by listening to “A Light from the Valley,” on 680 AM - Solid Gospel WCAW.

Freedom Baptist Church is located at 6602 Roosevelt Ave. Charleston, WV 25304. On I-77 at exit 95 turn right onto MacCorkle Ave. East. Go past K-Mart, turn left onto 66th street. Freedom Baptist is located on the corner of Roosevelt and 66th street.

In Jesus Christ,
Pastor Jimmy Morton, Jr.
(304) 590-0222
Email: jmortonjr@msn.com
Website: www.freedombaptistwv.org

Call to Prayer

Have you ever wanted to be a part of something big? Have you ever wanted to be a part of a God sized opportunity? Well this is your chance to join the 24/7 prayer for spiritual awakening!

God has placed it on my heart to start a 24 hour, seven day a week, prayer chain. The purpose of the prayer chain is to ask God to ignite a spiritual awakening that spreads throughout Southern Baptist churches and church plants in West Virginia that will sweep the nation and around the world.

The plan is to enlist WV Southern Baptists to pray around the clock, in 15 minute increments, for a spiritual awakening. Just choose a specific 15-minute segment each day to pray (for example 6:15 to 6:30 am).

If you are interested you can call the WV Convention of Southern Baptists at (304) 757-0944 or you can write the WV Convention of Southern Baptists, Number One Mission Way, Scott Depot, WV 25560.

What a great opportunity we have to join a great prayer movement that will ultimately change the world. We can commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by joining the 24/7 Prayer for Spiritual Awakening. “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

In Jesus Christ,
Pastor Jimmy Morton, Jr.
(304) 590-0222
 

Pastor Jimmy Morton

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Within a five mile radius there are over 51,000 people … over 33,150 are unchurched. We will be the first Southern Baptist church in the area.

New Building (Formerly the home of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church)

Click here to read an article in the Charleston Daily Mail about Freedom Baptist Church.

Inside Freedom Baptist Church

Click on the map for a view of Kanawha City - bordered by the Kanawha River and the Railroad.

Click here to see the old Train Station

Click here to view the skyline of Charleston.

Kanawha City, the home of the original Shoney’s, the world’s first floating plate glass factory (Libby Owens Ford), and over 33,150 unchurched people.

Apartments in Kanawha City

Residential Street in Kanawha City

Project Request

54134-07 – Freedom Baptist Church (New Church Start)
VBS – Drama – Evangelism/ Witnessing – Prayer Walking – Back Yard Bible Clubs – Sports Camps – Block Party (Family Carnivals) – Partnership Churches - Survey - Nursing Home Ministry

Freedom Baptist Church is a new church start in the Kanawha City area of Charleston, WV. The sponsoring church is Cross Lanes Baptist Church (pastor Seth Polk). They request volunteer teams for VBS, drama, community survey, block parties, prayer walking, evangelism/ witnessing, backyard Bible clubs, and sports related events. They are also needing partnership churches for the new work. Housing is available in local churches and area motels. The church is located in an urban setting.

Contact: Jimmy Morton (Church Planter)
P. O. Box 4573
Charleston, WV 25364
Phone: 304-590-0222
Email: jmortonjr@msn.com