fbcstanfield

Friendship Baptist Church weas organized under the leadership of Bro. T. R. Moore, Jr. in November of 1964. Services were then being held in a small building near Rocky River. The original structure of the church facilities was constructed in 1965. On the first Sunday in September, 1965, the church observed its first service and Homecoming Day in its new building. There were 54 in attendance.  Bro. Moore resigned the pastorate in December, 1969.

The year of 1970 brought a new decade as well as a new pastor.  D.O. Lingafelt, who was also known as “the maverick,” began his ministry at Friendship.  Averaging close to 100 in attendance in his second month of ministry, many people began to hear of the growth at Friendship.  During this year, the church began a bus ministry, a radio ministry, and it enlarged its auditorium.  God moved in a mighty way at Friendship during this period.

Bro. Lingafelt was given a prosperous ministry, spanning thirty-four years.  The church averaged over 500 in attendance each Sunday and had a high day of 747 in attendance.  A chapel ministry was birthed, more buses were added, and the missions program expanded.  Preacher Lingafelt frequently said, “Any people can do a great work for God if no one cares who gets the glory for it.”

In May, 2004, Bro. Lingafelt resigned the pastorate, and the church called Bro. Jon Stephens as its new pastor.  Preacher Lingafelt went to be with the Lord in 2005.  Under Bro. Stephens’ leadership, the bus ministry was given a renewed emphasis along with the Teen and Spanish-speaking ministries.  The church remodeled its foyer and even purchased an illuminable sign, placed near the road side.  Much excitement was in the air as the church grew. 

Bro. Stephens resigned the pastorate in March, 2010.  In May of that year, the church called Clint Lewey to be its pastor.