 The Brunswick Baptist Church (formerly the Heritage Baptist Church of Cohoes) was started in a Grange hall in Brunswick during the late 1970's as an independent Baptist Church. Through a series of pastors and mergers, the church had already relocated in the City of Cohoes, when Michael Collins became the pastor in 1985. The small group of about 20 people found themselves in a very large antiquated building which was built for 1000 people 150 years prior. The city was in a steep economic decline and the pastor served bi-vocationally. In time the church looked for opportunity to relocate and get out from under the burden of the heavy maintenance costs and poor location. The opportunities did not surface. In 1994 Pastor Collins became aware that Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary had begun a North East Branch within traveling distance from his home and began to take classes on a part time basis. The influence of the seminary over the next few years and the conservative resurgence within SBC led the church to seek affiliation with the Hudson Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention in 1997. Discouragement was turned to faith, as the church was influenced by its study in Henry Blackaby’s book Experiencing God. The Lord began to work in a very exciting way at Brunswick Baptist Church. God challenged the congregation to seek to provide a full time salary for the pastor. After thirteen years of bi-vocational ministry, Rev. Collins was able to leave his secular employment and serve the church full time in November 1998. At a special meeting in January of 1999, the congregation again sought the guidance of God in relocating their ministry. The following week, due to a deep freeze of winter weather, the antiquated boiler in the old building cracked, leaving them with no place to meet. The church was able to secure two conference rooms at the Hampton Inn nearby and met there for several years. Just months from that January meeting, the Lord provided nearly $170,000 toward a dream of a "New Tomorrow" of service in North Eastern New York. The church had $10,000 which was donated by one of its members, $12,000 came from the insurance carrier for the boiler, $35,000 was promised by an anonymous donor for the purchase of land. Later, the value of its stained glass was a great surprise to the congregation. They were able to net $90,000 after removal and sale. Also they were able to sell another piece of real estate the church owned for $20,000. In time, other churches saw what God was doing here and freely contributed to our ministry. The small church has a miraculous testimony of how God has shown Himself to be mighty among them through His provision and leadership. There was still a struggle to find the place God intended for the church to conduct its ministry. The members of congregation came from various directions and acreage which was an equal distance from all sold at a premium. Numerous leads were followed up without positive results. Meanwhile the church was in the process of settling on an area upon which all could agree. Finally, a parcel became available in the town of Brunswick. The access to that property created some challenges and was raised as an issue in the planning board. An entire year passed in negotiations; it soon became evident that we were at an impasse. On the ride home from that final meeting with town officials the pastor prayerfully sought direction from the Lord. Where was the Father already working to provide for the church’s new location? As he drove toward his home through Brunswick he determined to stop by the business of a local excavator to inquire about land in the area that might be available for sale. It was evident that God was at work in that man’s heart, for by that afternoon the local business man had signed a contract of sale for an ideal parcel which would eventually be the home of Brunswick Baptist Church. After ground breaking, the building process got underway in May of 2001. Teams from churches were scheduled through the summer, beginning in June. Framing began on June 18 with our first team of over 40 members from the Moulton Baptist Church from Moulton, Alabama. Monday the exterior walls were raised. Tuesday the trusses for the educational space were in place. By Wednesday the 20th the team was setting the scissor trusses for the chapel. The TV new teams were on hand to cover the “barn raising” when tragedy struck. A sudden gale rose up and took down the trusses collapsing the walls of the chapel with workers on top and underneath it! Soon the construction site was crawling with rescue workings, ambulances, TV crews, grief stricken workers, church members, and well wishers. Jim Arrant, associational missionary for the Hudson Baptist Association, Pastor Mike Collins and concerned team members followed the ambulances to the hospitals. The storm caused cuts, bumps, bruises, four major injuries but thankfully no fatalities. For the years ahead the church would have to weather multiple personal injury lawsuits and bankrupsy that followed the accident all which eventually were settled. The Lord brought the church through storm even more determined to follow His leading and to trust Him to bring His will to pass. On the heels of the Moulton team followed work team after work team who turned our tears to joy as we saw our hope of a new church again take form before our eyes. Members of the congregation and associational churches worked between the scheduled teams to press on toward our vision. One of the teams that partnered with the church was from the Reepsville Baptist Church, Lincolntown, NC. The crew was led by brother Ed Helms and his wife Helen. Ed made it clear during his first visit that he, a retired contractor, would be with the project for the long haul. Ed has been faithful to his promise, having returned, usually with helpers by his side throughout the year to see the job through to the end. Ed Helms even provided the handmade pulpit furniture now used by the church. Willing donors build cabinets, installed security systems, refurbished stain glass, even gave us the road sign, and the list goes on. The new church sits on an 11.35 acre parcel in an excellent location in the town of Brunswick, NY. It is the first Southern Baptist Church in the county and is located on the outskirts of the City of Troy. The new facility includes a beautiful worship center with seating for 125, a pastoral office, spacious classrooms, a multipurpose fellowship hall, and an efficient kitchen. The facility has been intentionally designed to meet the present needs of Brunswick Baptist Church, accommodate growth, and allow for future expansion. A garage was added later for storage and a work shop. The completed value of the church property is over one half million dollars. The cost of the project has been greatly lowered based on the church’s partnership with volunteer labor teams from other Southern Baptist churches, local volunteers, and the good graces of local suppliers and donors. Through God’s blessing the church has been built with a minimum debt load. BBC will be free of debt from its mortgage in 2010! This, testifying to the truth that the One who multiplied the loaves to feed 5000 people is able to meet the needs of His church today in a way that will not financially cripple its ability to invest in ministry outreach. Brunswick Baptist held its first service in its new facility on Mother’s day of 2002 and hosted the semi-annual meeting of the Hudson Baptist Association on May 18th. As the years passed since the church’s relocation, God has added to the flock, which is now healthy and continues to grow in spirit and number. Members have expressed their gifts in various ways through the work here. Free Family Fun Day, Sunday school, nursery, junior church, small group Bible studies, support groups, quilting classes, men’s fellowship, praise and worship ministry, seniors ministry, disaster relief, Word of Life Clubs, House Church, weekly maintenance and much more keep things humming at the church. Part of the mission of BBC is to plant new churches in our area in partnership with the Hudson Baptist Association and the North American Mission Board. Our church has been happy to be the sponsor church for the New Revival Pakistani Church in Albany. Our ministry outreach has allowed our members to reach beyond our borders with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mission trips have taken us to China, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Hungry, Japan, and Trinidad in the last few years. One couple, commissioned by our church now serves full time in Asia as church planters. As well, we have also had the privilege to ordain three of our members to the gospel ministry. Others have sensed God’s leading in their lives here at BBC and have stepped up to learn and grow so that they can be equipped serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All in all, we give thanks to God and glory to His name for His blessing on our church, and we are thankful for the faithful people God has sent to join in this fellowship of grace.
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