LAKEWOOD, Wash. (BP) — As of April 28, First Baptist Church of Lakewood has baptized 23 people so far this year. That is more than all of 2024. Another 20 people have joined by transfer of church letter and others are awaiting baptism.

Walt Kellcy, the pastor for the last 34 years, has a theory about the increase.

“Part of it, we realized, was going back to one service. There’s a certain environmental impact when more gather together in worship.” the pastor told Baptist Press. “And, instead of two Bible study hours and two worship services, we are now one Bible Study at 9:30 a.m. and one worship service at 11 a.m.” 

In addition, the church hosts Bible study fellowship for women on Wednesdays and has various adult men’s and women’s Bible studies during the weekdays as well. 

“With the smaller groups you have more fellowship and interaction,” Kellcy continued. “When small group Bible studies multiply, the next thing you know, you start to grow again. Interactive Bible study for transformation is the catalyst for church growth. We don’t study to garner some new insight or information; we study the Word of God for transformation.” 

The church lives on mission as it is active in the community.

“We have opportunities every day to share the love of God,” Kellcy said. “Seeing a smile on someone’s face when you do them good, that does good for you.”

First Lakewood started south of Tacoma in 1952. 

“We’re in the southern part of the urban city center,” the pastor said. “We’re right outside the main gate of Joint Base Lewis-McChord,” an Air Force/Army base, one of the largest military installations in the nation with about 13,000 residents, most of whom transfer every 2-3 years.

About a third of the congregation is military or retired military, as is Lakewood itself, population 62,000.

“With the military being so close by we have a lot of people from all over,” Kellcy said. “We take their leadership skills and put them to service. If they can see us doing good, they want to be a part of it.”

Church members volunteer with several community organizations such as the Care Net pregnancy resource center and children’s programs. They also support local law enforcement agencies as much as possible.

Teens from the church keep the streets around the church clean as part of a city-wide initiative. And, the church is home to a 10-acre community garden.

“Those connections, it’s about modeling what it means to get involved in the community,” the pastor continued. “Our members step up to help.”

“That’s the way you build connections over the years, so they know we’re there for them. We’re not just doing our thing; we’re working together.”

First Lakewood also leans into cooperation in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

“We believe it’s essential that we partner with others to reach the world for Christ.  Our primary focus is to partner,” Kellcy said. “Church planting and church growth are important to us, so these associations are important to us. It means a lot to be able to see the fruit of your labor.”

“We’ve sponsored church plants over the years, here in our own community and the surrounding area,” Kellcy said. “Church plants usually are in cooperation with our PSBA and the NWBC, though we’ve partnered with churches in Canada, Washington D.C. and Japan because of relationships there.

“We believe in giving to missions through the Cooperative Program because we can see what it does here in the Northwest, and we know by partnering with all the other Southern Baptist churches we can really make a global impact with our giving,” the pastor continued. “Whether it’s our regular Cooperative Program annual percentage or the seasonal Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong offerings, or the annual Northwest Impact offering, it all adds up. We want to support others as we were supported by the North American Missionary Board back when we started in 1952.”

Lakewood First is a healthy church, Kellcy said, because the congregation is biblically grounded. He stays away from political issues to “focus on positive and constructive things where we can make a difference.

“It’s challenging to keep our people focused on sharing the love of Christ,” the pastor continued. “We continually remind ourselves that we overcome evil by doing good. If we get people involved, they grow in their walk with the Lord. If we don’t, they don’t.

“Growing people are going people,” Kellcy added. “There are plenty of opportunities to do good.  There won’t necessarily be someone coming to you. You have to go to them.”