About Us
Welcome to Faith Baptist Church! We are a community of believers dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus Christ in Colonial Heights and beyond. Our mission is to glorify God through worship, discipleship, and service.
Our Church
The Beginning
On April 28, 1965, at 8:45 pm, in the presence of 59 believers, a business meeting was called to order. After praying for guidance, leadership, and submission to God’s will, these Christians, assembled in a garage, voted to form a local church for the glory of God. They chose to be known as Faith Baptist Church.
The Buildings
From our humble beginnings in that garage, we rented a larger meeting place at an old campground on Route 10 for three months. We then moved to 10 Laurel Parkway in Colonial Heights. Finally, on April 10, 1968, the church financed our current two-acre property at 1226 West Roslyn Road.
Church Founded
59 believers assembled in a small garage in Colonial Heights to establish Faith Baptist Church as an independent, fundamental Baptist ministry.
First Teachers
First 14 Sunday School teachers were appointed, marking the beginning of our educational ministry that continues to this day.
First Pastor
Johnny McAlexander began his ministry as our first full-time pastor, leading the young congregation with vision and dedication.
Bus Ministry Begins
Purchased our first bus to bring children and families to church, reaching out to the community in a practical way.
Second Pastor
Jimmy Lee Busby became our second pastor, continuing to build upon the foundation that had been established.
Current Property
Church financed our current property at 1226 W. Roslyn Road, which has been our home for over five decades.
Third Pastor
Bruce and Donna Barton began their ministry at Faith Baptist Church, serving faithfully for four years.
Current Pastor
Gene and Mary Ballance called to serve as our pastor, beginning what has become more than 28 years of faithful leadership.
Our Church Leaders Through the Years
Our church has been blessed with dedicated pastoral leadership throughout our history. Each pastor has built upon the foundation laid by those who came before, maintaining our commitment to biblical truth and discipleship.
- Johnny McAlexander served as our first official pastor from June 1966 for a little over a year.
- On October 17, 1967, the church voted to accept Jimmy Lee Busby as their second pastor; he served faithfully for 23 years.
- Bruce and Donna Barton came to serve on November 4, 1990. He served as pastor until August 1994.
- On February 5, 1995, the church called Gene and Mary Ballance as pastor and wife. They continue to serve the Lord here at the present time.
Our Vision and Mission
From the beginning, our heart has been to reach our community—and the world—with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- July 14, 1965: We elected our first 14 Sunday School Outreach Army teachers.
- July 1966: Purchased our first bus, a 1947 Ford, for $150. Our Bus Ministry is still operating today!
- Just weeks after our founding, we voted to give 25% of our offerings toward World Missions, later adopting the Faith Promise Missions Program.
Over the past 60+ years, God has used us to give millions of dollars to missionaries around the world, and we’ve recorded well over 75,000 precious souls saved through our missions ministries.
Our Legacy and Future
Our church family has been used by God to help start three other like-minded churches. Several of our leaders and assistant pastors have been called from here to pastor churches of their own or serve as missionaries.
Many other faithful servants have served in various ministries over these 60+ years: deacons, trustees, song leaders, pianists, teachers, treasurers, bus mechanics and drivers, nursery workers, and helpers. They have maintained our buildings, taught our children, and contributed countless hours to further God’s work. Much of the construction and upkeep was completed by these dedicated individuals.
To all who have gone before us, we offer a sincere “Thank You”:
- Thank you for the legacy you have handed to us.
- Thank you for your devotion and sacrifice.
- Thank you for taking a fundamental stand and being faithful, allowing God to build and maintain a solid, independent Baptist church that still stands today, unashamedly on the Word of God (KJV) as a “lighthouse” for sinners in need of a Savior.
To all the past and present family of Faith Baptist Church, we give thanks. To God, who built this church and remains our Cornerstone and Foundation, we give all the glory!
Our desire is to hand down a fundamental, independent, Bible-believing, missions-minded Baptist church to our children and grandchildren, just as it was handed down to us.
“To God be the glory, great things He hath done.”
Meet Our Pastor
Raised in a Christian home by parents who knew and served the Lord, Pastor Ballance was saved as a child in 1972.
At age 14, he surrendered to God’s calling to preach during a Revival Meeting with Evangelist Dave Jones.
He graduated from Atlantic Baptist Bible College on May 8, 1986.
Pastor Ballance served in Children’s and Teen Ministries as a Youth Director and as a Christian school teacher for nine years before being led here.
It was while teaching at Faith Baptist Church Christian School in Waverly, VA, that he met his wife, Mary.
Sharing a love for children, they started a Children’s Bible Club during their courtship and were married on March 30, 1991.
Our church selected him to be our Interim Pastor in July 1994 and later voted to accept him as our Pastor on February 5, 1995.
Never having the privilege of having children of their own, God blessed them with the unique opportunity to become foster parents of a precious baby girl in 2016. They were blessed to adopt Carley Joy Ballance on August 11, 2017.
Today, Pastor Ballance, Mary, and Carley continue to strive to love and lead our church family and serve Jesus.
Connect With Us
Church Information
Address
1226 W. Roslyn Rd.
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
Phone
Website
Service Times
Sunday School
10:00 AM
Sunday Morning Worship
11:00 AM
Sunday Evening Service
1:30 PM
Wednesday Master Clubs
6:45 PM (Seasonal)
Wednesday Bible Study
7:00 PM
Note
Nursery available during all services.
Prayer Requests
We Believe in the Power of Prayer
If you have a special need for prayer, we would count it a privilege to pray for you. Our prayer team faithfully lifts up requests in our regular prayer meetings and throughout the week. You can submit your prayer request using the form on this page.
Please join us in prayer for these special needs:
Pastor Ballance, Mary & Carley
Church Services
Salvation of Souls
Church Finances
More Laborers and Members
Children’s Ministries
Class Teachers and Staff
New Families with Young Children
Military Families
Government Leaders
Missionaries
Our Country
Find Us
Directions to Our Church
Faith Baptist Church is conveniently located near I-95 and Route 1.
From Interstate 95
- 1Take Exit 54 (Temple Avenue / VA-144 W).
- 2Merge onto Temple Avenue heading West.
- 3Continue on Temple Ave West for approximately 0.7 miles.
- 4Turn Right at the traffic light onto Conduit Road.
- 5Take the immediate Right onto W Roslyn Road.
- 6Faith Baptist Church (1226 W Roslyn Rd) will be on your Left.
From Route 1 (Jefferson Davis Hwy)
- 1Turn onto Temple Avenue (VA-144 W), heading West (pass under I-95).
- 2Continue on Temple Avenue for approximately 1.5 miles.
- 3Turn Right onto Conduit Road.
- 4Take the immediate Right onto W Roslyn Road.
- 5Faith Baptist Church (1226 W Roslyn Rd) will be on your Left.