Hunter Street Baptist Church facts for kids
Hunter Street Baptist Church is a church in Hoover, Alabama, which is a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. It's part of the Southern Baptist Convention. The church started way back in 1907.
As of 2018, about 4,500 people were members of the church. Hunter Street Baptist Church has a special saying: "Hunter Street is not a building, but a people; people committed to God and to each other." This means they believe the church is really about the community, not just the building.
The senior pastor is Dr. Buddy Gray. He has been leading the church since 1986. Before that, he was the youth pastor from 1978 to 1980 while he was a student at Samford University. At Hunter Street, Pastor Buddy Gray teaches from the Bible. Adults can join small groups and Bible studies to learn more about their faith. The church also has an Arts Academy where people can take music lessons. Kids can play sports, and younger children can learn in the Weekday Education program.
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How Hunter Street Church Started
Hunter Street Baptist Church began in 1907. Its first location was in the western part of Birmingham. This was about 20 miles (32 km) from where it is today. The church first met in temporary places. These included a school and even some private homes.
The first permanent church building was finished in 1908. It was built at the corner of Hayes Avenue and Hunter Street. Today, these streets are called Eufaula Avenue and 24th Street. The church stayed at this spot until December 1928.
Moving to a Bigger Building
In 1928, the church moved to a larger building. This new place was at 17th Street and 4th Court West. It was only about a third of a mile from their first building. The new church had a main worship area that could seat over 700 people. It also had many classrooms for Sunday School.
Over the next few decades, the church grew a lot. Hunter Street became one of the biggest Baptist churches in Birmingham. It was even one of the largest in all of Alabama. In 1952, they built a chapel and more educational rooms across the street. Then, in 1958, a new worship area was opened. This new area could seat 1,800 people. It was built right next to the 1952 building.
Reaching People Through Broadcasts
During the 1960s, the church shared its Sunday morning worship service live. First, it was on the radio station WAQY 1220. Then, starting in 1967, it was shown on WBMG-TV (now WIAT). This TV ministry continued until 1972. In 1974, a Family Life Center was built. This center had a gymnasium and a game room for church members to use.
Changes in the 1960s to 1980s
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, fewer people attended Hunter Street Church. This happened for a few reasons. Many people moved to new suburbs of Birmingham. These suburbs included Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and Forestdale. Also, the neighborhood around Hunter Street changed.
This decrease in attendance continued into the 1980s. The average number of people attending each week had been around 1,500. But it fell to about 225. By 1985, most of the people coming to Hunter Street were retired and in their seventies or eighties.
A Big Decision to Relocate
In 1987, the church members made a big decision. They voted to sell their buildings to Sardis Baptist Church. Sardis Baptist Church was a church mainly for African American people. Hunter Street Baptist Church decided to move to Hoover. Hoover was a fast-growing suburb. Hunter Street held its last service at the 4th Court location in September 1987.
Moving to the Suburbs
Starting in September 1987, Hunter Street Baptist Church met in Hoover. For the next 18 months, they held their weekly services at a Seventh-day Adventist Church. Almost right away, the church started to grow in numbers. The church had bought land for a new permanent home on Alabama State Route 150. They were waiting for the new building to be finished.
On Easter Sunday in 1989, the church opened its new facilities. These included a worship area that could seat 550 people. There were also educational rooms and a room for the choir to practice.
Growing Rapidly in Hoover
The church grew very quickly after moving to Hoover. Six months after the new buildings opened, they added an extra worship service. This was to make room for all the new people coming. More Sunday School classrooms were built in 1990. In 1991 and 1992, even more worship services and Sunday School times were added. Still, the church was getting very full.
In 1992, the church voted to buy more land next to their property. This extended the church's land all the way to Mars Hill Road. The church then asked the City of Hoover to change the name of Mars Hill Road to Hunter Street. This meant that for the first time in 65 years, Hunter Street Baptist Church was actually on or very near Hunter Street!
Hunter Street Today
On January 16, 1994, Hunter Street Baptist Church opened a new, larger worship center. This center could seat 1,600 people. They also added more Sunday School classrooms and a new music area. In 2000, the worship center was updated and made even bigger. It could then seat about 1,950 people.
New Buildings for Different Groups
Other buildings have been added over the years.
- In 1997, a recreation center called the R.O.C (Recreation Outreach Center) was built.
- In 2002, a building for high school and junior high students was added. It was called the 24:7 Building. This building was for student worship and education. In 2007, its name was changed to the Hunter Street Student Building. This was to show that everyone in the church was united.
- In 2003, the church opened a new education center just for children.
In early 2006, the church started showing the 9:30 A.M. worship service on screens in the old worship area and the youth building. This helped make more room for people in the main worship center. Later in 2007, the 9:30 A.M. service was named Chapel Worship. It was mainly for middle school, high school, and college students.
Celebrating Milestones
The church celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007. Later that same year, they also celebrated 20 years of ministry in Hoover.
The church's music team has released four CDs since 1996:
- Jesus Changed My World (1996)
- Consider the Cross (2003)
- How Great: Live Worship at Hunter Street (2005)
- S.D.G. (2008)
The church's adult choir and orchestra led worship at a big meeting. This was for the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in June 2009.
Worship Center Renovation
On April 25, 2012, the church voted to update its main worship center. This project happened in July and August of that year. The updates included new flooring and a new color design. They also added theater-style seating and a new area for the choir and orchestra. While the renovation was happening, Sunday worship services were held in the church's gym, the chapel (which was the former worship center), and the student building.
