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In the late 1800s, Eastport was an active little village with four churches, a public school, and a Grange & Macabee Hall. Sidewalks were on each side of the main street with people walking to the grocery store, drug store, hardware, post office, stagecoach stop and two hotels or blacksmith shops. There were at least four mills, one saloon, and a doctor who also pulled teeth when necessary and later a meat market and funeral parlor
In 1884, in the General Store and Post Office of Eastport, John and Alice Pearl and ten others formed a new church by the name of First Baptist Church of Eastport. The charter members were: W.F. Chamberlin, Mattie Hadcock, William, Amanda, and Alice Olmsted, Alice Pearl, Milton and Mary Robinson, Hannah Salisbury, and Frankie Smith.
In the years that followed, the church met in the general store, the first parsonage, and in the congregational church. In 1892, the church called its first pastor, Henry Mellon, who served until 1895. The first minutes we have on record occurred on July 14, 1894. The beginning reads, “The First Baptist Church of Eastport met for regular covenant meeting at the Parsonage, Saturday July 14, 1894, at 2 o’clock pm with the Pastor as the chair.” Seventeen members were present at this meeting with one visitor. The collection for State Missions was recorded at $1.07.
Robert Wilkinson, a member of the church, was licensed to preach and called as the next pastor of the church on October 3, 1896. He was ordained in November of that same year. The church voted that he be paid a salary of $150 per year with the assistance of the State Missions Board.
In 1928, the church purchased a church building in Alden from the Michigan Baptist Convention. This building was transported from Alden to the present site and remains the center section of the current auditorium. On August 18, 1929, the church held a dedication service for the new building.
Throughout the following decades, First Baptist Church of Eastport continued to worship faithfully and serve the community. For a time, the church was an outstation of Charlevoix Baptist Church. In the 1950s, the church purchased the Eastport School House and converted it into a youth center and eventually the current parsonage. The church also had a 15 minute radio program which aired at Noon on Saturdays during this time.
First Baptist of Eastport also helped start the Baptist Church in Elk Rapids (now Elk Rapids Bible Church) and supported the work for some time under the work of Pastor Paul Glick. Throughout the 1950s-1970s the church added the east and west wings of the building and the gymnasium (as AWANA clubs grew).
During the ministry of Pastor Jim Seifert (74-75), the church changed its name to Eastport Baptist Church. Pastors Don Reidel (76-81), John Gillette (82-90), Jerry Mack (92-96) served the church in the following decades as the ministry in Eastport continued.
In 1997, Pastor Jerry Troyer arrived at Eastport. He led the church faithfully for 26 years until the Lord called him home on September 27th, 2023. His faithful leadership, passion for God’s Word, love for others, and desire for others to know Jesus have left an enduring mark on our congregation. As a church, we are currently in the process of calling our next lead pastor.
The most important history of Eastport Baptist Church has come person by person and family by family as people have been shown the love of God through the words and deeds of God’s people who have been a part of this church’s fellowship. Many people have come to faith in Jesus Christ, been baptized, and taught the teachings of Christ. God’s people have been encouraged to live for Him, and taught the whole counsel of God through the teaching of His word by its pastors and teachers over the years.
We are here because of the faithfulness of God and by His grace we will continue to faithfully proclaim His love and message to each and every generation. To God be the glory, great things He has done. We look forward to what God will do through this fellowship until the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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