The First Meeting
On Wednesday evening, March 15, 1989, a group of 21 people met at the home of Edward & Viola Delp. On Wednesday, March 29, 1989, Rev. Ken Lynch agreed to temporarily lead the group as Pastor forming a new Baptist Church.
The First Building
On April 16th, the group moved to the first permanent building and first called itself “Tri-City Baptist Church”.
Ken Lynch conducted services through Sunday, May 21, 1989. Rev. Wayne Birkhead served as Interim Pastor until a full time pastor could be called.
The Constitution
The church was officially constituted on Sunday, July 16, 1989 with 42 charter members in a little white church building off Sweetwater Road in Hickory, NC. Rev. Stan Frye became the first full-time pastor on Sunday, September 3, 1989.
The Transition
In 1990, the church purchased 17 acres of land on Hwy 16 North in Conover, NC. Then in February 1991, they moved to Furniture Show Room across from Hickory Motor Speedway.
The Groundbreaking
On June 2, 1991 we celebrated the groundbreaking for the new building on Hwy 16 property. We moved into our new facility on July 12, 1992 with a dedication service. On October 16, 1994, we held another groundbreaking ceremony for our second building phase, the educational wing, and a new administration building. This building was dedicated on April 9, 1995. Tri-City Christian School began on August 26, 1996 with Grades K4-12. When Stan Frye was called to another church in Ohio in the Spring of 1997, Dr. Ruffin Snow was called to come as the new pastor on March 28, 1999. The small Prayer Chapel was built and dedicated to the Lord in 2000. We broke ground for the Family Life Center on August 26, 2001. On Sunday, December 30, 2001, we began building our new sanctuary, wiih the dedication held on Sunday, November 17, 2002.
The Current
Today, Tri-City Baptist Church has over 104,000 square feet in buildings, 40 acres, and a 1300 seat Worship Center with a theatrical stage. All to glorify God and to witness to the world!
Be a part of our story...
Join us every Sunday as we gather to worship together at 9:30 AM and 11 AM.