Temple Baptist Church, originally located on Crescent Avenue, was founded in 1948. (Courtesy photo)

Temple Baptist Church will celebrate 60 years

Temple Baptist Church, one of Lodi's largest and most influential evangelical churches, turns 60 this year. A special celebration service commemorating its service to the community will be held on Sunday.

Temple Baptist was formed in 1948 because First Baptist Church had too many members to fill its sanctuary at the corner of Pine Street and Central Avenue, which now houses Joe Serna Jr. Charter School.

A group of about 175 members of First Baptist had a vision for starting a new church. They purchased land at Pine Street and Crescent Avenue, which was then the west end of Lodi.

Using the money First Baptist donated to them from its own building fund, the Temple Baptist group built a multipurpose fellowship hall that was completed in May 1948. A sanctuary and education wing were later added.

Arthur R. Weisser

A.J. Harms was an interim pastor in 1948 until Arthur R. Weisser became Temple Baptist's first full-time pastor later than year. He served until 1952.

The Rev. Eldon G. Schroeder, who served at Temple Baptist from 1962 to 1971 and is now retired and living in the Chicago area, will return to Lodi with his wife, Ramona, for Sunday's service. A former assistant pastor, Ernie Rogalski, who served from 1972 to 1988, and his wife, Elsie, will attend a Sunday evening banquet. They now live in Citrus Heights.

Both churches have since moved west as Lodi grew west. First Baptist now has spacious quarters on North Mills Avenue, while Temple Baptist moved to 28 acres on Lower Sacramento Road in 1974.

There are 43 living charter members at Temple Baptist, 14 of whom still attend services there. About 600 attend services each week.

Jim Elliot Christian High School, now in its 11th year, shares property at Temple Baptist. The school leases the gymnasium and 10 classrooms. Elliot owns a permanent office building that also houses two classrooms.

Elliot has students from many evangelical denominations, although the school is non-denominational.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.