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Our Story
Beginnings
On October 1, 1954, a meeting was held at Lovegrove Baptist Church in Mandarin, Florida concerning the organization of a mission church. During the meeting, a motion was made to call a pastor to lead this new work. Pastor William Kingston of Lynchburg, Virginia accepted the call.
On Sunday, November 7, 1954, Pastor Kingston convened a meeting for the purpose of establishing a new Baptist Church.
With one unanimous vote, a new gospel ministry was started on Normandy Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida.
1955-2000
Trained under the ministry of Dr. Lee Roberson, Dr. W.A. McMillan was called to be the church's next pastor in 1955. Together with his wife, Mrs. Mary Lou McMillan, he served faithfully for 45 years until the time of his retirement from the pastorate in December of 2000. At the end of his tenure, the church was renamed from Normandy Baptist Temple to West Jacksonville Baptist Church.
Dr. W.A. McMillan and
Mrs. Mary Lou McMillan
2000-Present
After pastoring a church in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Rodney Kelley joined the pastoral staff of West Jacksonville Baptist Church in 1992. In 2000, the church called Dr. Kelley to succeed Dr. McMillan as the church's third pastor. He and his wife, Mrs. Joy Kelley, have both served here faithfully for over 30 years now.
Dr. Rodney Kelley and
Mrs. Joy Kelley
1954-2024
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