Our Story

Green Lakes Baptist Church

Building a church is a sacred privilege entrusted by God to each generation. It is a work that reflects faith, sacrifice, obedience, and vision. The story of Green Lakes Baptist Church is such a story — one shaped by faithful beginnings, tested through seasons of hardship, and sustained by God’s grace into the present.

Our Beginning

Green Lakes Baptist Church began as the Green Lakes Baptist Mission on September 21, 1958, when a small group of believers gathered for their first worship service at Hodges Manor Elementary School. The mission was established under the guidance of the Mission Committee of the Portsmouth Baptist Association, with pastors from area churches sharing leadership during its earliest months. From the start, cooperation, humility, and shared purpose defined the work.

The mission was formally organized with J. Woodard, Associational Sunday School Superintendent, and Dr. R. Clayton Pitts, pastor of Port Norfolk Baptist Church and chairman of the Missions Committee, leading the first worship service. Dallas Richardson, along with association leaders, organized Training Union efforts, establishing discipleship as a foundational priority.

On February 15, 1959, Rev. Don N. Sheffield began his ministry with Green Lakes. A graduate of John Brown University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Pastor Sheffield brought steady leadership during a season of growth. His wife played a vital role as well, serving as director of the Music Ministry and helping establish the Woman’s Missionary Society, becoming its first president in September 1959.

Becoming a Church

As the congregation grew, the need for a permanent home became clear. In January 1960, a Building Committee was formed under the leadership of Winton A. Hardison Jr., and plans were adopted for the church’s first chapel and educational building. Groundbreaking services were held on March 5, 1961, and on October 15, 1961, the congregation held its first service in the new building — the same day the cornerstone was laid.

Earlier that year, on February 19, 1961, the mission was officially constituted as Green Lakes Baptist Church, with 218 charter members. The constituting service, held at Hodges Manor Elementary School, was led by Dr. W. B. Denson, State Secretary of Evangelism.

Growth and Expansion

Continued growth led to the need for additional space. In 1964, another Building Committee was appointed, chaired by Thornburn Parker. Plans for a new educational building were approved, groundbreaking was held on March 21, 1965, and the building was occupied on November 14, 1965, expanding the church’s capacity for teaching, fellowship, and outreach.

Through the years, Green Lakes remained committed to serving families, discipling believers, and proclaiming the gospel in the community.

A Season of Testing

Like many faithful churches, Green Lakes entered a difficult season in the years leading up to 2023.

Attendance declined significantly. While finances remained stable and the facility was structurally sound, the building reflected age and wear. Leadership instability deeply affected the congregation. One pastor departed abruptly, leaving the church without pastoral leadership. Soon after, Pastor Tommy Speight began serving the church, only to pass away suddenly in December 2022, just as the congregation was emerging from the isolating effects of the COVID season.

The church found itself grieving, uncertain, and vulnerable — faithful, but weary.

A New Chapter Begins

On December 31, 2022, Pastor Mark Carman arrived with the intention of serving temporarily, planning to remain through Easter. What he encountered was a church in need of stability, healing, trust, direction, vision, and hope.

Rather than rushing change, the first priority was addressing grief openly. Loss was acknowledged. Pain was not minimized. The congregation was given permission to grieve honestly — and the response was immediate relief. What had been unspoken was finally named, and healing began.

The earliest sign of renewal was not numerical growth, but internal peace. Fear about the future began to ease. A quiet confidence returned.

As the weeks passed, Pastor Carman sensed a clear calling to remain. He recognized that God had uniquely prepared him — through experience, skills, and temperament — to lead the church through the cultural challenges ahead. The primary battle was not doctrinal or financial, but cultural: helping a faithful church move beyond patterns and traditions that no longer served its mission.

Change was approached through clarity rather than force — explaining the “why,” teaching patiently, and allowing understanding to lead the way. Over time, resistance softened, trust deepened, and the most significant growth emerged: a renewed willingness to move forward.

Where We Are Today

Today, Green Lakes Baptist Church stands in a healthier place.

The church is no longer frozen by fear or defined by loss. There is growing unity, openness, and alignment around purpose. Ministries continue to serve families, reach the incarcerated, disciple believers, and extend the gospel through media and outreach.

What once felt fragile is now becoming focused.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, we believe God is calling Green Lakes Baptist Church to grow in identity, mission, impact, and tone.

We are becoming a church grounded in biblical truth, marked by grace, committed to discipleship, and willing to move forward faithfully. Our mission is not to recreate the past, but to steward it well as we serve the present and prepare for the future.

We give thanks for those who laid the foundation.
We honor those who endured the hard seasons.
And we step forward with confidence, trusting the God who has guided every chapter of our story.