Riverbend's Memories & Milestones

Riverbend Community Church (formerly First Baptist of Ormond Beach) was originally founded as a mission of First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach on November 4, 1956, at an old two-story house at 73 West Granada Boulevard. Sixteen people were present for that first meeting.

Chronological listing of the highlights since the first meeting:

January 23, 1957 … Became First Baptist Chapel
July 7, 1957 … Ground-breaking for new 100-seat sanctuary on property purchased a couple of blocks from first meeting site
November 3, 1957 … Church moved into new facility at corner of Ridgewood & Tomoka Avenue
October 5, 1958 … Constituted as a Southern Baptist church (with 120 members)
May 1961 … Purchased more property and built an education building
October 6, 1963 … Started a mission in Ormond-by-the-Sea (chartered on April 23, 1967 as North Peninsula Baptist Church)
February 11, 1968 … Dedicated new 550-seat sanctuary
Summer 1968 … Started two missional churches in the Southern Ohio towns of Ironton and Belpre
October 1983 … Education/Administration Building completed
June 15, 1987 … Purchased 10 acres on State Road 40 for possible relocation
December 17, 1992 … Additional 16 acres purchased on State Road 40
June 1993 … Church purchased 5 acres on State Road 40
April 10, 1994 … First outdoor worship service held on new property
February 26, 1995 … Church votes unanimously to proceed with new construction
November 12, 1995 … Ground-breaking ceremonies at new site
February 20, 1996 … Ridgewood property sold to Ernest Wheaton
February 23, 1997 … First service in new 1,100-seat facility (overflow seating required for 1,700 in attendance)
January 1, 1998 … First Baptist name changed to Riverbend Community Church
June 1998 … Riverbend served as command post for firefighters during Florida ’98 wildfire storm
June 2000 ... Pastor Hargrave announces implementation of Above & Beyond global missions ministry
January 2002 … Church purchases 51 additional acres, enlarging campus to 112.5 acres
January 11, 2003 … Satellite church in Palm Coast has first service (known as Riverbend North)
December 4, 2005 … Riverbend North constituted as TurningPoint Community Church
November 6, 2006 … Church celebrates Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary)
January 2010 … Renovation of Worship Center interior began (completed in several months)
December 2011 … Excavation began on clearing 63 of Riverbend’s 112.5 acres   August 7, 2018 … Christ Theological Seminary begins with 13 students (and 17 auditors)
November 2018 … The church decided to move to governance by a plurality of elders August 8, 2022 … Christ Bible College begins with 5 students (and 4 auditors)         July 2022 … Construction begins on new $1.9 million education wing  
May 2023 … New education wing completed 

Timeline of Teaching Pastors

Nov 1956-May 1957…..Angus Wiggins (6 months)

May 1957-May 1958…..Morris Nowell (1 year)

Oct 1959-Dec 1961….. John S. Gibbs (2 years, 3 months)

May 1962-Aug 1964…..Rudolph Moore (2 years, 6 months)

Sep 1964-Oct 1970…..Paul D. Lack (6 years, 2 months)

Aug 1971-Jul 1978…..Robert A. Allen (7 years)

Jun 1979- Jul 1987…..J. Dixon Free (8 years, 2 months)

Feb 1988-Jun 1989…..Herb Reavis (1 year, 5 months)

Sep 1989-Dec 2014…..Dr. Roy A. Hargrave (25 years, 3 months)

Sep 2015-Mar 2024…....Scott Menez (8 years, 5 months)

Apr 2024-present…....Josh Brown