History of Olivet Baptist Church Hamden CT

An Affirmation of our FAITH

1. The Word of God
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

2. The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

3. God the Father
We believe in God, the Father, and infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

4. Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.

5. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.

6. Regeneration
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

7. The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.

8 Christian Conduct
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.

9. The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

10. Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has a direct relationship to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation of patronage of the other.

11. Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis.

12. The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.


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	History of Olivet Baptist Church The first attempt to form (what later became Olivet Baptist Church) was made in 1871 when a group of “brethren connected with the Dwight Street branch of the First Baptist Church (of New Haven) indicated that they preferred to form a new mission still further out in the western part of New Haven” rather than joining in the building of Calvary Baptist Church. The second and true beginning was in the fall of 1894 when “a meeting of people interested in the Dixwell Avenue Mission” was called by Deacon CM Parker. On Nov. 12 organization plans were completed and 36 charter members adopted a Covenant, Articles of Faith and By-laws, as well elected officers. In selecting the name “Olivet” it was explained that in Palestine the distance to Mount Olives from Mount Calvary was about the same as the distance from the new church to Calvary Baptist in New Haven. At a meeting January 7, 1895 a “unanimous call” was extended to Allan K. Foster (of Kentucky) to become the first pastor –he was given a salary of $1,000 annually and 4 weeks vacation. In May it was voted to keep the charter list open till July 1^st –bringing the number 52. The Church located at 305 Dixwell Ave., purchased in 1901 was too small because by 1912 membership reached 323 –so on April 12, it was voted to purchase land at 400 Dixwell Ave. In Oct. 1915 the building committee recommended & the church voted to build. The cost included heat, hardwood pews, carpeting, pulpit furniture & stained glass windows –was $24,843. The new church building was dedicated June 25, 1916. By 1920 membership was more than 400 –this was maintained until 1946 –when the post-war building boom, found many members moving to the suburbs and attending other churches. W.H. Bawden, became the second pastor in Dec. 1901 An excerpt from his report to the church annual meeting in Dec. 1903 reads: “…embracing the preaching of the word Sunday morning & evenings, attendance and forwarding the work of the Bible School…making 563 calls during the first year, and 774 calls ending with Dec. 1…” In Dec 1904 the first effort at organizing a Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor resulted in 90 young people attending. Also in 1904 the King’s Daughter was formed for girls ages 14-18 –it had 25 members. Olivet paid off the first mortgage in Feb. 1907 Obviously a lot of meetings, many pastors, hundreds of members and attendees and thousands of dollars given for the Lord’s work –in the years from early 1900’s to 1960, where we pick up the history. At a business meeting October 1960 the church voted to buy land in Hamden (our present location) for $9,000. Later they voted to sell the 400 Dixwell Ave. property. From the time of the last meeting on Dixwell to the availability of this building, the congregation rented space in the Mt. Carmel School for $8.00 a week. Ground breaking in Hamden was April 19, 1962 and dedication of this Church was September 19, 1963 From that time on, Olivet has been a church where many have come to know Christ , and a Church where believers in Christ are encouraged to live and grow in their faith.

	An Affirmation of our FAITH *1. The Word of God* We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. *2. The Trinity* We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. *3. God the Father* We believe in God, the Father, and infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. *4. Jesus Christ* We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. *5. The Holy Spirit* We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. *6. Regeneration* We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. *7. The Church* We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. 8 Christian Conduct We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellowmen; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. *9. The Ordinances* We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. *10. Religious Liberty* We believe that every human being has a direct relationship to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation of patronage of the other. *11. Church Cooperation* We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis. *12. The Last Things* We believe in the personal and visible return and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
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