Hunter Street Baptist Church
Encyclopedia
Hunter Street Baptist Church (established 1907) is a Southern Baptist
megachurch
located in Hoover
, Alabama
a suburb of Birmingham
.
As of 2007, the church has a membership of approximately 6,200, making it one of the largest churches in the state.
Dr. Buddy Gray is the senior pastor, having served since 1986. Gray previously served as the church's youth pastor from 1978-1980 while he was a student at Samford University
. Hunter Street is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
, and is a member of the Birmingham Baptist Association.
, then beginning in 1967 on WBMG-TV (now WIAT
). This broadcast ministry continued through 1972. A Family Life Center, with a gymnasium and game room, was constructed in 1974.
, Homewood
and Forestdale
, as well as the change in the socio-economic makeup of the neighborhood surrounding Hunter Street. This decline in attendance continued into the 1980s. Average weekly attendance, which had peaked at around 1500, had fallen to around 225. By 1985, the majority of those people attending Hunter Street were retired persons in their 70s and 80s. In 1987, the church voted to sell its facilities to Sardis Baptist Church, a predominantly African American congregation, and relocate to the rapidly growing suburb of Hoover. Hunter Street met for the last time at its 4th Court location in September, 1987.
in Hoover. Almost immediately after beginning its ministry in Hoover, the church began to experience numerical growth. The church had purchased property for a new permanent location on Alabama State Route 150, but was waiting for construction to be finished. On Easter
Sunday, 1989, the congregation dedicated its new facilities, which included a 550-seat sanctuary, educational space and a choir
rehearsal room.
Almost immediately, the church experienced tremendous growth. Six months after dedicating the new facilities, an additional worship service was added to accommodate the growing number of people attending services. More Sunday School
classrooms were built in 1990. Additional worship services and Sunday school hours were added in 1991 and 1992; still, the church was bursting at the seams. In 1992, the church voted to purchase additional property contiguous with the property it already owned, extending the church property line to Mars Hill Road. The church successfully petitioned the City of Hoover to rename Mars Hill Road as Hunter Street. This meant that for the first time in 65 years, Hunter Street Baptist Church was located on or near Hunter Street.
to around 1950. Additional construction projects have included a recreation center built in 1997 called the R.O.C (Recreation Outreach Center), a building for high school
and junior high student worship and education called the 24:7 Building in 2002 later renamed the Hunter Street Student Building in 2007 to better communicate the church's desire for unity. The church dedicated a new children's education center in 2003. In early 2006, the church began simulcast
ing the 9:30 A.M. worship service to the former sanctuary and to the youth building, making room for additional worshippers in the main worship center. Late in 2007, the 9:30 A.M. was named Chapel Worship and hosts students from middle school to college.
The church celebrated its centennial in 2007. Later that year, the congregation celebrated its twentieth anniversary of ministry in Hoover.
The music ministry of the church has released four CD's
since 1996: Jesus Changed My World (1996), Consider the Cross (2003), How Great: Live Worship at Hunter Street (2005), and S.D.G.
(2008). The church's adult choir
and orchestra led in worship at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention
in Louisville, Kentucky
on June 23 and 24, 2009.
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
located in Hoover
Hoover, Alabama
Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
a suburb of Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.
As of 2007, the church has a membership of approximately 6,200, making it one of the largest churches in the state.
Dr. Buddy Gray is the senior pastor, having served since 1986. Gray previously served as the church's youth pastor from 1978-1980 while he was a student at Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
. Hunter Street is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
, and is a member of the Birmingham Baptist Association.
Beginnings
The church was established in 1907. It was originally located in the western section of Birmingham, some twenty miles (32 km) from its current location. The original meeting location was in the Compton Hill community, now called Fairview. The church originally met in various temporary locations, including a school and several private homes. The first permanent house of worship for this congregation was built in 1908 at the intersection of Hayes Avenue and Hunter Street (now Eufaula Avenue and 24th Street). They remained in this location until December 1928, when they moved to a larger facility at the corner of 17th Street and 4th Court West, approximately 1/3-mile from the previous location. This new building included a sanctuary that seated over 700, as well as numerous Sunday School classrooms. Numerical growth occurred in the church throughout the next several decades, making Hunter Street one of the largest Baptist churches in Birmingham, if not all of Alabama. A chapel and additional educational space was constructed across the street from the newer location in 1952, and in 1958, a new 1800-seat sanctuary was dedicated. This sanctuary was constructed adjoining the 1952 building. During the 1960s, the church broadcast its Sunday morning worship service live, first on radio on WAQY 1220WAYE
WAYE is a radio station broadcasting a Religious radio format. Licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, USA, the station serves the Birmingham. The station is currently owned by Christian Broadcasting of Birmingham, Inc. and features programing from Westwood One.The station signed on in 1949 using the...
, then beginning in 1967 on WBMG-TV (now WIAT
WIAT
WIAT, virtual channel 42, is the CBS-affiliated television station in the Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston/Gadsden, Alabama television market. Licensed to Birmingham, it broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 30, although through the use of PSIP, the station's virtual channel number is...
). This broadcast ministry continued through 1972. A Family Life Center, with a gymnasium and game room, was constructed in 1974.
1960s — 1980s
Membership and attendance at Hunter Street began to decline in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was due to several factors, including the growth of Birmingham suburbs such as Vestavia HillsVestavia Hills, Alabama
Vestavia Hills is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a suburb of the city of Birmingham.-History:Vestavia Hills is named for the estate of former Birmingham mayor George B. Ward. It was situated on the crest of Shades Mountain in what is now the northern...
, Homewood
Homewood, Alabama
Homewood is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, located on the other side of Red Mountain due south of the city center. It has one of the highest population densities in Alabama. As of 2009 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the...
and Forestdale
Forestdale, Alabama
Forestdale is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Birmingham, Alabama, United States north of Ensley. At the 2000 census the population was 10,509.-Geography:Forestdale is located at .According to the U.S...
, as well as the change in the socio-economic makeup of the neighborhood surrounding Hunter Street. This decline in attendance continued into the 1980s. Average weekly attendance, which had peaked at around 1500, had fallen to around 225. By 1985, the majority of those people attending Hunter Street were retired persons in their 70s and 80s. In 1987, the church voted to sell its facilities to Sardis Baptist Church, a predominantly African American congregation, and relocate to the rapidly growing suburb of Hoover. Hunter Street met for the last time at its 4th Court location in September, 1987.
Move to suburbs
Beginning in September 1987, and for the next 18 months, Hunter Street held its weekly services at the facilities of a Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
in Hoover. Almost immediately after beginning its ministry in Hoover, the church began to experience numerical growth. The church had purchased property for a new permanent location on Alabama State Route 150, but was waiting for construction to be finished. On Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
Sunday, 1989, the congregation dedicated its new facilities, which included a 550-seat sanctuary, educational space and a choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
rehearsal room.
Almost immediately, the church experienced tremendous growth. Six months after dedicating the new facilities, an additional worship service was added to accommodate the growing number of people attending services. More Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
classrooms were built in 1990. Additional worship services and Sunday school hours were added in 1991 and 1992; still, the church was bursting at the seams. In 1992, the church voted to purchase additional property contiguous with the property it already owned, extending the church property line to Mars Hill Road. The church successfully petitioned the City of Hoover to rename Mars Hill Road as Hunter Street. This meant that for the first time in 65 years, Hunter Street Baptist Church was located on or near Hunter Street.
1990s through today
On January 16, 1994, Hunter Street Baptist Church dedicated a new 1600-seat worship center, as well as more Sunday School classroom space and a new music suite. The worship center was renovated and expanded in 2000, bringing the seating capacitySeating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
to around 1950. Additional construction projects have included a recreation center built in 1997 called the R.O.C (Recreation Outreach Center), a building for high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and junior high student worship and education called the 24:7 Building in 2002 later renamed the Hunter Street Student Building in 2007 to better communicate the church's desire for unity. The church dedicated a new children's education center in 2003. In early 2006, the church began simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ing the 9:30 A.M. worship service to the former sanctuary and to the youth building, making room for additional worshippers in the main worship center. Late in 2007, the 9:30 A.M. was named Chapel Worship and hosts students from middle school to college.
The church celebrated its centennial in 2007. Later that year, the congregation celebrated its twentieth anniversary of ministry in Hoover.
The music ministry of the church has released four CD's
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
since 1996: Jesus Changed My World (1996), Consider the Cross (2003), How Great: Live Worship at Hunter Street (2005), and S.D.G.
Soli Deo gloria
Soli Deo gloria is one of the five solas propounded to summarise the Reformers' basic beliefs during the Protestant Reformation; it is a Latin term for Glory to God alone....
(2008). The church's adult choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and orchestra led in worship at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
on June 23 and 24, 2009.