Our History
Pastor B.B. Garrison,
who made his way from Texas to the great mission
field of California in order to establish a Baptist
Bible Fellowship church “mid-way” between
Imperial Beach and Palm City, founded Midway Baptist
Church in 1947. After Rev. Garrison’s retirement
and a one-year stay by interim pastor Ron Bates,
Jim and Pat Baize arrived at Midway in November
1973.
The rest, as they say,
is history.
Midway experienced dynamic
growth under the leadership of Jim Baize and went
from about 100 in attendance and a budget of $33,000.00
to more than 500 in attendance in just three short
years. The old building located at 612 – 11th
Street in Imperial Beach was quickly outgrown,
so new property was purchased at the current location.
The church moved to 2460 Palm Avenue in South San
Diego in October 1977.
From an initial purchase
of eight acres and an attendance of about 600 at
the time of relocation, Midway has grown to its
current attendance average of almost 1400, has
a budget of over one and one-half million dollars,
and now owns 23.5 prime acres overlooking the Pacific
ocean.
More than 10,000 people
have walked Midway’s aisles for salvation
since the Baizes’ ministry began here. Through
the years thousands of people have gone out from
Midway, leaving this Navy town to serve Christ
in cities and countries around the world.
We give our God and Savior
all the glory for all He has accomplished and continues
to do through Midway Baptist Church. In addition,
Pastor Baize:
• Was saved in
Chicago Heights, Illinois at eight years of age.
• Surrendered to preach in January 1966.
• Married Patricia Goodson (also a graduate of BBC) in June 1969.
• Graduated from Baptist Bible College in May 1970 with a Bachelor of Theology
degree.
• Served as an assistant pastor to Pastor Gary Grey from 1970-1973, first
at Calvary Baptist in Taylorville, IL and then at Park Hill Baptist in Pueblo,
CO.
• Accepted pastorate at Midway Baptist Church, Imperial Beach, California
in November 1973. The church was running about 100 in attendance and had a yearly
budget of about $33,000.00. Currently, Midway’s attendance averages about
1,338 (with a record-high attendance of over 3,600). The yearly budget now stands
at about 2.5 million dollars.
• Relocated the church to new property in 1977. Today the property includes
about 25 acres of a choice hilltop location and features a main auditorium/office
building, a two-story educational wing, an office/nursery area, gymnasium/kitchen/cafeteria/classroom
building, football, baseball and softball fields, plus a recently acquired general-purpose
house that's been transformed into a small chapel, meeting area, and missions
thrift shop. 15 acres currently are undeveloped.
• Founded ministries that include a preschool/day care center and a school
with grades K-12 (ABEKA curriculum) with about 325 enrolled students.
• Was honored by Dr. Jack Hyles with an honorary doctor of divinity degree
in May 1983.
• Was named “Man of the Year” for 1988 by the Imperial Beach
Times (a local newspaper).
• Won Primary Election to become Republican candidate for U.S. Congress,
50th District, General Election, November 1996.
• Was officially commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Paul E. Patton
of the State of Kentucky April 18, 2002.
• Has three children: Shannon, Misty, and Ben; one son-in-law, Shannon's
husband Matt; plus, one grandson, Dakota Luke and one granddaughter, Victoria
Shaye.
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