First Baptist of Berlin celebrates 75 years of preaching and history

Seventy-five years in the ministry is a great testament of faith, and Pastor Tom Nye, along with the entire congregation of First Baptist Church of Berlin, is very excited to be celebrating such an anniversary.
“We are all very thankful that this church has stood for 75 years in faith service to the Lord,” Nye said. “As with most churches, First Baptist has endured some ups and downs and tough times, but God has stood by this church to establish it in righteousness and by His grace we’ll continue serving.”
The church, which was founded in 1934 by Pastor Earl Miller, was actually organized after several residents expressed an interest in Miller starting his own church.
“Pastor Miller had returned to Berlin after attending Bible college to conduct some evangelistic crusades,” Nye said. “There were local Christians in the area that asked him to start a church while he was here. After establishing regular prayer meetings in the beginning, the church was organized, and a small structure was built where the church services could be conducted.”
According to Nye, the Baptist denomination was officially formed in England in the mid-1600s, after the Reformation. At that time, there were two types of Baptists: General Baptists and Particular Baptists. First Baptist Church of Berlin was founded on the principles of the Particular Baptist heritage, which embraces important aspects of Biblical doctrine.
“These principles are stated in our belief in the absolute sovereignty of God and the special and particular relationship which God has with His elect,” Nye explained. “Even though God had chosen them before the foundation of the world, His elect are identified by their personal faith in Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, and that He came to earth for the specific purpose of providing salvation for all who trust in Him.”
The church has had only six pastors since its inception, with the founding pastor (Miller) remaining at the church for 45 years. Nye was called to the church in January of 2005 and will be celebrating his fifth year as pastor in a few months.
Nye said he was saved at the age of 20, out of a lifestyle of sin, when he began reading the Bible for many hours at a time.
“Through the words of Christ and the apostles, I came to understand that God did not view me as highly as I had always viewed myself,” Nye shared. “I realized that I was a sinner and discovered that God would not accept me on the basis of the good things I did, which, in my own mind, ultimately outweighed the bad things that I did. The Scriptures showed me that I was a sinner, lost and alienated from God, without hope. I learned that no man can be saved by doing good works or by being religious or spiritual. I know this sounds disparaging, but no man can be saved until he comes to the end of himself and recognizes his own insufficiency. Conviction of our sins and realizing our own inability is the first indication that God is working to save one’s soul. God does not, however, leave the sinner in despair, but reveals to him the deliverance offered through Christ.”
After his conversion, Nye continued to read his Bible and began attending a local Baptist church, where he found opportunities to serve the Lord. While teaching and preaching in his local church, he felt called by the Lord to preach and enrolled in a Christian university to study the ministry.
“I graduated four and a half years later with a Master of Arts degree in Bible, with a Greek minor from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina,” he said. “My philosophy of ministry is simple. Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. I really believe that Christ is the answer to the human condition.”
Nye said he and his wife, Jacquelyn, have enjoyed the past five years at First Baptist of Berlin and feel blessed to be at the church during this great time of celebration. He invites everyone in the area that has ever been affiliated with the church, as well as newcomers, to make a visit during this very special time and see firsthand why First Baptist remains so strong after 75 years.