We are Sooke Baptist
a church who loves and follows Jesus Christ
Our Mission: we exist to be God’s agents of a spiritual awakening in Sooke.
We will be a church who prays, motivated by the realities of this broken world and the unseen realities of heaven and hell. We will be well-equipped and grounded, in the truth of Scripture; and in the reality and ways of God’s Spirit. We will be a center of radical compassion and proclamation focused on meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people.
Our Vision: we believe the lives of people, families, and our community will be transformed as they meet, trust in and become passionate followers of Jesus
Our Guiding Principles (Values)
Because we are a community of servant leaders through whom God is changing the world, we will:
(a) step into opportunities Jesus places before us, no matter how big. We are confident that God still delights to do the impossible through unlikely means and people.
(b) be generous, because we are conduits through whom Jesus extends his grace. We believe it is more blessed to give than to receive.
(c) be a relationally sticky church.
(d) give opportunity for people to serve. We will also provide them with the help and encouragement they need in order to serve well.
(f) be a teachable people, eager to learn.
(g) be a humble people, full of God and not ourselves.
(h) be flexible and adaptable.
(i) be a joyful people.
Our Core Encompassing Activities are:
* worship – that is whole-hearted and God focused
* preaching and teaching – that is Bible-centered and enthusiastic
* prayer – that is persistent and faith filled
* small groups – that are highly relational and character building
* service and witness – that is engaging and grace-saturated
History
Sooke Baptist Church started as a daughter work of Saanich Baptist Church under Pastor Alex Shook and was financially supported by Central Baptist Church, Victoria, and the Home Mission Board of the Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches of BC.
Stephen and Dee Johnson, along with their two children, Nathan and Amy, arrived to assist the work and the first service of Sooke Baptist Church was held in the gymnasium of Sooke Elementary School on September 20, 1981.
On December 21. 1983 an organizational meeting was held to officially establish Sooke Baptist Church and a Recognition Council of delegates from sister Fellowship Baptist churches was held on March 31, 1984. In the summer of 1984 a piece of property was purchased from Grace Armstrong at 2056 Church Road. Construction began in October for a used, portable church building that came from Cranbrook. The first service was held in the new building on September 29, 1985. In May, 1987 the work ceased to be a Home Mission work of the BC Fellowship by becoming financially self-supporting.
There have been three pastors since Pastor Johnson. Norm Harrison started his ministry in September 1989; Dwight Geiger in February, 1995 and Rick Eby in September 2014. In 2001 the church was able to purchase property for future expansion at 7110 West Coast Road. The groundbreaking service was held on September 15, 2002 and the church in April 2003 moved into its present location.
Statement of Faith
Please see the attached for our statement of faith and beliefs.