From a Garage on Trinklein Road to a Church on Gratiot
Community Baptist Church began on March 23, 1959, when four men in the Shields area had a vision for a fundamental, Bible-believing church for Saginaw. They met, prayed, waited for the Lord's leading, and started holding services in the home of Bob Barrigar while they searched for land. None of the properties they looked at opened up, so the first minister incorporated Community Baptist Church with the State of Michigan on September 26, 1961. The congregation moved from the garage of a house on Trinklein Road to a small house at 8331 Gratiot Road that was renovated into a church.
Many pastors shepherded CBC between 1966 and 1978. In August of 1978, Pastor Douglas Jackson accepted the call as head pastor, and under his ministry the church has grown in attendance and finances, with steady improvements to the facilities and a continual vision for souls. Dr. Jackson has now pastored the church for more than four decades. The congregation is large enough to offer a wide variety of ministries and small enough that visitors are met at the door by a friendly face.
Faithful to God, Friendly to You
Community Baptist Church describes itself in two lines: Faithful to God. Friendly to You. The church's stated purpose is to encourage people to develop a heart for God through the preaching of His Word and to bring them into a loving church family. Members describe the building as a place where believers can put into practice what they learn from Scripture and use their talents to further the cause of Christ.
Worship is traditional. Musicians serve through the choir, orchestra, and special music every Sunday. The preaching style of Pastor Jackson is described as enthusiastic and dynamic, used by God to challenge all ages. The services focus on the preaching of God's Word and hearing those using their gifts for His glory.
Sunday at CBC: Bible Study, Morning Worship, and Evening Service
Sunday is a full day at Community Baptist. The doors open at 10:00 a.m. for an hour of Sunday School and Bible Study. Adults gather in graded classes, including classes taught by Pastor Jackson for Young Married Couples and by Mrs. Jackson for women, with coffee available on the way to class.
At 11:00 a.m. the Morning Service begins, featuring congregational singing led by the choir, special music from the orchestra and soloists, and a sermon from Pastor Jackson. Sunday School and Junior Church for children ages four through fifth grade run alongside the adult service. At 6:00 p.m. the Evening Service gathers the church family again for another hour of preaching and music.
Visitors can plan ahead with the online visit page, and services are livestreamed on YouTube at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each Sunday, so anyone can follow along from the Saginaw area or beyond. Sermon audio is also available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor.
Wednesday Night: Soul Winning, Mid-Week Service, and Youth
Wednesday is the church's outreach and discipleship night. At 6:00 p.m. the staff and members of CBC head out soul-winning, going door to door throughout the Saginaw area. The church teaches that the obligation of the saved is to witness by life and word to the truths of Scripture.
At 7:00 p.m. everyone reconvenes in the auditorium for the Mid-Week Service, a preaching and prayer gathering that anchors the middle of the week. The same hour also opens up the youth and children's programs. Teen Time in the Bible gathers students in sixth through twelfth grade, and Junior Bible Club is open to children from age four through fifth grade.
Thursday Mornings in the Community
On Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. the church heads back out for another round of soul-winning in the Saginaw area. The twice-weekly outreach is one of the defining rhythms of life at CBC.
Pastor Jackson and the Pastoral Staff
Dr. Douglas R. Jackson has been Senior Pastor of Community Baptist Church since 1978. He graduated in the first four-year class of Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1972. He serves on the boards of Maranatha Baptist University, the Michigan Association of Christian Schools, Baptist World Missions, Camp CoBeAc, and the Independent Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Michigan. His wife Kathy teaches Sunday School, counsels ladies, teaches art at Community Baptist Christian School, and speaks at ladies' conferences. Their family includes adult children and five grandchildren.
Pastor Justin Risinger joined CBC in August 2019 after graduating from Ambassador Baptist College. He serves as Assistant Pastor, Music Pastor, and Principal of Community Baptist Christian School, where he also teaches history.
Pastor Jordan Carpenter joined CBC in February 2024 after graduating from Pensacola Christian College in 2017. He leads the teen youth group, teaches at CBCS, and coaches JV basketball.
Pastor Scotty Dennis joined CBC in June 2024 after graduating from West Coast Baptist College with a degree in Evangelism. He serves as Children's Pastor and teaches Bible and Speech at CBCS.
Daniel Bonner serves as an assistant pastor at CBC and Principal at CBCS.
Community Baptist Christian School
Community Baptist Christian School was founded in 1981 by Pastor Douglas Jackson as a ministry of Community Baptist Church. The school provides an education strong in academics while seeking to reinforce Christian principles within each student and to encourage a lifelong commitment to serve Christ in every area of life, including the local church. The school is housed at the church campus on Gratiot Road and shares staff with the church, including Pastor Risinger and Pastor Bonner in its administration.
Children's Ministries from Nursery through Fifth Grade
Children are intentionally cared for at every service. Nurseries are available during every service for babies and toddlers up to three years of age, staffed by experienced workers and caring mothers.
For children ages four through fifth grade, the church offers Sunday School at 10:00 a.m., Junior Church during the 11:00 a.m. Morning Service, and Junior Bible Club on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Children's Ministry uses preaching, object lessons, puppets, and games. Each summer and winter the children are invited to attend Camp CoBeAc, the Christian camp where Pastor Scott and his wife enjoy helping children grow in faith.
Youth Group for Sixth Through Twelfth Grade
The youth ministry offers Sunday School classes at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday Teen Challenge at 7:00 p.m. Students hear God's Word taught straight from the Bible, then enjoy activities such as afterglows, canoe trips, bowling, progressive dinners, corn mazes, and summer camp. The youth ministry has its own page.
College & Career Young Adults
Young adults meet for practical Bible study during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday service and have opportunities to serve in different ministries around the church. The group also attends the Young Adults Retreat at Camp CoBeAc and takes part in activities throughout the year.
Prime Timers and Sports Leagues
Prime Timers is an active ministry for adults ages 60 and up, with a Bible study every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. alongside the regular Sunday School hour. Adult fellowship extends onto the courts and fields as well, with a Cornhole League, Adult Volleyball, Men's Golf League, Pickle Ball, and Men's Basketball giving members regular ways to spend time together.
Bus and Van Ministry
Community Baptist runs a Bus and Van Ministry that brings people to church who need them. Route 1 covers Merrill, St. Charles, and Hemlock in the surrounding area; Route 2 serves Saginaw. Riders can call the church office at (989) 781-2340 to arrange a ride.
What We Believe
Community Baptist Church holds to a detailed doctrinal statement covering the Holy Scriptures, the Godhead, the Person and Work of Christ, the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, the depravity of man, salvation by grace through faith, the eternal security of believers, the two natures of the believer, biblical separation, the mission of the saved, ministry and the scriptural gifts, the church, dispensationalism, the personality of Satan, the Second Advent of Christ, the eternal state, the Lord's Supper, and water baptism by immersion for believers. The church teaches a personal, imminent, pre-tribulation, pre-millennial return of Christ, and rejects the modern practice of speaking in tongues, holding that sign gifts ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed.
Plan Your Visit
The church sits at 8331 Gratiot Road, Saginaw, across the street from Meijer. Visitors are greeted at the door and helped to the right classroom or service. Coffee is served during the Sunday School hour, and members describe a warm, unpretentious welcome. The church maintains a Plan Your Visit page, an I'm New page that explains what to expect, and a Prayer Requests page for anyone who would like the staff to pray for them.
Stay Connected
Weekly sermons are uploaded as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor, and services are livestreamed on YouTube. The church calendar is embedded from Google Calendar, the bulletin is published online, and giving is available through PayPal. The church can be reached at communitybaptist@yahoo.com or (989) 781-2340, and updates are posted on the CBC Saginaw Facebook page.