A Church Born in Wyoming, Growing in Camden
First Pilgrim Baptist Church sits at 27 South Caesar Rodney Avenue in Camden, Delaware, the same road that runs through the neighboring town of Wyoming where the congregation actually began. On the evening of October 20, 1953, a small group from Union Baptist Church gathered with the Reverend Thomas E. Freeman to organize a new Baptist church. Two weeks later, on November 8, Dr. J. H. Williams preached the dedicatory sermon, “A New Experience,” from the third chapter of Joshua. The church purchased an acre of land in 1955, broke ground on a new building on March 10, 1961, and dedicated the finished structure on March 18, 1962.
Pastor Freeman shepherded the work for twenty-four years until his passing on August 11, 1977. The congregation has since been led by the Reverend Phillip H. Blake, Sr. (1978 to 1983), the Reverend Albert L. Walker (1984 to 1987), and Bishop Doreina C. Miles, who was ordained February 7, 1988, installed March 27, 1988, and served for twenty-seven years before retiring. On February 22, 2015, the church called its fifth Senior Pastor, the Reverend Regina L. Bell, and installed her on August 29, 2015.
“We’re Better Together”
First Pilgrim repeats a single phrase: “We’re Better Together.” The motto sums up how the congregation sees itself, a multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, multi-generational community of faith that supports the local, national and global community through a personal relationship with God, life in community with one another, and service to neighbors. The four pillars named in the mission statement are Outreach, Christian Education, Christian Fellowship and Community Service.
The church’s public motto, “Transforming Lives, Making Disciples, One Soul at a Time,” is paired with a four-part strategy called Engage, Equip, Encounter and Elevate. Engage centers on congregational care and deepening family relationships with God. Equip focuses on kingdom discipleship and evangelism. Encounter extends the church’s reach through outreach and partnerships, locally, nationally and globally. Elevate carries the gospel through every available communication channel, including the pastor’s weekly social-media devotionals.
What First Pilgrim Believes
The church’s Articles of Faith describe one true, holy God, eternally existing in three equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Old and New Testaments, in their original manuscripts, are held to be infallible and inerrant, the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. Salvation is described as a work of God’s free grace, received through repentance and faith, not by human effort.
Members affirm that Jesus Christ, the eternal second person of the Trinity, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived in perfect obedience, died on the cross as a substitute for sinners, rose again, ascended to the right hand of the Father and will return personally and visibly to fulfill history and God’s eternal plan. The Holy Spirit is confessed as the one who enlightens, renews and indwells every believer, producing Christ-like character and spiritual gifts for building up the church. Baptism is taught as an outward expression of an inward commitment, taken as a personal decision once a new believer understands what it means to follow Christ. Communion is observed regularly with bread and grape juice, in remembrance of the Savior’s sacrifice. The church also affirms the five-fold ministries described in Ephesians, namely apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, as gifts given to equip believers for service.
Sunday Morning at FPBC
Worship and Sunday School share the same start time. Both meet at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings, with the order of the day usually giving families a chance to attend their adult or children’s classes before moving into the sanctuary for the main service. The address is 27 South Caesar Rodney Avenue, Camden, Delaware 19934, and the church phone is (302) 697-2143. Those driving in are pointed to the same address for GPS, also known as “6 Miles Lane” alongside the Caesar Rodney Avenue number.
Wednesdays and a Thursday Word of Encouragement
On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m., the church opens its Evening Prayer Watch to anyone who wants to join, a dedicated hour set aside for prayer. Then, every Thursday at 11:30 a.m., the pastor shares a short devotional on social media, what she calls a “nugget of encouragement from the word of God,” extending the church’s reach well beyond central Delaware.
Kingdom Groups and Growth Track
First Pilgrim organizes its adult community life around Kingdom Groups, the church’s name for small groups that meet on varying days and times throughout the week. Members eat, pray, study and apply Scripture together and are encouraged to live out the congregation’s mission and vision in those settings. A four-step Growth Track is offered to newcomers, designed to introduce them to the church, its values and their own God-given purpose, with the goals of knowing God, finding freedom, discovering purpose and making a difference.
Children, Youth, Women and Scholarship
The church maintains an active Youth Department and has a history of children’s ministry, an area Pastor Bell personally served in before becoming senior pastor. She is also the founder of “Arise Women’s Quarterly,” a Delaware-wide ministry for women that focuses on strengthening faith, purpose and influence. Each year, First Pilgrim awards two $600 scholarships to full-time undergraduate students through a fund endowed by members of the congregation, with applications opening January 1 and closing at midnight on April 30.
Facility Rental and Community Resources
First Pilgrim opens its doors to the wider community for weddings, conferences, graduation ceremonies, banquets and other events. Inquiries are handled through a Facility Request Form, with the church noting that an event professional will follow up. First Pilgrim’s Community Resources includes the Central Worship Center of Delaware, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Dover & Vicinity, the City of Dover, Delaware State Jobs and the social-services organization COPE, Inc.
Giving
Beyond the offering collected during Sunday worship, First Pilgrim accepts donations through the CashApp mobile app sent to $FirstpilgrimBC and through the Givelify app, as well as by mail to the church’s Camden Wyoming post office box. Each of those channels supports the congregation’s mission and vision.
Meet the Pastor
The Reverend Regina L. Bell, known to her congregation as Pastor Regina, brings more than twenty-two years of ministry experience and more than twenty-five years in health and human services to her role. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, and a veteran of the United States Air Force, she holds both an undergraduate degree and a Master of Ministry from Christian World College of Theology, Camden Extension, where she also serves as an adjunct instructor. Before her call as senior pastor, she served First Pilgrim for eight years as Assistant Pastor to Bishop Doreina Miles, and earlier served as a youth pastor, church administrator and children’s pastor. She and her husband, Dr. Cardell Bell, have three adult children and seven grandchildren. Pastor Bell is a member of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Dover & Vicinity and serves on the boards of Executive Women International, COPE, Inc. and Covenant Sisters, Inc. Her goal for First Pilgrim is simple: a church for the community where all are welcome.