Our Church History

Dr. Garrison - Chapter 1

The history of Judson Baptist Church shows evidence of a people with a commitment to Jesus Christ, His Church and His Cause! Our beginning can be traced to a small group of citizens who had a desire to establish a ministry that worships the Lord Jesus Christ in the community of Carson, California. Therefore, in the early 1950’s, the group began meeting in their homes to fellowship and worship. Minister D. S. Bennett, under the auspices of the American Baptist Los Angeles City Mission Society (LACMS), sensed the ministerial need of the people and gave leadership to the group. The church moved its worship services to the Towne Avenue Elementary School where it received encouraging prayers and assistance from various men of God, most notably a personal visit from Evangelist Billy Graham!

Under the assistance and guidance of LACMS, a newly constructed building was erected at 18101 South Avalon Boulevard, Carson, CA. This site became Judson’s first home andon June 26, 1953, the church was officially incorporated and named in honor of the great missionary Adoniram Judson.

Dr. Paul Garrison, along with his wife Jeannine, served as the first official Pastor of Judson Baptist Church of Carson for approximately four andone-half years. Dr. Garrison was a graduate of Eastern Baptist Seminary. He also earned degrees in Sociology and Psychology at the University of Redlands. Upon the passing of Dr. Garrison, Minister Bernie Yorton served as interim pastor.

Dr. Ford - Chapter 2

On December 6, 1970, Dr. James Luther Ford, Jr., was installed as the second pastor of Judson Baptist Church of Carson.Dr. Ford’s academic training and qualifications for the ministry included degrees from Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Pacific Christian College, and Fuller Theological Seminary. Over the next twenty years, our church outgrew the capacity to adequately accommodate worshipers and thus, an effort to acquire a larger space became necessary.

In early 1983, Avalon Village Baptist Church (formerly known as Carson First Baptist Church) located at 451 East 223 Street, Carson, CA became available.Negotiations began immediately and the site was purchased. On June 26, 1983, Judson relocated to her new home! The cornerstone was set on Sunday, September 29, 1985, with the unveiling of the dedicatory plaque. Our new campus included a Christian Day School and enough space to share our building with Hispanic and Filipino Ministries.

Dr. Baylor - Chapter 3

On December 24, 1996, after 27 years of service, Dr. James Ford was called home to be with the LORD. For the next two years, Judson remained without a Shepherd. After a season of persistent prayer, God answered and blessed us with an anointed man of God. In May 1998, Dr. Johnny V. Baylor became the third pastor of Judson Baptist Church of Carson. His preaching and teaching ministry was internationally reknown.He was a global figure that preached all over the world!

The Judson church family grew spiritually and numerically under Dr. Baylor’s leadership. Judson’s outreach ministries included a Praise-in-the-Park Worship Service and Resurrection Worship Services that were held at the Carson Community Center as well as Nursing Home visitations. Under Dr. Baylor’s leadership, the Christian Education Ministry was expanded to include the Children’s Church Ministry, Leadership Training, Ministerial Training, a YouthMinister, Speak Life Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Bible Study; two pastoral Bible Studies, diverse Bible enrichment classes (Panning for Gold), workshops for spiritual growth and bi-annual Spiritual Emphasis services for church renewal. The church upgraded its media equipment to state-of-the-art sound systems, cameras, and video screens. Other ministries established under Dr. Baylor’s leadership include the Music Ministry (Voices of Praise) with the addition of a full-time Director of Music and staff, Youth Music Ministry (Vision), Vessels of Praise Liturgical Dance Ministry, Sign Ministry for the hearing impaired (Hands of Grace), Decision Counselors, Senior Support Ministry, Parking & Security, Prison and Culinary Ministries. A 25-passenger bus and two 14-passenger vans were acquired to meet the transportation needs of those who do not drive. Additionally, worshipers enjoyed a beautifully renovatedand decorated sanctuary and fellowship hall surrounded by the manicured church grounds.Dr. Baylor was partnered in ministry by his capable companion Dr. Sarai Baylor who served in various leadership capacities.

The Judson family was saddened on Resurrection Sunday, April 5, 2020 when pastor, leader and visionary, Dr. Johnny Verne Baylor went home to be with his Lord, Jesus Christ. Our grief was further exasperated by the worldwide Pandemic of 2020 which prevented us from gathering in mass to celebrate hislife and legacy. However, the finger prints of this powerful man of God is all over Judson Baptist Church.His memory and ministry shall forever live on through us!

Rev Brown - Chapter 4

Because Judson is built on the Rock of the person and proclamation of Jesus Christ, we are never left without a successor or success! When Dr. Baylor realized that his time on earth was short, God put in his heart the man who would follow him as Judson’s next Pastor. On Friday, April 3, 2020, while on his deathbed, Dr. Johnny V. Baylor laid his hands on the head of Rev. Terry Lovell Brown, Sr. and bestowed upon him the Pastoral Mantle to lead Judson Baptist Church of Carson as her fourth Pastor. Pastor Brownhad been asked of Baylor to do much of the preaching during Dr. Baylor’s most critical time of illness. Although the majority of the Judson family could only virtually attend worship services due to the Pandemic of 2020, the Word of God sustained the fellowship. Judson remained a loving, living and giving people!
Pastor Brown was officially installed on Sunday, October 25, 2020 and has continued to lead with passion. He and his wife, Lady Karen Annette have faithfully served JBCC, in addition to serving the Liberty Baptist Church of Los Angeles. God has continued to show Himself faithful! Upon being installed in October, the very next month a water heater exploded, resulting in the flooding of our beautiful sanctuary and Administrative Offices. Pastor Brown led the church in repairing, remodeling and reinvigorating the worship center with new carpet, updated media equipment and new office furniture. Several ministry initiatives have been implemented: T.E.A.M. Ministry (a church-wide accountability system), The MMVMNT (Men’s Empowerment Network) among others. As a response to the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic, Pastor Brown brought Vaccination Station to the JBCC campus and community to ensure all would be protected. A Read Through the Bible Program was initiated to ignite a practice of reading God’s Word daily. Finally, after over 13 months of quarantine and absence from the sanctuary, Pastor Brown led the people back into the church edifices on Resurrection Sunday with a Spirit-Filled worship service!
Pastor Brown’s vision encompasses a holistic Gospel that empowers the whole man who will impact the whole community! He realizes that he stands on the shoulders and in the shoes of his three great predecessors and is determined to build on the foundation that has already been laid!

The Best is Yet to Come!