OUR HISTORY

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WHO ARE WE?

Orangeburg Avenue Baptist Church is a multigenerational, Bible-believing church in Modesto, CA. While we are a Southern Baptist church, we welcome all through our doors. Our mission is: “In Modesto, for Modesto, for Jesus.”

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HOW IS OABC DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CHURCHES?

Orangeburg has been in Modesto since 1954. We have softer music and a smaller crowd than most of the churches down the road, but we like to think we have the friendliest church in the city. One of the best things about our church is that we’re an all-generations community. Whoever you are and however old you are, there’s a place for you here. 

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WHO IS THE PASTOR?

Brad Swartz is the Lead Pastor of OABC. Brad’s been honored to serve as a pastor at a number of churches over the years, most recently in Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife, Cristy, have two beautiful daughters with a third girl on the way. Brad received his undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University and his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Our Leaders
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OUR HISTORY

In a regular business meeting on May 12, 1954, the First Southern Baptist Church of Modesto, CA voted to grant letters to 35 members to begin the Orangeburg Baptist Mission.  The Mission was to become Orangeburg Avenue Baptist Church.

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The first pastor, Rev. Afton Bailey, served from 1954-57.  He was followed by Rev. Quincy Phipps, 1957-62, Rev. Floyd Pittman, 1962-65, Rev. Marshall McGuire, 1965-67, Rev. Gary Christopherson, 1967-72, Rev. Calvin Hogue, 1973-76, Rev. Jim Silvers, 1977-82, Rev. Norman Ford, 1983-85, Rev. Dennis George, 1985-91, Rev. Guy Grimes, 1992-98, and Rev. John Sherwood, 1999-2000, Rev. Stuart McNarry, 2002-2020, Rev. Brad Swartz 2021.

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It was while Rev. McGuire was pastor that Orangeburg and First Southern voted to merge and locate on the Orangeburg Avenue site.  Rev. Christopherson, then pastor of First Southern, became the senior pastor. The first main auditorium built in 1955 had a seating capacity of approximately 250 people.

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The present auditorium was dedicated October 5, 1980 and has a seating capacity of approximately 750 people.  Since then, multiple upgrades have been carried out in all the buildings.