In the Beginning

In 1991, a small group of faithful believers who made up Emmanuel Baptist Church were struggling to keep the doors open. Shortly after, Emmanuel Baptist closed its doors and sold the property. 

Heritage Baptist Church of Lakeland, Florida supplied a young pastor named Tim Conboy to lead the new ministry.  The small group chose a new name, Cornerstone Baptist Church.  A new work had begun and the miracles that God would do in and through Cornerstone Baptist were just beginning. 

The search began for a new place of worship.  A community hall was found in Kathleen, Florida for one year.  The meeting room of the facility, complete with a small piano and dozens of folding chairs, became the sanctuary.  The other rooms, including the kitchen, hallways, and front porch, were turned into Sunday school rooms.  Though the group originally began with a handful of people, Cornerstone had grown to over 40 people in just a few months. 

Eight months later, it was time for them to move.  With only 24 hours to spare, God provided a three bedroom, two bath house on Fairlane Drive for use as long as they needed…free of charge!  The garage was quickly made into a sanctuary that included a donated piano and organ, a row of donated pews, and a pulpit.  The back porch was claimed by the teens for Sunday and Wednesday programs.  By the end of Cornerstone’s third year of existence, they were averaging eighty-five in attendance on Sunday mornings. 

Here We Grow Again!

Over the next 2 years, God continued to grow and strengthen Cornerstone.  It soon became obvious that “the glorified garage” had been pushed to its limits and that it was time to move on.  A five-acre parcel of land was spotted on Green Road in Lakeland.  The price was right.  Having once served as a fish farm, this land was covered with muck filled ponds.  It would need a miracle from God to ever be a place to build a church.  Through many exciting answers to prayer, the believers at Cornerstone saw the raising of a wonderful building in which they could worship. 

Within 6 months, God had filled the building with people then construction started on the education and administration building.  It was only a few short years later and God began pushing the walls again.  Many a Sunday the choir remained on the platform to conserve space so that others would have a place to sit.  During this time, God allowed Cornerstone to plant Open Door Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida, and a now mature and independent work.  It was not long before Cornerstone realized that the Lord was leading them to build yet again. 

After considering a new sanctuary initially, God directed the building of a multi-purpose building with classrooms, a kitchen, and a large room that would served as both a gym and sanctuary.  God miraculously provided the funds to allow the work to begin on the new building.  One year later, the Lord raised the building that now serves our church.  In the last few years, hundreds of people have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.  Families have been restored and rebuilt, and lives have been changed for the glory of God.  Many people have gone on from this ministry to serve the Lord in different capacities all around the world.  God has certainly done a marvelous work here at Cornerstone. 

A Church with a Vision

God continues to work in mighty ways at Cornerstone Baptist Church.  Each week we see the powerful hand of God moving in our midst as He changes the hearts and lives of people.  He has given us a vision to see the people in our community and around the world come to Christ.  God has given us a vision to disciple and continue to build up one another.  We are excited to be used of the Lord and to see His evident hand of power on this ministry.  God’s people have only begun to see what God is going to do through Cornerstone Baptist Church here in Central Florida and around the world.  To God be the glory!  Great things He has done!