Previously serving as a missionary in Northern Canada, Pastor Lee Pickett joined Fellowship Baptist Church to serve as pastor in 2020.
Church History
In the early 1960's Mr. Russell Phelps, of Phelps Corp. asked God for a fundamental Bible believing church for Watertown. In August of 1966 his prayer began to be answered when pastor James Switzer and his family moved to Watertown. Initially, Bible classes were held in the Switzer home on Thursday evening. In September of 1967 an ice cream shoppe on Arsenal Street was rented where a small group (less than 20 people) started meeting there. A week prior to the first Sunday service in the storefront, seventeen Pastors came to Watertown and passed out 9,239 flyers door-to-door. Fellowship Baptist Church was officially founded in 1968 under Pastor Switzer's leadership. Also in 1968, a 3 acre lot was purchased to the west of Watertown on NYS Route 3 (also known as Arsenal St. Road). (This location is the current location of the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store.) The church grew at this location and had a Christian school from the early 1970's through the early 1990's. From 1968 until 1996 the church had 6 different Senior Pastors. In 1996, Pastor Reff was installed as our Pastor. As the church grew and aged it became apparent that larger facilities and handicapped accessibility would enhance the church's ministry. In 2003, we learned that the Free Methodist Church, which was a mile west of us, was disbanding and were looking to sell their property. They had a bigger building that was all one level, a parsonage on site and a six acre lot. In 2004, the church voted to buy this property and to sell the original property and the parsonage we currently owned. Within a few years and God's provision, we were able to build an addition to this building.
1968
Fellowship Baptist Church was officially founded. Pastor James Switzer was called to serve as the first pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church. The church constitution written and approved by membership. The church building construction started.
1971
Pastor George Chadwick was called to serve as the second pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church.
1974
Watertown Christian Academy began it's school ministry. Edward Karakain served as the academy's first principal.
1975
Pastor Robert Parker was called to serve as the third pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church.
1978
Pastor Wayne Morris was called to serve as the fourth pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church
1987
Pastor Harold Crego became the second principal of Watertown Christian Academy.
1989
Pastor Joseph Simpson was called to serve as the fifth pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church. David Burrows became the third principal of Watertown Christian Academy.
1990
Darren Waterbury became the fourth principal of Watertown Christian Academy.
1992
Pastor Richard Dietrich was called to serve as the sixth pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church.
1996
Pastor Reff was called to serve as the seventh pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church. He served for 23 years before going home to be with the Lord.
2004
New property was purchased and the church moved to its current location.
2020
Pastor Lee Pickett was called to serve as the eighth pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church.