Leonardtown Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist Church located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. It's our aim to glorify God by seeking the Lord in worship, studying the Word together, serving the body of Christ, and sharing Christ with the world.
We gladly cooperate with the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist Convention of Maryland & Delaware, and the Potomac Baptist Association.
Values
As a church of disciples who make disciples, the qualities exhibited by Jesus shall be integral to all we endeavor.
Therefore, We Value:
For truth in knowledge and understanding of God and His will. God’s word illuminates our walk toward righteousness, so we may be complete and equipped for every good work.
John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 15:4, Psalm 119:11, 2 Peter 1:16-21
For our total reliance on God and a constant connection to Him. The priority of prayer will undergird our every effort.
1 Timothy 2:8, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2-3a, John 15:5-8, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17
For obedience to Christ’s command to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord. As ambassadors of Christ, we extend the grace of God to all the world.
1 Corinthians 13:13, John 13:34, Matthew 5:44,46, 1 John 4:21, John 17:21, Hebrews 10:24-25
For submission to the will of God and the interests of others ahead of our own. We seek to imitate the life modeled by Jesus.
For giving to God what is God’s, not only our treasure but also our time and talents. Heeding Christ’s call to deny ourselves and take up our cross shall compel our generosity to others.
Luke 9:23, 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, Galatians 6:10, James 2:15-17, Luke 21:3-4
For devotion to others and making disciples. We will enable the spiritual growth of this body of believers by developing and encouraging personal relationships centered on Christ.
2 Timothy 1:5, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Titus 1:5
For serving the kingdom as the body of Christ. We joyfully serve alongside fellow believers of this church and other Kingdom minded churches and organizations to advance the causes of God’s Kingdom.
Philippians 1:3-5, Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Corinthians 16: 1-3, 1 Corinthians 3:6
For an obedient response in all we do with diligence and integrity. To the Father’s glory, we strive by the Holy Spirit to show ourselves approved.
1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17, 23-24, 1 Peter 4:11, 2 Timothy 2:15, Philippians 3:12-15a
Our History
Leonardtown Baptist Church is a growing community of believers, but how did we begin?
The mission began as a prayer group in the Robinson Funeral Home in Leonardtown. On February 1, 1973, it became a weekly Thursday night Bible study meeting in a classroom of the Maryland Academy of Beauty Culture located on South Fenwick Street in Leonardtown. The first worship service was held in the Leonardtown Elementary School gymnasium on September 9, 1973. Dr. William Barkley, the Potomac Baptist Association Superintendent of Missions, served part-time as the first pastor.
A few months later the chapel moved to the Leonardtown Knights of Columbus building and met there until a church building could be constructed. Sunday evening services were held at the home of Lenwood and Doris Ramos.
A building site of approximately 16 acres was purchased in July 1974 for $65,000. The property was dedicated on September 8, 1974. Reverend Charles E. McDade was called as the first full-time pastor January 2, 1975. The chapel broke ground in October 1978 and began construction of the first facility that was constructed mostly by the members. The first worship service in the new facility was held May 1, 1979 by Pastor McDade. He served the chapel for a total of seven years until February 9, 1981.
On January 13, 1982, Reverend Clyde E. Phillips accepted the call to serve as pastor of the chapel. The Leonardtown Baptist Church was constituted in 1982 as an autonomous body affiliated with the Potomac Baptist Association, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Before 1982 it was the Leonardtown Baptist Chapel, a mission of the Lexington Park Baptist Church.
On June 2, 1991, the church broke ground for a new worship facility and on March 29, 1992 the first worship service was held. Folks who were a part of the church at the time thought it would be years before it would be filled. On June 16, 2002 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a third facility which included educational space, a fellowship hall and a commercial kitchen.
In 2007, Mark Dooley was called as Senior Associate Pastor with the plan for him to become the Senior Pastor upon Clyde Phillips’ retirement which took place in 2008. That same year, the church adopted a discipleship model outlined by the words Seek, Study, Serve, Share. This model serves to define who we are as both individuals and a congregation.
As an outgrowth of that process the church voted in June 2009 to become a multi-site congregation with the intent that the new site would be planted as its own church once well-established. In January 2010, this group moved off-site to King’s Christian Academy. Adam Polk was called in 2011 to serve as an Associate Pastor whose primary responsibility was the preaching and leadership of the Callaway Campus.
In January 2015, this campus became a church and is now known as Redeeming Grace Baptist Church. As intended, Adam Polk then became Senior Pastor of this newly formed church. In 2021, they expect to complete the construction of their own church building and they continue to grow.
In Fall 2018, Mark Dooley accepted a position with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware.
In August 2019, Jason Pamblanco was called as Senior Pastor. Our church is led by a staff that loves the Lord and is committed to Christ. Our desire is to lift up Christ in all we do so that people are pointed toward Him, and we would count it a blessing for you to join us in that endeavor.