Our History
May 1945 - September 2025
80 Years Serving Jesus
A Beacon to our Community
6/27/43 The first service of Watersedge Baptist was held on the lawn of Mr. and Mrs. Togle, 8100 block of Longpoint Road. Rev. Robert McKay, pastor of Woolford Baptist, agrees to hold the services.
12/17/43 Watersedge Baptist rents a building at 8201 Bullneck Road. The first service held there was on December 19 as Watersedge Baptist Chapel
6/1944. Rev McKay becomes Watersedge Baptist Church’s full-time pastor.
5/6/45 WBC officially constituted into a Baptist church affiliated with the MBUA.
3/2/46 J. Kenneth Rogers, Sr, Milton McKay & James Roach were elected the first deacons and trustees of Watersedge.
8/25/50 Rev. Marshall Parsons became our new pastor.
1/23/53 The G. A’s (Girl’s Auxiliary) & Sunbeams were organized.
1956 The City Hospital ministry began led by Rev. Marshall Parsons
3/19/57 The Royal Ambassador’s, a boy’s club began.
5/18/58 Groundbreaking began at the current site, corner of Liberty Parkway and Sollers Point Road with the first Worship Service held 12/28/58.
4/18//64 Rev. Wesley Johnson became our new pastor.
Sept 1972 John Astarita to serve as Moderator over business meetings.
6/17/73 Rev. Gardner Koch becomes pastor of Watersedge
7/77 David Erickson & Alan Lawson receive licenses to preach.
7/79 First Float for 4th of July Parade managed by Don Gerlach and Jim Byam.
11/2/80 Pastor David Erickson became the new Pastor of WBC
7/83 Sunday School picnic held at Watersedge Beach with baptisms. Steeple fund commences.
9/84 Pictorial church directory planned to commemorate on 40th Anniversary in May 1985.
8/90 Mike Ledlich IV and Amy Giffin go to Jamaica as Summer Missionaries. They earned all the money to go and teach VBS to the children there.
1997 The Church’s Constitution was revised.
9/19/99 Attendance Pins were given out to those individuals who have not missed more than three Sundays since the previous year. Do You Remember the Attendance Pins?
3/27/2000 Sandy Gardner & Karen Hoffman planned a Youth trip to “Acquire the Fire” at the Baltimore Arena.
9/17/2001 An Awana group began led by Heather Bailey with Karen Hoffman, Betty Anthony & Dawn Scherzo as helpers.
5/28/2003 A deposit was made to add the new chimes to the church steeple. The church van is now paid in full.
1/7/2005 Little Light Christian Childcare Center celebrated their 18th Anniversary.
10/22/2008 Revival and Gospel Concert held with special speaker Bob Mackey and music by Bill & Karen Itzel.
3/27/2011 Deacon Ordination Service for Larry Shinaberry.
2020 The Year of COVID-19 WBC was struggling are faithful members kept us going to the Glory of the Lord.
7/12/2020 Pastor Kenneth Ledwell became the pastor of WBC.
It is now 9/21/2025, we celebrate spiritual growth in our church. We have a presence on the internet through Facebook Live and u-tube. Our services are streamed on these platforms and are doing well. New Ministries have evolved for our youth.
This just a small part of our history here at Watersedge Baptist Church. We will continue to preach, teach, and let our communities know that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings to the glory of God.
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From The Pastor's Desk
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WATERSEDGE BAPTIST CHURCH (5/6/1945) “For the last 80 years, God has abundantly blessed Watersedge Baptist Church, allowing our church to be a vibrant hub for our community to gather and worship Him together. His divine guidance has empowered the people and ministries of our church to shine His light as a beacon of truth for the past eight decades. Today, we joyfully celebrate God’s unwavering faithfulness and express our gratitude for the great blessing of serving our community in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you all for joining us in this celebration of God’s faithfulness to Watersedge Baptist Church. May all glory be to God. Yours Because I’m His,
OUR MINISTRIES Little Light Christian Childcare (410) 282-1994 6am to 6pm Mon thru Fri Young Adult Bible Study: 2nd Friday of each month 6pm Family Fun Night: 1st Friday of each month 6pm (Fall through Spring) Christian Skate Night: Check Dates in Office (Ministry of the Howell Family) Adult Bible Study/Prayer with Pastor Ken Wednesday of each month 6pm Fellowship/Prayer/Bible with Brother Bradley Airey every Thursday of the month 6pm to 8pm Samaritan Purse/Shoebox Christmas Ministries VBS (Vacation Bible School) Food Pantry 2nd Friday of each Month 11:30am to 12:30pm in connection with the Maryland Food Bank of Maryland TEAFP Program We have a Wonderful Worship Team praising God for all our blessings! We allow NA, AA, TOPS WEIGHT LOSS GROUP to have their meetings in our church facility each week.
OUR STAFF Pastor: Rev. Kenneth Ledwell Church Secretary: Karen W. Hoffman Childcare Director: Jessica Hagy Childcare Teachers: Jodi Scott; Stephanie Chavarria Childcare Helper: JoElla Crickenberger Maintenance/Trustees: Bill Sachs & JoElla Crickenberger
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Vision Statement
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It is our vision to WORSHIP our Lord, Jesus Christ, in a way that shows the world around us that we belong to Christ (John 13:35) To WORSHIP in a way that provokes the world around us to inquire about the source of our joy (JESUS), and in a way that is inspiring and contagious! (Psalm 34:1-3) It is our vision to serve the body by using our gifts to DISCIPLE others and equip them for service in the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-12) DISCIPLESHIP also includes helping our brothers and sisters to live out the Christian faith in their everyday lives and following the Lord Jesus Christ, while prayerfully seeking His will in their lives. Daily devotional reading and prayer, as well as faithful study of God’s Word are paramount in Christian discipleship. It is our vision to cultivate and support a culture of EVANGELISM in our efforts in fulfilling the great commission, reaching our community, our nation, and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:18-20) We will evangelize the lost by assuring that we have gospel centered conversations, build Christ honoring relationships and meet both physical and spiritual needs of our neighbors for the glory of God! We will prayerfully accomplish these things in unity, as One Body, in One Spirit, and in Love, by God’s grace. (Eph. 4:2-5) |