PS 87

God was ready with Plan B. In the fall of 1969, He relocated Sam Simpson, Pastor of the Bronx Baptist Church, and his family to a house less than two blocks from the church building. As a Southern Baptist, he was a church starter at heart and by training, so he perceived the closed church in a heavily populated community as being very unnatural. He took the matter to the Lord. Then he approached the still-resident Lutheran Pastor and proposed that they work together to revive the church. The suggestion was not accepted, but later an offer to rent the building was accepted by the Lutheran Administration. Rev. S. G. Simpson undertook to lead the new work. He would do this while continuing to pastor the Bronx Baptist Church. Bronx Baptist gave its blessing and Greenwich Baptist Church in Connecticut undertook to pay the rent for two years. The Name Wake-Eden is a combination of two neighboring communities adjacent to the church Wakefield and Edenwald. The inaugural service on May 2, 1972 was an auspicious occasion. The Church was filled to capacity with scores of community residents, local clergy and denominational leaders, members of Bronx Baptist and Greenwich Churches, the local school principal, community and civic leaders. At the invitation at the end of the service several christians in the congregation committed to become members of this mission of Bronx Baptist Church. God continued to add to His church and to raise up devoted lay leaders. In 1978 we contracted with the Lutherans to buy the complex of buildings, i.e. sanctuary, education wing and pastorium. The mission became an incorporated church in 1979. From its inception Wake-Eden has been a praying church and emphasizing bible study, discipleship training, evangelism and the training and involvement of lay persons in leadership. Numerous ministries and programs have been implemented and utilized for the purpose of reaching the unsaved, deepening the commitment of believers and promoting fellowship - all to the glory of God.