In October 2000, Mat Echols fulfilled a vision of establishing a fundamental, independent Baptist church along Highway 200 in Southwest Ocala. A small group of people met in the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, 7777 SW State Road 200, Ocala, Florida. Rev. Mat Echols, with his wife Edie, was the founding pastor. Edie was the church organist. She had to bring her keyboard from home for the worship service. The first Deacon was Billy Evans. The first Treasurer was Mary Lou Alonso. Bill Goggins was the first member to be baptized, October 15th, 2000, in Perry and Judy Allen’s swimming pool. Marie and Wesley Stepp were second a week later on October 22nd, 2000.
The “Charter Membership Service” was on January 14th, 2001, in the auditorium at Marion Oaks. Dr. John Reynolds, Pastor of Volusia County Baptist Church of Orange County, which is the parent church of Friendship Baptist Church of Ocala, gave the message. There were 37 charter members in attendance.
After the church had purchased nine acres with a three-bedroom home on the property at 9524 SW 105th Street, Rev. Mat Echols and family took up residence for the next year. Sunday evening services were held under the trees in the backyard of the parsonage. We also had the Lord’s Supper in the evening because food or water wasn’t allowed in the Fire Station.
Rev. Echols took another church pastorate in Warren N.Y. He held his last service in the Fire Station on November 11th, 2001. Deacon Bill Evans assumed the financial and supervisory duties of the young church until God sent someone to assist them.
Evangelist Bernie Rodgers and his wife Janet had visited the church to see if they could be of assistance. God’s timing was providential! Brother Bernie became the interim pastor, encouraged the church, ministered to the saints from the Word of God, and led the assembly in raising the financing for paying for the 9 acres of land. Over $30,000 was given to the church in free will offerings by the people, and another large amount was loaned to the church by several couples for paying for the land and purchasing a modular building.
The church held their first service in the parsonage on November 25th, 2001, and Rev. Ben Barrack officiated. Janet Rodgers, the church organist, brought her keyboard from home. Cleitus and Margaret Murray donated the first organ to Friendship Baptist in November of 2001, no longer needing Mrs. Rodgers keyboard. Ralph and Mary Lu Hall donated their lovely spinet piano to the church on January 27th, 2002.
The church had a Bar-B-Que lunch in the parsonage while waiting patiently for our modular church to come down 105th Street on December 21, 2001. It arrived about 1 p.m. There were two halves. What a happy day for everyone that was. Friendship Baptist Church was soon conducting services in a new ninety seat auditorium.
On August 11, 2002, Randall N. Brown became the churches’ fulltime pastor. The church began growing as families came to be a part of what God was doing. Reaching a high attendance of 220, the church soon began planning for a new steel building to accommodate the growing crowds of people.
Construction began on the new sanctuary in the spring of 2008. Through the hot Florida summer, groundwork, foundation work, steel construction and framing work was making good progress, and in September, construction crews finished their work. Then began all the final technicalities including floor work, bathroom fixtures, dry wall, painting, carpet and sound equipment. Installation, and all the finishing touches including wall decor, new chairs, song books and floral arrangements were completed.
On November 16th, 2008, the church and guests enjoyed the finished product of the work and efforts of many dedicated men and women of God.
