Each week Pastor shares his thoughts with a “Word from the Pastor” section in our printed bulletin. We wanted to post them here for you to enjoy as well!
21st Anniversary 9/11/2001 – Why Remember?
On September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors.
As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767—United Airlines Flight 175—appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center and sliced into the south tower near the 60th floor. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and onto the streets below. America was under attack. 2,763 died after the two planes hit, a number including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. It would be the single most day of loss of life for firefighters in American history.
In Washington, D.C., a plane hit the west side of the Pentagon at 9:45 a.m., which is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. All told, 125 military personnel and civilians were killed, along with all 64 people aboard the airliner. United Flight 93 was hijacked about 40 minutes after leaving Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The passengers fought the four hijackers and the plane then flipped over and sped toward the ground at upwards of 500 miles per hour, crashing in a rural field near Shanksville in western Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. All 44 people aboard were killed, bringing the total dead on this day to 2,996.
While credible organizations like Architects, Engineers and Pilots for 9/11 Truth have challenged key elements of the general narrative with scientific facts, this event marks the turning point in our contemporary world as we know it. The American, patriotic spirit has yet to be extinguished in the face of this, or any other event. God help us to keep America free.
New Year 2022
Our Fall Schedule will be released shortly! We always mail out a fall postcard and post our schedule on Facebook and Instagram! If you are not on our mailing list, email the church!
“Others” is our theme this year. Head over to our Facebook page and hear how Pastor Perrotti makes this theme applicable to our own lives!
September 25th at 6:30 PM Veteran Missionary Brother Larry Curtis will speak in our service!
Life Stage Sunday School
For all ages.
Nursery
Birth – 2yrs old.
Teen Group and Class
Ages 12 – 19.
Mens/Ladies Meetings
Casual times of fellowship, breakfast, and practical challenge.
Childrens Ministries
An age approriate children’s program that takes place during our normal church services.
Seniors Fellowships
A casual time of fellowship, singing, fun, and a wonderful meal followed by a practical Biblical challenge.
Prayer Meetings
A casual time of fellowship, singing, fun, and a wonderful meal followed by a practical Biblical challenge.
Visitation
Visiting shut-ins, the sick, and getting the Gospel out in our community.
The Friendliest Church In Town
Center Road Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church founded in August, 1966 by Pastor Barney Lee, with his wife, Lillian, and their three children, Kenny, Patty and Jenny, by his side. Upon graduating from Bible College while still in Michigan, Dr. Lee originally had planned on going to Chicago to start a church, hearing it was a needy area. He believed God closed that door, so, upon hearing Buffalo, NY was also a needy place, he decided to investigate further.
Dr. Lee followed his calling and on July 4th, 1966, the Lee family moved from Pontiac, Michigan to West Seneca, New York. On August 14th, the church began in the Odd Fellows Hall, 104 Aurora Avenue, under the name Buffalo Baptist Temple. Ten months later, the building was greatly damaged by fire caused by a teenage gang and it became necessary to change locations. For over three years, the church met in the Masonic Temple at Main and Mill streets. In 1968, the church purchased 6 6/8 acres of land on Center Road in West Seneca and, as Pastor Lee wanted a name that would identify its location more, changed the name to Center Road Baptist Church.
Many notable miracles took place in establishing the church, building the new building, establishing a school, and overcoming overwhelming opposition from both outside and sadly, inside as well. Dr. Lee recorded many of these precious and powerful incidents in his booklet, Remembering the Miracles. On Palm Sunday, 1971, the church moved into the new building on Center Road. Sunday School classes met on the lower level of the building on a crushed stone floor. The upper level had only a plywood subfloor and the only heating system was an overhead garage-type heater.
By 1973, the average weekly attendance was 325! Nine bus routes had developed, which brought in most of the people. In September of that same year, the Day Care began and in 1974, the Center Road Christian Academy was born. The goals of the ministry were to reach families and provide for their needs. Additionally, the church supported twenty missionaries and six home mission projects!
In 1995, nearly thirty years after starting the church, Pastor Lee became the Pastor Emeritus and Pastor Bill Livermore became the new pastor. His wife is Mrs. Jenny (Lee) Livermore, Pastor Lee’s daughter. He was pastoring a small church in Buffalo, and, when they came to Center Road with their two sons, Bill and Sam, they brought several of the people from that church with them. The Livermore family was at Center Road for twenty years, in which time three other churches were established in: Bradford, PA, Warren, PA, and Salamanca, NY.
The pastor of the Salamanca work – Center Street Baptist Church, was Ed Darling. In 2016 he and his wife Rita assumed the leadership of Center Road once Bro. Livermore resigned and took the pastorate in Warren, PA. In turn, Bro. Darling’s son-in-law assumed the pastorate of Center Street. After two years, Bro. Darling, struggling with health issues, resigned the pastorate and, after the deacons led the church for some time, welcomed Robert Perrotti on as Interim Pastor in October of 2019.
The history of Center Road Baptist is still being written. What Pastor Lee called the “Friendliest Church in Town” has a renewed mission of “Speaking the Truth in Love”! We strive to be and do those things in truth and are always excited for the opportunity of new folks to experience them.
Fulfilling the Great Commission
We have an active missions program where folks give by faith over and above their tithe to support those who have dedicated their lives to serve God in the area of missions. We also have a missions conference each year where we try to give missionaries a platform to present their work and increase their support.
Keep In Touch
Tel.: +1.716.675.6545
412 Center Rd
West Seneca, NY 14224
United States
