Our Blog

Tonight’s premiere is presented through the combined efforts of William & Mary and the City of Williamsburg.

“William Hundley: His descendants have been part of First Baptist Church’s recorded history since the 1800s and continue to worship at FBC today.”

Tonight’s premiere is presented through the combined efforts of William & Mary and the City of Williamsburg.

This special program brings forward the untold stories of the Revolutionary War and honors 18th-century heroes whose lives, service, and sacrifices have too often gone unrecognized.

We are especially proud that our own member, Johnette Gordon Weaver, will help share the story of her Revolutionary patriot ancestor, William Hundley. His family legacy connects deeply with the history of The Historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, VA, reaching back to ancestors named in our 1800s church records and continuing through descendants who still worship at First Baptist today.

This story invites us to reflect on the people, places, and sacred connections that shaped our church history. It also raises meaningful questions about our early faith community, including whether Anthony may have worshiped at Raccoon Chase, one of the important gathering places tied to our church’s early story.

Through this premiere, we celebrate history, heritage, faith, and the continuing legacy of families whose names have been written into the annals of First Baptist Church history for generations.

We saw God's work in Walmart's dinosaur aisle.

After attending church on Sunday, we received an assignment from Linda Whitley, who provided us with five 'Angel Tree' tags and instructed us to pay close attention to the ages and specific toy preferences for each child. We proceeded to Walmart to purchase the five designated items, where we encountered Stan in the aisle featuring dinosaur toys. He explained that he was selecting toys to donate to a church, as was his annual tradition. We shared that we were also making donations through our church and had been given a list of required toys. Upon learning that our church was First Baptist on Scotland Street, we discovered, after a brief conversation, that both of us were purchasing toys to support the same congregation.  

He reviewed our list and inquired whether any toys remained on it, but we only had the tags that were provided to us on Sunday. He departed briefly and subsequently returned with a $100 bill, requesting that we double our purchases so that more children could receive gifts. John and Bobbie Walker from Annapolis, Maryland, overheard our conversation with Stan, witnessed his contribution, and generously offered additional funds for us to buy even more toys. At this juncture, Mike contacted Linda Whitley to seek guidance regarding the selection of items to purchase with the extra money we received from individuals previously unknown to us at Walmart. I then asked Mike to obtain an additional shopping cart, as our original cart was already filled with our selections alongside those from Stan, John, and Bobbie. He returned to the dinosaur aisle in tears. After a brief pause, he handed over another $100. Once composed, he shared that on his way to get another cart, he ran into our friend, JarMarcus King, the owner of J&F Alliance Group, and recounted the events in Walmart's toy section—Stan’s donation prompted additional contributions from the Walkers. JarMarcus then told Mike, “Man, I got to do something too,” and that was the $100 bill that Mike showed me.

We originally intended to purchase five items based on 'Angel Tree' tags and deliver them to the church as requested. Unexpectedly, four generous individuals gathered in the Walmart toy section to support the Salvation Army’s ‘Angel Tree’ program. As a result, we were able to leave with 28 toys for children aged 3-5. The experience highlighted how collective generosity can expand our ability to assist others—a meaningful way to observe the holiday season and to bless others. 

A Truly Joyful and Rewarding Time in My Life

Becoming involved with various First Baptist Church projects following my retirement has become a truly joyful and rewarding time in my life. Being engaged in church and community activities, I have learned new skills, and I have had an opportunity to meet some incredible people. Perhaps the most gratifying experience is having the opportunity to witness the sincerity of individuals who strive daily to be a blessing in the lives of fellow human beings.

As I reflect on my experience as a member at First Baptist Church, I am better able to understand the life application and meaning of my favorite scripture which is found in Psalms 1:3.  In the King James Version it states…”And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

God has brought me to this place and time such that perhaps my walk as a “Believer” will become a source of encouragement for one of God’s creations. My prayer is that I be a fruitful tree and that I be a source of encouragement to those who I meet along my journey in life.