Sharing Faith at the First Baptist Church

By Cindy Ladage

Rev. Marty Nagel is the pastor for The First Baptist Church. Located at 157 W. Jackson Street in Virden, Rev. Nagel said, “I have been here for two years,”

Growing up in nearby Girard, Rev. Nagel graduated from Virden High in 1972 and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. After playing music around the Midwest, Rev. Nagel said, “After a few years away from church, I realized my need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and received Him as my Lord and Savior in 1975.”

Following this Rev Nagel attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “First, I staffed the Virden 1st Assembly of God (now called New Prairie Temple), then pastored smaller churches. I became a hospital Chaplin and trained in Minnesota and Chicago.”

After becoming a hospital Chaplain, he eventually retired from St. John’s Hospital in Springfield in 2019. While being a Chaplain, he also was interim pastor at First Christian Church in Girard before joining First Baptist Church in 2023. Rev. Nagel is a family man. He and his wife Barb have two grown children and four grandchildren.

First Baptist Church, has a lot of history. It is the 2nd oldest church in town. The oldest is the Presbyterian Church. The town of Virden was established by John Virden in 1852, and the First Baptist Church was built just two years later in 1854. “On April 30, 1854, seventeen charter members met to consider forming a Baptist Church and erecting a building. The Pastor Rev. John B. Jackson received $500 a year,” Debbie Kershaw, church member since 1972 shared.

The church was built for $3000 dollars and dedicated in November of 1855. A parsonage was built to accompany it, and the entire church was built in 1899. A devastating fire took place on October 24, 1948. Debbie said they never figured out for sure what caused the fire, but the entire church was destroyed. Another mystery is what happened to the church bell.  It fell into the basement during the fire but was never found.

The fire changed many things for the members like one young bride.  “Wanda Hein was supposed to get married that Saturday,” Debbie said, “instead she was married at the Presbyterian church that her husband attended.”

Through dedication and hard work, in 14 months, members rebuilt, dedicating the new church on February 26, 1950. School teacher Helen Pitman, a member of the church, left a generous donation that allowed a new addition. In 1998, Pitman Hall was dedicated. It brought a Pastor’s Study, rest rooms, a kitchen and a fellowship hall that is widely used by both the church and the community.  Previously most events were held in the basement. “We just remodeled the downstairs a couple of years ago,” Debbie said, adding permanent classroom space and renaming it “The Dorothy Oller Youth Zone” after another beloved teacher that left funds for the church.

Currently, church members are working on sprucing up some special areas in the church, including a corner downstairs for youth called “Anna’s Corner” a memorial to Anna Kiel, a young woman who attended faithfully. Funds from her estate were dedicated to this special area.

Access to the sanctuary is handicap accessible because of the kindness of one gentleman. “One young man came here as a boy and he made it his mission to put an elevator in to make the sanctuary handicap accessible,” Debbie said.

This happened after the young man heard a church member saddened because she couldn’t make the steps into the church. While the basement is not accessible, the sanctuary and Pitman Hall has easy access.  Dedicated church members, faith and devotion are clearly seen in many ways in the church.  The stained-glass windows, church pews, and more show the generosity of members over the years. “All the windows are from the 1950’s, as are most of the pews,” Debbie added.

Besides the beautiful stained-glass windows, another artistic draw at the church is the painting behind the baptismal.  It was completed by artists E. Brower and L.E..

One Sunday in 2008, First Baptist Church had a day members will long remember, they called it Miracle Sunday!  On their website they share that many members current, past and present were in the service after a week filled with prayer for each to come and provide a miracle gift. The goal was to raise $25,000 to pay off their mortgage.  “… As the call was issued to come forward and present each Miracle gift, the excitement and anticipation began.  Would we make the goal that God had called us to try to achieve? When the money was counted and the total revealed, there were tears of joy and shouts of praise.  Our goal of $25,000.00 was not only met but was exceeded by $569. 25!”

More money was received even after the church service. The church not only met, but exceeded their goal, receiving a miracle through an act of prayer and faith.

Members of First Baptist Church invite everyone to join them in worship. Church services are each Sunday morning with Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., and worship at 10:00 a.m. “Our youth love to sing,” Rev. Nagel said about the enjoyment of music in the church. He plays his guitar during the service every week during both the opening and the Children’s Worship time.

During the school year on Wednesday Evenings, a supper is offered at 6:00 p.m. Opportunities for youth worship and fun are available with J.A.M. (Jesus And Me) for K-5, and S.W.A.T (Students With A Testimony) for 6-12.  S.W.A.T. for junior and senior high youth is held on Sunday evenings.

The church is actively involved with the North Mac Ministerial Association (NMMA)

The NMMA member churches share Easter Sunrise Services, National Day of Prayer, Memorial Day Services, Community Vacation Bible School, Thanksgiving, and a Christmas Hymn Sing and with their fellow Christian neighbors. At The First Baptist, they have a Faith In Action Sunday each September. “We go to church,” Debbie said, “have prayer time, then go out into the community and do a variety of projects for others outside of our own congregation.”

In the past they have painted water hydrants, cleaned tombstones, and helped area seniors that needed work done. The youth often sing at the Virden and Girard nursing homes, then everyone returns to church for a late lunch.

The First Baptist Church is part of the American Baptist Church of USA, and through Springfield, are affiliated with the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region. “We are part of Area Two in Central Illinois,” Debbie said, adding that she and other members have served on the board in the past.

To learn more about the church, check out their website at https://virdenfirstbaptist.org, Rev. Nagel can be reached by emailing him at cafemartin53@gmail.com, or call 217-965-4028.