Meet Dawson
Dawson Memorial Baptist Church is a large Baptist church affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and located in the city of Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. Often called the “Dawson Family of Faith” or just “Dawson,” the church, first established in 1920 as Edgewood Baptist Church, has a rich history. In 1925, Rev. Lemuel Dawson became the church’s first full-time pastor. Upon Rev. Dawson’s death in 1938, the church, with more than 400 members, unanimously voted to rename the church in his honor. In 1948, Dr. Edgar Arendall became Dawson’s pastor and served in that role for 36 years. During that time, Dr. Arendall led the congregation's post-war growth as the church continued to expand in the areas of membership, leadership, and facilities.
In March of 1991, Dr. Gary Fenton became the Senior Pastor of the Dawson Family of Faith, moving to Birmingham from Tyler, Texas, where he had served as the Senior Pastor of Tyler’s First Baptist Church. During Dr. Fenton’s tenure, the church placed great emphasis on missions, ministry, and serving others. Dr. Fenton retired as Senior Pastor of Dawson in August 2016.
Dr. David Eldridge was called to be Senior Pastor at Dawson in August of 2017. He began his ministry here in September of that same year. Pastor David is a gifted expository preacher with a PhD in expository preaching from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He is a gifted leader with a heart for making disciples. In his first 18 months at Dawson, we have experienced good growth numerically and spiritually. We are excited about his preaching and shepherding at Dawson.
Within the last 12 months alone, 46 mission teams consisting of 360 people served in projects locally, in other states, and in ten other countries around the world. Our church family has also given over $3 million directly to missions and mission causes over the past 12 months.
Presently, Dawson has more than 6,000 members with a weekly average attendance of 2100. Members and guests gather for worship each week on campus coming from a 20 minute radius around the church’s property. Dawson is historically a traditional church and has always purposed itself to serve the Lord with excellence in ministry, worship, and facilities. Dawson is known for its strong Preschool, Children’s, and Student Ministries. Hundreds of young families are drawn to Dawson each year because of the importance the ministries have placed on laying a godly foundation and investing in the lives of the next generation at a young age. Likewise, Dawson’s Music & Worship Ministry has an extensive following. Over 500 volunteers are involved in a variety of aspects of serving which include various choirs, orchestra accompaniment, contemporary bands, the Dawson Music Academy, and more.
Dawson’s best asset is her people. This is easily seen through its emphasis on family and relationships. As a multi-generational church, Dawson is blessed with an even mix of all age groups who participate through their attendance and giving. Numerous young families are seen each week participating in the variety of activities Dawson has to offer. There are hundreds of members who have been a part of the congregation for many years, including multiple families and extended families that attend each week alongside three or more generations.
People of all ages continue to be excited about the future and what God is doing through the church. Less than four years ago, the church came together and responded overwhelmingly to a major missions initiative called Go Love Tell. The initiative’s goal was to raise $5 million to use in five different mission locations over a five-year period. The actual pledged amount totals $5.6 million to date to be used in Birmingham, Maine, Tanzania, Northeast Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Dawson continues to place an important emphasis on discipleship for its members and the local community. In 2018, the church baptized 80 people and added 191 new members. Additionally, Dawson’s TV Ministry, the first in the state of Alabama, attracts upwards of 15,000 viewers each week and has a distinct opportunity to grow viewership in the region.
In March of 1991, Dr. Gary Fenton became the Senior Pastor of the Dawson Family of Faith, moving to Birmingham from Tyler, Texas, where he had served as the Senior Pastor of Tyler’s First Baptist Church. During Dr. Fenton’s tenure, the church placed great emphasis on missions, ministry, and serving others. Dr. Fenton retired as Senior Pastor of Dawson in August 2016.
Dr. David Eldridge was called to be Senior Pastor at Dawson in August of 2017. He began his ministry here in September of that same year. Pastor David is a gifted expository preacher with a PhD in expository preaching from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He is a gifted leader with a heart for making disciples. In his first 18 months at Dawson, we have experienced good growth numerically and spiritually. We are excited about his preaching and shepherding at Dawson.
Within the last 12 months alone, 46 mission teams consisting of 360 people served in projects locally, in other states, and in ten other countries around the world. Our church family has also given over $3 million directly to missions and mission causes over the past 12 months.
Presently, Dawson has more than 6,000 members with a weekly average attendance of 2100. Members and guests gather for worship each week on campus coming from a 20 minute radius around the church’s property. Dawson is historically a traditional church and has always purposed itself to serve the Lord with excellence in ministry, worship, and facilities. Dawson is known for its strong Preschool, Children’s, and Student Ministries. Hundreds of young families are drawn to Dawson each year because of the importance the ministries have placed on laying a godly foundation and investing in the lives of the next generation at a young age. Likewise, Dawson’s Music & Worship Ministry has an extensive following. Over 500 volunteers are involved in a variety of aspects of serving which include various choirs, orchestra accompaniment, contemporary bands, the Dawson Music Academy, and more.
Dawson’s best asset is her people. This is easily seen through its emphasis on family and relationships. As a multi-generational church, Dawson is blessed with an even mix of all age groups who participate through their attendance and giving. Numerous young families are seen each week participating in the variety of activities Dawson has to offer. There are hundreds of members who have been a part of the congregation for many years, including multiple families and extended families that attend each week alongside three or more generations.
People of all ages continue to be excited about the future and what God is doing through the church. Less than four years ago, the church came together and responded overwhelmingly to a major missions initiative called Go Love Tell. The initiative’s goal was to raise $5 million to use in five different mission locations over a five-year period. The actual pledged amount totals $5.6 million to date to be used in Birmingham, Maine, Tanzania, Northeast Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Dawson continues to place an important emphasis on discipleship for its members and the local community. In 2018, the church baptized 80 people and added 191 new members. Additionally, Dawson’s TV Ministry, the first in the state of Alabama, attracts upwards of 15,000 viewers each week and has a distinct opportunity to grow viewership in the region.