Hillsborough: A closer look: One Hillsborough church

SERVICES AND PROGRAMS: Regular Sunday worship at 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.; Sunday school 9:45 a.m.; Bible study from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and prayer 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Boy Scouts meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Girl Scouts Saturday at 10 a.m. Soup kitchen offers lunch everyday Monday-Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Clothes closet ministry pickup is Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LEADERSHIP: The Rev. Abraham Brown, 74, has been senior pastor since November 1993. He was a graduate of Florida A & M University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. He also received an honorary doctorate from Trinity College. Brown retired from the Hillsborough County Public school system after 38 years(23 years as a teacher and coach and 15 years as dean). He was founder and CEO of the Prison Crusade Ministries. For his work in the community, Rev. Brown was one of six selected for the America's Award ("The Nobel Peace Prize for Goodness") for dedication through the Norman Vincent Peale Foundation. He is involved in many other memberships. He is married to Alfamese, and they have three adult daughters.

HISTORY: Founded in 1904, the congregation began meeting on 2628 27th Ave. (presently the home of St. Matthew M.B. Church). It changed its name to First Baptist Church of College Hill in 1918. In the 25th anniversary, First Baptist erected a new building and purchased four parking lots. In 1978, the Rev. Young Glover was called as pastorand served for 14 years before resigning December 1992. During his term as pastor, the church purchased a parsonage, completed the purchase of the Lindell and 29th Street property and erected its present edifice.

MEMBERSHIP: About 1,200.

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