White Rock Baptist is place of joy

THE IMPOSING church that commands its corner at 53rd and Chestnut streets, overseen by a pastor who's a lion of the Philadelphia clergy, has a surprise inside: a congregation of exceptional warmth.

A visitor's first clue of what's to come at White Rock Baptist Church in West Philadelphia? Members of the congregation refer to the stately stone passageway that leads to their sanctuary as "our porch."

At this week's Wednesday night prayer meeting, a midweek spirituality booster that attracts about two dozen regulars, churchgoers sent up prayer requests for everyone from the newly elected governor and all of SEPTA's drivers to one particular congregant who's been nursing a cold.

"It's something we foster," said the pastor, the Rev. William J. Shaw. "We try to be disciplined but very personal and warm."

Who we are: White Rock Baptist has a long and illustrious history in Philadelphia. In October, it celebrated its 116th anniversary.

Shaw has been at the helm since 1956. He has also served as executive director of the Opportunities Industrialization Center and as president of the National Baptist Convention USA, among other influential posts during the years.

The church's membership is just less than 1,000. About half attend Sunday services regularly.

Where we worship: White Rock Baptist Church is at Chestnut Street near 53rd. Sunday worship services are at 7:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. (with Communion at both services the first Sunday of every month). The Wednesday prayer service is at 6:45 p.m.

What we believe: As Baptists, church members believe in Jesus Christ and that salvation is available to all people through him. They have only two "ordinances," which is the Baptist term for ceremonies prescribed by God. Baptism is one. Communion is the other.

As a congregation, White Rock has a mission statement that spells things out more specifically: "We are a Christ-centered, spirit-led, God serving, Bible-believing, worshipping, praying, tithing, loving Church joyfully covenanted together," it says, along with articulating a commitment to spread the word of Christ.

And those aren't just words on some musty document. Church members recite the full statement from memory at services.

Joy, writ large: Hanging from a balcony overlooking the sanctuary are two big, bright green decorations, both spelling out the word "Joy."

They look like they might be Christmas trimmings that someone forgot to take down, but that's not the case, Shaw said. "It's not a seasonal thing."

The word "joy" is so precious to White Rock Baptist's members that it "appears in everything we do," he explained. "If someone makes an announcement or speaks to the congregation, the first word they say is 'Joy,' and the congregation says back to them, 'Joy!'

"This is our prayer, our benediction, our wish for each other."

Community, writ small: The church's efforts to care for members who are sick, shut-in or bereaved are organized into 11 "sheepfolds," which are subunits within the larger church.

"They're designed to keep people in touch with the church and with each other," Shaw said, so that "no one is lost from us accidentally."

The sheepfolds also disseminate happy news, like births, engagements and college scholarships, to the larger White Rock Baptist fold.

God is . . . "Love," Shaw said. "God is good. God is truth."

Good works: Each one of the church's many auxiliaries is encouraged "to render help to individuals and entities outside the church," Shaw said. Some help at homeless shelters and nursing homes. Others organize eyeglass drives and holiday toy drives, or adopt an elementary school classroom to supply.

White Rock Baptist also supports a health-care ministry in Malawi. One project they fund helps a hospital stock supplies for its maternity ward.

Words of hope: "That's fundamental," Shaw said. "One of the prime statements of the faith is, 'Now abideth faith, hope and love.'

"Hope is central. There is no person's life that is unredeemable," he said. "There is no situation that is final."