As the book of Ecclesiastes promises, First Southern Baptist Church of Colorado Springs discovered there’s a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens — including painful struggles.

Organized with 14 members as Faith Baptist Church on Dec. 30, 1951, the congregation was renamed First Southern Baptist just two months later and operated its ministries with “tremendous impact and influence” across the region, according to church history.

The present-day church at 1409 Palmer Park Blvd. was erected in 1953, the building’s cornerstone says.

Church leaders were pivotal in forming the Pike’s Peak Association of Southern Baptists of Colorado in 1954, with head pastor, the Rev. W. C. Bryant, chosen as the first moderator.

The following year, First Southern Baptist Church launched the Colorado Baptist General Convention with 100 churches, also led by Bryant.

By 1956, more than 1,100 church members were working on its goal of reaching the entire city with its messages of faith.

In subsequent years, thousands of believers were baptized, and 13 other Southern Baptist churches were planted, or created out of its fold, in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs.

But challenges hit along with the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the Rev. Josh Hargett arrived four years ago to become senior pastor of the large church at the corner of Uintah Street and Palmer Park Boulevard, “it had entered a season of decline,” he said.

After decades of intentional growth and active involvement, decreasing membership largely due to the aging population and family relocations caused financial problems.

But with thinking caps on and lots of elbow grease deployed, as of six months ago First Southern Baptist Church has a new name, Cornerstone Church.

The renaming process is used to signify renewal in the world of Southern Baptists, Hargett said. “God isn’t done with this place yet.”

The congregation also melded three other churches under its wing and in this 75th anniversary year is working hard on rebuilding a strong campus.

“We’re in a season of defining who we are,” Hargett said. “For over 70 years we were the cornerstone of this part of the community, and we want to be that again.”

The fresh start began in January with what Hargett calls a “widening of the doors,” or being open to welcoming more people.

Still keeping Jesus and the Gospels as the nucleus of what everything revolves around, Cornerstone has adopted a more relaxed atmosphere, which Hargett said has been appealing to other Southern Baptist congregations that also had encountered difficulties in sustainability.

Grace First, which had shrunk to 20 members, sold its building and became part of First Southern Baptist early last year.

This January, a Spanish-speaking church that had been renting space at Cornerstone for more than 20 years, Iglesia Hispana de la Roca, joined Cornerstone. Congregants had dwindled to 15 or so, and Hargett invited them to unite with his flock.

On Easter, Cornerstone launched its first bilingual service, following a third merger, this time with Calvary Gracia y Verdad.

“For almost four years we’d been praying about how can we minister to our Spanish-speaking neighbors because within two miles of our building, 20% of residents, or one in five, are Spanish-speaking people,” Hargett said. “God answered our prayers.”

The Rev. Jonathan Ferre, who had been pastor of Calvary Gracia y Verdad, which was founded in 2016 and means “grace and truth,” said he had “heard about Pastor Josh’s heart and vision for Cornerstone,” and the two started talking about possibilities last fall.

After discussion and prayer, the congregation decided to consolidate.

“The church felt it was the best thing and it was God’s will,” Ferre said. “We were doing what most of the Hispanic churches do — we had good attendance but were not financially independent.”

Ferre is leading the Spanish-speaking arm under the new setup, which he’s named Cornerstone Espanola.

“We think we’re better together,” Hargett said.

The lower level of the church building, which has been used for fellowship gatherings and meetings, is being remodeled for Spanish-speaking Sunday services. They’re being conducted downstairs at the same time as the English-speaking services are happening in the main sanctuary.

The first service on Easter was a bilingual combination with nearly 100 Spanish-speaking attendees, and about 150 English-speaking participants, the pastors said. Before the consolidations, Cornerstone Church had about 50 members.

The Rev. David Tomme, who pastored First Southern Baptist Church for 19 years and retired in 2021, said he always appreciated the diversity of the congregants.

“You had people from different cultures and backgrounds. There were a lot of military, people from all over the nation who brought their ideas and their cultural identity,” he said. “That was real important to the church, too.”

Attendance fluctuated from year-to-year, Tomme said, with around 300 to 400 members and about 150 attending services.

“With any church what makes it special are the people, and the people there were always very caring and loving,” he said. “We built special relationships.”

There are 56 Southern Baptist churches in El Paso and Teller counties, Hargett said. The denomination is known as being “people of the Bible,” he said, and for worldwide missions and ministries.

Though there’s camaraderie among the local churches, each is autonomous, with elders leading and church members voting on major decisions including leadership, budgets and property.

A portion of the campus had operated as a day care center and now is leased to the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale.

Cornerstone Church is undergoing other renovations, such as a new fire alarm system and exterior repairs. It’s all in preparation for a 75th anniversary dinner on June 13, featuring a video highlighting milestones and meticulously cared for scrapbooks on display.

A special Sunday worship service will follow on June 14 with former music leaders returning to perform and three former pastors, including Tomme, celebrating “what God’s done,” Hargett said.

The events are free and open to the public.