First Baptist Church of Rowley Massachusetts
About us
As early as 1816, Rowley has been home to a Regular Baptist community. The church building was originally constructed in 1830 and has had several alterations and additions over its long history. There are two facilities under the care of the church community: the meeting house and vestry at 147 Main Street and the parsonage and church office at 153 Main Street. We are constantly working to improve and preserve these buildings for future generations.
The 1st Baptist Church has long standing associations with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) and the Northeast Regular Baptist Fellowship of Churches (NRBFC).
Pastor Ed Smith
Ed grew up on a dairy farm in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He trusted in Jesus Christ as his only God and Savior at age ten. During his college years as an engineering student, he learned how to study the Bible and help others in their spiritual journey. As a result of this opportunity, Ed aspired to a cross-cultural ministry in the university while using his academic preparation in environmental engineering. After obtaining the PhD at the University of Michigan, Ed devoted twenty-five years to Christian ministry in addition to teaching and research in Environmental Engineering. During this time he served at three universities, including the last fifteen years in Cairo, Egypt, and attained to the rank of Full Professor.
Along the way he obtained a degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, TX to equip him for pastoral service. When Ed and Laurie moved back to the U.S. in Fall 2012, they chose to invest themselves fully in church ministry. In February of 2013 Ed was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Elder Board at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas,
Texas; and a few months later Rockwall Bible Church in Rockwall, Texas called him to be senior pastor where he served for ten years. Ed and Laurie heard about the opportunity at First Baptist Church in Rowley, MA (Laurie’s hometown) in 2022. They received a call from First Baptist and the blessing of Rockwall Bible Church and moved to Rowley in Spring of 2023.
Ed is committed to expository preaching of the Scriptures. He has a particular burden for making disciples, beginning in the home; to enable men via motivating and equipping them to disciple their wives and children. His spiritual gifts are teaching and exhortation. In Summer 2024, Ed was also appointed to serve as Chaplain of the Rowley Fire Department.
Ed and Laurie were married in June of 1987. Laurie put her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation during her college years. She has a BS in Equine Studies and has passed on her love for horses and for the Lord to their daughters. God has blessed them with 3 sons, 2 daughters, and 8 grandchildren.