Our History

More than 50 years ago, Pastor Tom Younger of Immanuel Baptist Church had a vision and a prayer to start a new ministry in an unexpected location: the outskirts of Northeast Fort Wayne. With a gift of five acres at the intersection of East State Boulevard and Lahmeyer Road, seven families from Immanuel Baptist called a young pastor, David Jeremiah, to lead them in establishing Blackhawk Baptist Church.

On September 7, 1969, Blackhawk Baptist Church opened its doors in two modular trailers. The congregation grew rapidly and soon began constructing a sanctuary, which we now call the chapel. By 1971, Blackhawk had established a solid foundation and continued to expand, now boasting almost 200,000 square feet of buildings on 40 acres.

In 1972, we broke ground for an educational wing, providing much-needed classrooms for our Sunday school and the newly established Blackhawk Christian School. The school, founded in 1973 with 33 students, has flourished over the years. Today, it serves over 1,000 students with a dedicated faculty and staff of more than 100. Our school is proud of its 96% re-enrollment rate and over 90% of graduates moving on to college. Beyond academics, our thriving music and arts program and successful athletic teams have achieved numerous championships.

In 1974, our television ministry began, initially using unreliable cameras. By 1975, the program was known as the Heritage Hour, later renamed the Bible Hour. This ministry grew alongside our congregation’s move into the Convocation Center in 1976.

Our church has a rich tradition of music and special events, including the annual Christmas musical “Ring the Bells” and the living Christmas tree, which became a beloved tradition in Fort Wayne, drawing over 20,000 attendees each season. However, the core strength of our church has always been the preaching of God’s word, a legacy established by Pastor David Jeremiah and continued by our leadership to this day.

In 2019, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with all five previous lead pastors sharing the stage, reflecting on how God has used Blackhawk to reach Fort Wayne. In 2023, we welcomed our current lead pastor, Dr. Dave Tilma, who continues to guide us in our mission to reach our community and the world.

We invite you to be a part of our vibrant church community, where the spirit of fellowship and dedication to God’s word is palpable from the moment you walk in.

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Blackhawk Ministries  /  7400 E. State Blvd.  /  Fort Wayne, IN
Contact Us  |  260-493-7400

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