Our History
In 2012 God placed in the heart of Pastor Jeff Harris to move to Rochester, NY in order to plant Anchor Baptist Church and to reach the Deaf & the Hearing with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On September 8, 2013 ABC had her Grand Opening service with 122 in attendance. Within eight months ABC went from being a "church plant" under the authority of Lincoln Trail Baptist Church (Elizabethtown, KY) to becoming an established independent Baptist church. On May 18, 2014, 50 individuals signed the charter to officially become Anchor Baptist Church of Rochester, NY. Within 20 months of her grand opening she had a high day of 207 in attendance and over 100 Deaf individuals present at their first Deaf Awareness Sunday. Under the leadership of Pastor Harris the church continued to go forward by starting new ministries. They began hosting an annual Regional Church Growth Conference to encourage preachers in New York State in the work of church planting and church growth. They would purchase their first property within four years of their grand opening. In November of 2017 they closed on the purchase of 518 North Greece Road, Hilton, NY. A beautiful seven acre property that consists of a church building with an auditorium; fellowship hall; nursery space and an outdoor covered pavilion. The building was completely renovated to include a new roof, new flooring, new paint, a renovated platform, new fixtures, new central HVAC system and a new baby grand piano. In the Spring of 2018 ABC began her Missions Program and to date they currently support 15 missionaries/missions projects on a monthly basis. They started a Bus ministry in the fall of 2019 only to have that suspended in 2020 by the COVID crisis. Much has been done in this church's short history which leads us to 2021.
As the number eight in Bible numerology represents "new beginnings", ABC celebrates her eighth year of existence in 2021. In January of 2021 Pastor Harris announced his resignation effective June 30, 2021. His family is moving to Kentucky in order to help his parents and in-laws who have endured several major health issues all during the year 2020. During this time period God brought Pastor Dean Francini (Colorado Springs, CO) into the heart and mind of Pastor Harris. After much conversation, a revival that Pastor Francini preached in March of 2021, and many people fasting and praying for God's will...it became evident God was moving both parties together. In April of 2021, Pastor Francini came as an official Pastoral Candidate. Not long after ABC voted and extended the call for Pastor Francini to become the next Pastor of ABC. Pastor Francini accepted that call with his start date as July 1, 2021. His family transitioned to Rochester, NY in June of 2021. In Pastor Francini, ABC has a Preacher who is a US Marine, one who has planted a church (Colorado Springs, CO), Colorado Springs Police Department Chaplain and someone with a heart for the Deaf and Hearing. Pastor Francini is fluent in American Sign Language and has Deaf parents. ABC is excited about what God has in store for the future of this great church!
As the number eight in Bible numerology represents "new beginnings", ABC celebrates her eighth year of existence in 2021. In January of 2021 Pastor Harris announced his resignation effective June 30, 2021. His family is moving to Kentucky in order to help his parents and in-laws who have endured several major health issues all during the year 2020. During this time period God brought Pastor Dean Francini (Colorado Springs, CO) into the heart and mind of Pastor Harris. After much conversation, a revival that Pastor Francini preached in March of 2021, and many people fasting and praying for God's will...it became evident God was moving both parties together. In April of 2021, Pastor Francini came as an official Pastoral Candidate. Not long after ABC voted and extended the call for Pastor Francini to become the next Pastor of ABC. Pastor Francini accepted that call with his start date as July 1, 2021. His family transitioned to Rochester, NY in June of 2021. In Pastor Francini, ABC has a Preacher who is a US Marine, one who has planted a church (Colorado Springs, CO), Colorado Springs Police Department Chaplain and someone with a heart for the Deaf and Hearing. Pastor Francini is fluent in American Sign Language and has Deaf parents. ABC is excited about what God has in store for the future of this great church!