July 28. David Judge has been named full-time pastor at First Baptist Church of Cornelius, the historic red brick house of worship on Catawba Avenue just east of Smithville. He will be ordained on Sunday, Aug. 14 at the 11 am service.

Judge, a mid-life career changer, has been interim pastor at the century-old church since Nov. 1. He hopes to turn the focus of the church outward into the community. Five or six dozen people attend services now on any given Sunday, although years ago, when mainstream churches were the center of life in Cornelius and the rest of the country, hundreds of people attended.

On Sunday, Aug. 28, Judge will launch a 9 am New Morning Church Service. “This service is designed for people who are new or returning to church,” said Judge. It will be held in the Fellowship Hall in a more casual setting. “The music will be primarily praise and worship acoustic guitar,” he said. Childcare is available.

The church is also launching the End of Summer Music Series every Saturday night in August from 5 pm to 8 pm on the front lawn of the church. Local musicians will perform original tunes and pop favorites. Judge invites the community to “bring a blanket or chair and a picnic basket and relax and enjoy the show.”

Raised a Catholic on Long Island, Judge had a born-again experience in a Pentecostal church and attended there, went on to a Congregational church, and then in 2006, he enrolled at Reformed Theological Seminary. A successful insurance executive, found his calling in the Baptist denomination.

First Baptist is located at 21007 Catawba Ave.