Get to Know Us
Avon Baptist Church is the oldest church in Lorain County, founded in 1817. The current structure was built in 1839 with the first service held in 1840. Avon Baptist Church is a community of believers who love Jesus and people. We are community oriented and Christ centered. We have a very traditional service and worship with a mixture of traditional hymns and more modern praise music.
Avon Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. We are members of the NorthCoast Baptist Association which is a part of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. As a result, our beliefs are with the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.
Meet our Pastors
Pastor J. Paul Hendrix and his wife Peach Hendrix have been at Avon for a total of 20 years. Pastor Paul was born in Birmingham Alabama and came to Ohio after a tour of duty in the U.S. Army ending in 1974. Before coming to Avon, he had served a number of churches in the Trumbull County Area. Peach is an Ohio girl born and raised. Pastor Paul and Peach have 5 children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren all living in Ohio. Called to the ministry in 1974 Paul was ordained in 1983 by the Faith Baptist Church in South Newbury Ohio. Pastor Paul was a bi-vocational pastor for many years but is now retired from his administrative duties at the Grafton Correctional Institution.
Pastor Ray Vallee Jr is the assistant pastor. He and his wife Laura joined Avon Baptist Church in 2023. They have been married for 25 years, and have three adult daughters. Ray is a graduate of Liberty University, earning a Masters degree in Christian ministries with a focus on discipleship. He also ministers to incarcerated youth at Youth for Christ as Director of the Juvenile Justice Ministry. Laura followed the Lord in being a full time stay at home mother to their three daughter and has in the last few years became a manger in retail.
