Exploring Ohios Biggest Abandoned Mega Church

[@DecayingAce]

Like what you see? Hit that subscribe button! Help us reach our goal of 1k and we’ll be able to bring even better quality explores for YOU 😁

[@somerradebaugh3986]

My parents grew up there and so did I. My husbands dad was the worship pastor there, my mom was the head secretary for the pastor and my dad was a on maintenance for years This is so sad. You didn’t even scratch the surface of the that building. My sister did the murals in the nursery and it’s so sad to see that place like that. Those evacuation cribs you saw were used on sundays to put children inside in case of a fire. The nursery has hundreds of kids and babies each Sunday.

[@debbiegibson6274]

I remember the radebaugh family. Great family!!!

[@nickhall8319]

Somer, our dads were friends back then!

[@caroltomlinson1555]

My daughter had a broken leg, she wanted to be baptized and your dad carried her up the stairs so she could 😊

[@jonslagill8864]

Why are there noe services or preaching on the internet. It would be nice to see what it was like.

[@buckshot6481]

It was before the internet, they had TV Quality video tapes.

[@memoryofagirl]

i went to this church up until it was closed. seriously insane how to absolute shit this place went. i could tell you what program i went to in each room. i could tell you rooms ive slept in during lock ins. which room ive done plays and performances in. where my best friends mom taught my sunday school class. this is mesmerizing and incredible that you have this on camera. id love to go in there again. ive spent so much time there over most of my life that i could probably do guided tours. amazing video.

[@DecayingAce]

And this is why we love doing it! Thank you for watching 😁

[@steveenglehart5402]

Why did it happen to the church & who owns the property now?

[@ericdaily8835]

I began attending this church with my dad and step family back in 1977. Back then it was called the Akron Baptist Temple. Which it was for most of its existence. I was attending there when they built the first main sanctuary that stood for 2 years before it burned down due to arson. And then 4 years later they had built a new sanctuary which is in this video. The first sanctuary stood from 1978 to 1980. The second main sanctuary was built in 1984 and that's what you see today. I surrendered my life to Christ when I was 18 in 1986 in that sanctuary. It's sad to see it in this condition. When it could be used for so much good for the community. It doesn't necessarily have to be a church but, it could be a homeless shelter of food kitchen and a waterfront rescue mission among other things. Lot of good memories in that place.

[@jonslagill8864]

Did ABT ever have a school or anything like that.

[@TheFibtastic]

@@jonslagill8864 It was a cult-like evangelical hell-hole founded on white supremacy and each Sunday a bunch of horrible people taught me who and what to hate to get into heaven. I went there. It was awful.

[@Westy0311]

So many memories. This church saved my life from an abusive upbringing. Hopefully those that tore the ABT up took a Bible and read it. As Dallas said a couple months ago: It’s just a building. God is everywhere.

[@dr.h9309]

Really sad. So much history. You should have explored the hidden tunnels. There was one directly underneath the pulpit because of the death threats way back in the day and go all throughout the churhc

[@toddmiller7876]

Death threats from who, and for what?

[@dr.h9309]

Pastor Dallas. The original. Many death threats for his preaching.

[@toddmiller7876]

@@dr.h9309 what was he preaching that would cause death threats? Or were the threats just from nutjobs.

[@dr.h9309]

@@toddmiller7876preaching truth. Just like the apostles did and they beat them and through them in prison and eventually killed all of the except for John

[@malonebatty6915]

I used to go to church here and I pretty much grew up here. I was baptized at this church and have endless stories of this place. I remembered every single place you showed in the video, and I think there were some places you didn’t even get to. My church sold this building to the Word Church. The Word Church didn’t have the funds to pay for the utilities of this building, so they left it like this. Still pisses me off to this day.

[@DecayingAce]

We definitely wish we could’ve explored the building more. But after seeing the main temple and noticing a more active presence of homeless people, we felt that we had overstayed our welcome and decided to leave

[@malonebatty6915]

@@DecayingAce I highly recommend reading the Wikipedia page for Akron Baptist Temple, which goes into detail about my church and the history of this building.

[@crazyguy5880]

@@malonebatty6915 Including it being started and built by an avid supporter of segregation.

[@toddmiller7876]

Why did your church sell it, in the first place. Who ended up with the money from the sale?

[@williamsiyanko4631]

Wow what a beautiful abandoned mega church from Ohio. This place has a lot of history and culture. Well we all know the outcome. This will meet the wreaking Ball. Soon.

[@mindycollier9087]

I don't typically like mega churches but this particular one seemed to be different!! I'm glad that Akron Baptist Temple refused to comform to worldliness and refused to preach ear tickling sermons!! However, I also heard that some of their teachings were controversial!! Attendance and membership greatly declined after the Billington grandson moved to Florida!! The beginning of the end was when the Word Church got too prideful and bought the temple on a whim without calculating the costs of maintaining the buildings beforehand!! It is very appalling how the church had heavily deteriorated in a very short period of time!! I'm so glad that the city of Akron is holding the Word Church accountable for everything that has happened and will be aggressively seeking repayment for the cost of the emergency demolition from them!!

[@morgan7890]

This breaks my heart to watch. My family and I attended this church for years and years. I was baptized while Pastor Dallas was in the church. So many memories brought back to surface as the place still looks the same all these years later. That church was BEAUTIFUL. The church lost a lot of members when Dallas left… the church should have found a better fitting pastor before losing nearly all members. And the word church should have done better……. Just sad to see such a beautiful place in this condition.

[@LarryRobert-sg1gm]

Hi Morgan

[@mindycollier9087]

I think that both the unfit pastor and the Word Church acted in haste on this deal!! ABT would have been better off selling the property to a commercial developer!!

[@dandre3K]

It’s crazy we did high school graduation 10yrs ago in this building I thought it was still being used somewhat.

[@SplitDye77]

Omg that was my church until 3 years ago when we had to sell it bc it was to expensive. We had to sell it to the word church and they left it bc they couldn’t deal with the up keep. I will forever miss this place. This video makes me sad. My parents got married here and I have been attending that church since birth (I have pictures) I met my best friend there and wouldn’t trade that childhood I had in that building for anything.

[@toddmiller7876]

If it was to expensive to maintain, what would make you think another church could afford it. Why did they lose their members?

[@SplitDye77]

@@toddmiller7876 you asking me like I know the answer 🧍🏻‍♀️ I’m literally 17

[@cheriecarpenter3529]

OMG! I went there a few times in 1977, and was baptized there. Charles Billings was the pastor when I went

[@wes5150.]

At 0:33 the electronic billboard is active. Is there still activity at this facility? Also saw vehicles in parking lot at 0:36 ? Maybe not so 'Abandoned'? Thanks for the video.

[@DecayingAce]

The vehicle in the parking lot was us. We also noticed people had done donuts in the back parking lot so I imagine people frequent that area

[@DecayingAce]

Also, it’s worth noting, the first 2 drone shots of the front of the building are from when the church was still active. Which would explain the multiple cars in the front

[@wes5150.]

@@DecayingAce Thanks

[@wes5150.]

@@DecayingAce Thanks

[@LaurettaButler]

I would like to know how to get into places like this please ?

[@mindycollier9087]

The city of Akron has already started the demolition so you won't be able to get in!!

[@ForgottenTreasures]

Explored this place a few days ago. It's such a beautiful place, especially the massive stain glass window.

[@seanconcannon186]

There's an abandoned synagogue on Merriman Road about 15-20 minutes from this church. Maybe you could explore that next.

[@kierstenb]

It actually bums me out to see such a massive building just rotting😢that place should be cleaned up and turned into a homeless shelter or a halfway house or a rehab center. Hell, it's probably big enough for all 3!💘💛💚💙💜

[@DecayingAce]

That’s exactly what we were thinking. It’s technically for sale 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@kierstenb]

@@DecayingAce well if I ever win the lottery I know what I'm going to spend it on😂😊

[@jennifermitchin7091]

Word church to blame for this

[@rich3687]

@@kierstenb I've told myself the same thing

[@thomasbowyer7706]

This is where I went to church. It was a good church. Dallas Billington was a good man of God. What a shame it is to see what happened to God's house. Thank you for making this video.

[@PowerUpJohn]

this building looks like it could still be restored. even if not reopened as a church, the main area that appears to have been a stadium of worship could be repurposed into something like a performance or movie theater. other parts could be turned into a community center instead of shamefully going to waste.

[@eloisethomas6035]

It is sad that this building has gone downhill like this. I think they should do something with it and not tear it down. It is so massive it could be made into something to help people . There has to be someone who could put some of their money to good use and bring this building back to life again.

[@jonslagill8864]

Is the neighborhood bad? Is that why the church left?

[@mindycollier9087]

Akron Baptist Temple left because attendance was too low!! The Word Church bought it but they didn't stay very long due to the lack of funds needed to maintain the buildings so they abandoned the property and put it up for sale!! Since then vandals, copper thieves, drug users, and squatters have heavily damaged everything to the point of disrepair!!

[@jennaperesta6118]

I used to go here! The room that you said was a sound room is actually a cry room for babies! Lots of fond memories of this place, and sad to see it this way!

[@jennaperesta6118]

I was also baptized in the main sanctuary!

[@LarryRobert-sg1gm]

Hi Jenna 👋🏻

[@touhouguyII]

I just did this today and managed to make my way to the top of the two towers, breathtaking view! I live right on Celtic in front of the place so it's just a simple walk...amazing place to explore!

[@neohistoryfan1014]

I am an Akron resident myself (I live by the Fairlawn country club on the west side) I have a video of the old Rankin ES and the old Bell System microwave tower in Richfield!

[@trxfrmr4191]

Why are you whispering, church is not in session?

[@jlmu2583]

I was in that church in 2018 and it was not like this in any way shape or form. They closed because of low attendance but another church kept it open until a huge Black church from Cleveland bought the building and opened up a church there. It ran for a couple months and then closed the doors again. When they left they took a ton of stuff with them. And as usual Vandals got in and so did the weather. Sad really that Gods house would be treated that way. Sad.

[@jennifermitchin7091]

Actually it was abt then falls gave to hands of ed Holland he change name then paid off debt then sold church to word church in Cleveland. There was no other church between abt and word church.

[@toddmiller7876]

What do you mean, a huge black church? You mean it couldn't survive because white people wouldn't attend a huge black church?

[@jennifermitchin7091]

Thank u for tour. Can't say I didn't laugh a few times bc I knew where u were. The church had 2 worship center. The 1st one u found was for 10:30am service and big worship center was for 9:30am service. I went to abt since I was 14. Only thing is I don't agree with title mega church. Mega churches just take ur money. ABT invested their time and money into God, people and community. I was married in my 1st marriage at that church. My son and I were both baptized in that church. I know church inside and out bc I did sound and light for services and events there. We left church when it was sold to word church. Where they didn't have means to take care of place. Which brings the question why buy it if u couldn't take care of it. They left it and fell in state it is now because of that. It's so sad 😞 but brought back alot memories watching this video. Thanks for sharing

[@DecayingAce]

I apologize for our use of “Mega Church”. We only use the term because of how massive the church was and we knew nothing else of the building. Thank you for informing us more about it. It’s always interesting to hear about personal experiences in the buildings we explore. Thanks for watching

[@jennifermitchin7091]

@@DecayingAce I understand about title it huge church. Went there every Sunday almost. I was very touching video even though the bad shape it's in. It was hard for us leave after they sold it. I got say ur guys comments got me laughing, too bad I didn't know ya earlier I could tell everywhere u were going. Do u plan go back at all?

[@somerradebaugh3986]

My parents grew up there and so did I. My husbands dad was the worship pastor there, my mom was the head secretary for the pastor and my dad was a on maintenance for years This is so sad. You didn’t even scratch the surface of the that building. My sister did the murals in the nursery and it’s so sad to see that place like that. Those evacuation cribs you saw were used on sundays to put children inside in case of a fire. The nursery has hundreds of kids and babies each Sunday.

[@DecayingAce]

We have no current plans to go back

[@kdgrim1]

You should post some of the pictures. The catwalks in the main auditorium are crazy. Such a well built building. It’s sad to see the state of the production gear in there

[@Mastergoat568]

I went there for church I miss that place😢

[@gavinknight107]

you guys missed a place. there is a place further down called connect and powerhouse. if you get a chance, try and part 2 and explore down there. could have some potentially cool stuff

[@DecayingAce]

We do wish we could’ve explored more but we started to notice an increase in homeless people and didn’t want to disturb anyone plus our main goal was to see the temple so we decided to leave

[@gavinknight107]

@@DecayingAce ok! i respect it!

[@Saber808]

Pure excellence at your exploring

[@petunjukelektronikchannel]

Pastor Dallas where are you😢

[@younglenori6030]

unfortunately people have been burning it down lately 😕 insides out

[@robertcowley1894]

Don't understand why you guys always whisper. Sounds like you guys are going to rob the place and don't want the security guards to know you're there.

[@eileenbrannan9131]

Both of my daughters had their Coventry High School graduation ceremonies there. It was really beautiful inside.

[@LarryRobert-sg1gm]

Hi Eileen 👋🏻

[@davidmitchell8798]

How, why do Christians get entangled in large buildings? You saw it in Europe.

[@MitchellWeisiger]

Allen digital computer organ

[@alankovacik1928]

must get cold in the winter 🥶🥶🥶🥶🧊🧊❄❄⛄⛄

[@jpan7071]

Let’s have the federal govt retrofit all these abandoned buildings, homes throughout America and provide housing for the thousands of people around the country. Make some of them specifically to treat drug addiction. Provide training. Turn people into welders, electricians, plumbers, etc. or am I deluded?

[@charliebudcat]

I wish you could’ve made it up to the baptistry.

[@joesmith7427]

Where in ohio?? I'll bit!!

[@dominickaltringer6621]

It’s fenced off now

[@tbellew100]

What a shame. I went to that church a few times because my son was interested in their youth group. I go to Showcase Meat across the street at least once a week.

[@nathanlester9985]

Was someone banging on the wall towards to the end? Kinda freaky, almost like Morse code for get the fck out.. I live nearby and rode around that place earlier today. I looked into many windows until I heard people talking inside, near the front northern corner.. didn't know why, should have figured there were ppl living inside. That spiral staircase was interesting, I wonder where that led too. I head that place was Soo equipt that I had a broadcasting television and radio studio. It was so large that there was a speaker system Installed outside. I believe the one i photographed up close was one of the last outside pa speakers that remain up front near the main doors next to the administration office. Anyways, Good stuff guys. I'd love to share some info on that forsaken place. I've got a lot of info on Akron's former and industrial past. The area around it housed alot of old and abandoned factory based infrastructure under and above ground. Some still sit deep in the fields behind building.

[@Shendimomber777]

The spiral staircases leads to the rooftop. I went there last night and the view was incredible

[@whyyousosalty7859]

Also idk if you saw, but there are two “temples” in the church, the main temple, but then the Bridge. You highlighted the Bridge, but i dont think you went to the auditorium in the video, its all cool… the main temple was bigger

[@DecayingAce]

I thought we got to the biggest part but maybe not. That place is so big, it doesn’t surprise me that we missed some stuff 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@whyyousosalty7859]

@@DecayingAce yeah it was very big, the top floor was a mini golf place, 9 holes, middle school and elementary used it during the “summer camp” sks, best memories i had

[@TheFibtastic]

The Bridge was the main sanctuary before the big main temple was finished in the mid 80s, and also during the early '80s after the original 2nd temple was destroyed in a massive fire. After the big new temple the old sanctuary was split into two levels by building the balcony out across the whole room, but it was also very big (and in my opinion prettier than the new tacky '80s one).

[@kierrawoofter]

It's crazy I grew up here in akron. As well attended this not as a member but during free school supplies program. And I remember just going from room too room. Even outside would be filled with various activities and offerings too the community weather that was the material things or Godly....lol i remember the time that I've actually heard of this church as a young teen, they had their own show on TV- I was told. And then they moved by chapel hill mall.....so after all that lol what is the name of this church again lmao smh

[@kierrawoofter]

Lol nm I figured it out 😭🤞

[@jessicapelfrey1748]

My husbands grandma attended this church for YEARS she was a Sunday school teacher would go to the nursing home Wednesdays for bible study we got married there in 2014

[@LarryRobert-sg1gm]

Hi Jessica 👋🏻

[@gailsutton9987]

Acts ch. 8 both Jew and Gentile had hands laid on them and received the Holy Ghost. That's why churches die out, not being born again. No connection to the ONE mediator, they are rooted in the unholy Anti Christs with roots of evil that cannot bear fruit of the Holy Spirit. Especially the root of all evil, the love of money.

[@TheFibtastic]

This church died out because it was a psychologically abusive hell hole. It, in itself, WAS the evil.

[@whyyousosalty7859]

My grandfather was the pastor here, his name was ed, i grew up here. I explored every inch of that place… sad to see it in ruins

[@fudddetector7708]

This should be a reminder to all churches that ministry should never be a family business. After his son got a hold of it it was doomed. You can’t forget about God and go for money, which sadly it became a money grab by some very unscrupulous people. Unfortunately they drove out the remainder of the people that were truly called to ministry and milked it for every last cent. The church could have been saved and would still be flourishing, but the almighty dollar became the worship symbol. Through God all things are possible. Unfortunately ABT forgot that.

[@mikemorgan4232]

You have no idea what you are talking about,get a life man....

[@mindycollier9087]

ABT was at its peak shortly before Dallas F. Billington died and then attendance was steadily declining for various reasons including the decline of Akron's economy and population!!

[@IAmNotAFunguy]

I graduated high school in 2010 and this is where we had our graduation ceremony.

[@maried.5967]

I lived less than 5 mins from here. I always wondered what the inside looked like and what the deal was.... thankfully I no longer live in ohio. That was 1 long year in a half. I did however meet the best neighbors one could have. ❤

[@ruthgoldbergives6945]

😢😮This doesn't make any sense.

[@alankovacik1928]

⚠⚠⚠⚠use⚠caution⚠⚠⚠⚠

[@coenanimation]

By that stained window they were married and my dad has photos and that was his whole childhood

[@davidalzate3915]

Im in a small country church called Heritage Baptist Church we run bus routes my pastor preaches as Dr. Dallas Billington preached the Bible me and a friend went there and we cried asking God to do the same for us as he did for that church all those years ago. If Dr. Dallas knew what his son did to the people at the church he'd have a heart attack. His son didn't depend on God he went down the wrong path and that is why it is in such a state today stick to God the Bible and love when it is most difficult to love, hardships are what makes a Christian a Christian

[@toddmiller7876]

Somebody raised that son.

[@coenanimation]

My dad made so many tapes in that building

[@coenanimation]

My dad grew up there and got married there in that chirch

[@The1stPreacher]

I went here in 1956 to 1974 when I moved to southern Ohio. This makes me want to puke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@davidcanter2376]

thanks for your time date I think we went there when i was a child my teacher gave me a new testament i still have today It had a drawing of the church on the front this was in 1955 i believe

[@timsmith2103]

Don't watch it ! It's too much. Flat terrible.

[@Trufflemaster]

Demolish and build an Apartment Complex!

[@WouterTukker]

crap, if you have nothing substantial to say about this building and its history, please stop wasting people´s time with such rubbish

[@DecayingAce]

You know you’re not obligated to watch if you don’t like it, right?

[@calli9261]

WHY WOULDN'T JAMES SAVE THE TEMPLE . . .KING JAMES IS NO KING IN AKRON . . .

[@janeanray4011]

I can't believe you're putting this on line......... I work for a criminal law attorney and we currently represent someone charged with Breaking and Entering a felony 4 for being inside here and you're putting your stupid selves on video. Junkies live in this place and one of these days you're going to break into a place like this and find a dead body THEN what are you going to do? Leave it there or call 911 and explain how you happened to be in there?

[@DecayingAce]

Actually, we had permission to be in here.

[@jennifermitchin7091]

Mind ur business dont assume things

[@ChildofGod4ever001]

@@DecayingAce how?

[@tmason1636]

Now you look crazy as hell rambling but didn’t know they had permission. Next time mind your business.

[@williamgullett5911]

You are a paralegal. Lol

[@sidneywolfe9260]

😍 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐦