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FROM THE PASTOR?S STUDY
The year 1977 marks the 100th birthday of First Missionary Baptist Church. It is with grateful hearts we come to this moment in the history of our Church.
The Centennial celebration should help to encourage Christian commitment and Church loyalty among all of our membership, for we have come this far by faith, leaning and depending on the Lord.
Surely, we have a great heritage left to us by those who dared to be different. We should remember the depths from which we came and the rock from which we were hewn.
Much of the Church?s history is built around character studies. Presentday leaders and youth should become familiar with biographies of our Church?s founding fathers. Information may be found in early Church minutes, Church anniversary programs and other available records, photographs and scrapbooks which are displayed in the homes of some of our older members. By reading these you may gain an appreciation and understanding of our Church?s history.
It is no accident that we would come to this day and find ourselves working to make our witness felt. In the total scheme of things as God has designed, we must face the challenge to accept today?s task, responsibilities and privilege to give a reason for the faith that is in us.
Influenced by the needs of our times, motivated by love for humanity we must now resolve to give our all to help our Church meet the challenge of today. Each member must come to a more meaningful commitment to the cause of Christ.
The present accomplishments of our membership should not be minimized, nor the view of the paths that lie ahead be blurred by false pride or the lack of faith in one?s self, or the working of the Lord through it all, be forgotten. The present days are glorious days, evidenced by the type of leadership God has given us. We have some very wonderful Christian men, women, and young people who are reflecting something of
the place God must occupy in our lives if the Church is to really witness convincingly. Those who have gone on before have surely blazed a clear path for us, they nave lighted tall candles. Today we do well to pause and say ?Thanks? to God for such noble soldiers.
For the past one hundred years, First Missionary Baptist Church has given something of herself to this community. In many lives, she has brought hope; to many helpless souls she has been a very present help in time of need; to many storm tossed mariners she has been a lighthouse, to the weary she has been rest and to the lost, a way station. In this our day and world we must meet the challenge of this decade with confidence, ?I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.?
As we enter this experience let us come recognizing our debt to God, and our fellowman, and as true MISSIONARIES let us let the world see JESUS in us.
Lawrence Collins, Sr.
Your Pastor