FBC Headland to double building size to reach area

In 1867, the first eight members of First Baptist Church, Headland, met in a building without windows or heat. Now 140 years later, the Judson Baptist Association congregation is bursting at the seams in its current building and poised to move in early fall into a new building that has heat, windows and a whole lot more.

"The new sanctuary will be able to seat 600 on the ground floor — this will double our capacity. We are very thankful," said Pastor Cecil Sanders. "We’re in a growing community, and the whole reason we’re building is to have a tool to reach out to that community."

The process started more than a year ago with prayer, fasting and a capital growth campaign before a ground breaking in June 2006. In the time since, the church has accommodated the overflow crowd by moving to two services on Sunday mornings.

The congregation hopes to be in the new sanctuary by September or October.