Celebrating 190 years Sept. 7, Canaan Baptist Church, Bessemer, focused on past missions efforts to reach the lost and the importance of maintaining that vision in the future.
The Bessemer Baptist Association church was organized in 1818 — a year before Alabama officially became a state. Subsequently the church was involved in helping to establish Bessemer and Birmingham Baptist associations.
Senior Pastor Morgan Bailey, who has been at Canaan Baptist for two-and-a-half years, said his sermon during the celebration stressed how the church’s proximity to three other cities — Hoover, Helena and McCalla — presents opportunities for future ministry.
“[T]hat was His passion — people,” Bailey said of Christ. “So His church’s passion should be for people.”
The anniversary celebration also featured a slide presentation of the church’s history and covered-dish luncheon following the worship service. While average attendance for Sunday morning worship is 500, approximately 25 former members came for the celebration.
During the service, Bessemer Association and the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission recognized the church and it, in turn, recognized those members who had been there for 50 years or more.
“We couldn’t find any charter members,” Bailey joked.
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