First Baptist Church, Stevenson, in Tennessee River Association, celebrated its 120th anniversary Sept. 12.
“It was a milestone for us,” said Edna Stallings, the church’s secretary and clerk.
“We had a super day,” said Pastor Derek Boyd. He said the sermon of Lenny Bolton, a former pastor of First, Stevenson, and current pastor of Chisholm Baptist Church in Montgomery Association, challenged the listeners to think about ministry “outside the box.”
In addition to the special worship service that morning and lunch afterward, the day’s events also included an afternoon singing, featuring the Fishermen of Boaz.
Before there was a First Baptist Church in Stevenson, the Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians met together at the Masonic hall.
In 1884, a building constructed of handmade bricks was erected on Church Street for First Baptist, she said. By 1919, there were 53 resident and 43 nonresident members.
The church became self-supporting in 1944 and was named First Baptist. A pastorium followed in 1949, with money from a fund the Woman’s Missionary Union of the church had begun 20 years prior for that purpose, Stallings said.
Then in 1953 an educational building was completed. That first church building is particularly special to Stallings because it was where she was baptized at age 15.
In 1969, the church relocated to its current site on Kentucky Avenue, to a new sanctuary and Sunday School rooms. Another sanctuary and additional Sunday School rooms were dedicated in June 1978. Stallings said First, Stevenson, now has about 440 resident and nonresident members.
(TAB)
Share with others: