“To God be the glory, great things He has done; so loved He the world that He gave us His Son,” could be heard throughout the sanctuary at North Oak Grove Baptist Church, Millry, on Sept. 23 as the congregation celebrated its 100th anniversary and opened the day with the old hymn.
The 10:30 a.m. service was filled with worship and celebration according to Leora Gray, a former member who grew up in the church and who served on the four-membered anniversary committee that also included Pearl Grant, Doris Lee and Faye Hester.
A history of the Washington Baptist Association church was presented and descendants of founding members were recognized, as well as former pastors. Lee and Hester were recognized for the longest memberships of the church, 60 and 59 years respectively. John Reid, a representative from the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, presented the church with a plaque.
Former pastor Jerry Estes presented the sermon, and a catered lunch was served in the fellowship hall and an outside tent to hold the more than 150 people in attendance. A slideshow of family and event pictures was also shown.
Lee said the day was an “awesome, celebrating, reminiscing, appreciative” kind of day. People came from all over the state to celebrate, she said. “I’m still basking in the glow [of the day].”
Pastor Frank Gibson said in the Washington County News, “I’m so thankful for being the pastor for the past three years. … In the [past several] years He’s blessed this church and this community.”
(Neisha Fuson)
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