Alabama, Florida Baptist churches join choirs

Alabama, Florida Baptist churches join choirs

When adult choir members of two churches from different states gathered Dec. 18 to sing in one Christmas cantata, it was “a little unique experience,” according to Pastor William Aplin.

Aplin, who serves at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Florala, said the idea was first thought of in the fall when Pastor John Lovelady, who serves at Paxton Baptist Church, Paxton, Florida, came as a guest speaker at Chapel Hill Baptist’s revival.

“We thought it would be a nice thing to do together,” Aplin said of the cantata, “Arise, Shine.”

It was the first worship service the two churches had held together. Located only seven miles apart geographically, Chapel Hill Baptist and Paxton Baptist have combined youth group events in the past, Aplin said, and this cantata was a continuation of the partnership in ministry. But these recent events aren’t the only connections between the two churches — more than 40 years ago Aplin was ordained to the ministry at Paxton Baptist. (Neisha Roberts)