FBC Oak Grove celebrates 125th anniversary

By the summer of 1881, the founders of First Baptist Church, Oak Grove, in Bessemer were so determined to add a Baptist church to their community that area men constructed a building before the congregation was formed. 
  
A few months later, 25 men and women joined the Mud Creek Baptist Association church and began working to make it a strong force in the community. Over the years, the charter members’ goal was achieved as First, Oak Grove, grew in size and attendance, averaging about 250 in worship now.
  
Recently the church added another accomplishment to its rich history as it celebrated its 125th anniversary. During the event, more than 100 current and former members gathered for a potluck dinner followed by a worship service in which former pastors talked about many of their experiences while leading the church.
  
Lee Praytor, who has served as pastor of First, Oak Grove, for about five months, believes the congregation’s respect for pastoral leadership has contributed to its strength through the years.
  
“One of the major things that has impressed me about the church (is) they have had two pastors in the last 41 years, and to me, that shows that the church is healthy,” Praytor said. “I think that speaks very highly of the church and the people there.”
  
J. Rod Milam, who recently retired as director of missions for the association, believes the “camaraderie of the people with the pastor” and the congregation’s obedience to God’s Word has also contributed to the church’s success through the years.
  
“It’s one of the largest churches in our association,” he said. “They have a good program. They have expanded their building in the past five years, so they are accommodating a good number of people. Their outreach is quite adequate for reaching the people in their community.”
  
Several months ago, church members increased outreach efforts by prayer walking area schools and hosting fifth-quarter events after local high school football games. Praytor believes the projects brought the congregation closer together and sparked an interest in expanding evangelism work. “At our last fifth quarter, we had between 40 and 50 kids,” he said. “We want to continue doing that, expand our ministries and do even more.”
  
In the future, Praytor hopes the church will have a stronger presence in the community.
  
“We don’t want to limit our ministry to inside the church,” he said. “We want to be a church for the community. I want us to … have more of a Kingdom mind-set where we are concerned about lost people and where they will spend eternity — not so much about them coming to our church and being a part of what we are doing but being a part of God’s Kingdom.”