Many things have changed at First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove, in the course of 100 years.
The name was changed from Harmony Baptist Church in 1968 to move the church to a new level, according to former pastor Reginal Stokes. Although staying on the same Fourth Avenue property, the congregation moved from worshiping in a wooden whitewashed sanctuary to constructing a brick building in the 1970s.
And even though none of the founding members were present during the church’s 100th anniversary celebration Oct. 19, their legacy of faithfulness to God was clearly evident. On the church’s founding date, Oct. 18, 1903, one member joined the church by baptism.
One hundred years and one day later, 10-year-old Cody Graham, grandson of members Charlotte and Duke Graham, walked down the aisle during the Sunday celebration and announced his wish to be baptised. Cody Graham made a profession of faith during this summer’s Vacation Bible School.
Pastor Joe Godfrey’s welcoming notes in the day’s celebration guide emphasized the commonalities between today’s congregation and that of the 1900s. The church still studies and lives by the same Bible and gospel message as the church’s founding fathers, Godfrey noted.
“The basic foundational message that Jesus died and rose again never changes,” he said. “The mark of a successful church is that it can change with the times without changing the message.”
The burden of reaching the world for God is still present, although members now go themselves on missions trips instead of just sending others to the missions fields, he added.
Lastly, “we follow the same Jesus,” Godfrey said. “Jesus was present on the first day this congregation met, and He is present today.”
This theme of continuity was evident throughout the weekend centennial celebration.
An antique car show was held Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eighty-five cars were on display, competing for Pastor’s Choice, Deacon’s Choice and Best of Show awards.
Pointing out that the church had been around as long as Ford Motor Company, which celebrated its 100th birthday earlier this year, Godfrey chose Jerry Bishop’s A-Model Ford for the Pastor’s Choice Award. “I’m partial to the A-Model because the first picture of me as a boy was me sitting on my father’s lap in his A-model,” Godfrey said, quickly adding that the photo was taken when the car was about 25 years old.
After the antique car show competitors and attendees met at the church’s Chandler Family Life Center to share memories while looking over old photographs and memorabilia.
Sunday’s service recognized former pastors Harper Shannon and Reginal Stokes, as well as returning church members.
Greetings from Pleasant Grove’s sister churches in Birmingham Baptist Association (BBA) were expressed by Margie Duncan, congregational consultant with BBA. Betty Mullins presented a plaque commemorating the church’s 100 years from the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission.
Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Convention, brought greetings from the state board, as well as a plaque recognizing the church for its contribution to the Cooperative Program.
“What was exciting, was the emphasis on our relationships with the BBA, the State Board of Missions and the SBC,” Godfrey said. “It showed we’re a part of that total big picture, and not an entity unto ourselves.”
Rob Perry, minister of music for First, Pleasant Grove, took the congregation on a musical journey through 100 years of songs and choruses.
The singing began with songs like “Praise Him! Praise Him!” and a Sunday School chorus called “Everybody Ought to Love Jesus” from the early 1900s and continuing through to “Heaven Came Down” written in the middle part of the century, to choruses from today such as “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.”
“The way we present the message may not always be the same, but the message is always the same,” Perry said.
Lance, who was the day’s speaker, pulled from the past to speak to the present.
Preaching from the text used during the first meeting of the church Oct. 18, 1903 — John 15:1–6 — Lance shared with the church some “constant reminders that every church generation needs.”
Pointing out that “these are affirmations that tie the church generations together,” Lance reminded the congregation that nothing is too difficult for God, and He is always present.
As churches grow in size and age, Lance said, these are lessons members need to keep in mind. He added that many churches in Alabama are 150 to 200 years old, so Pleasant Grove is entering “the best years of its life.”
Godfrey said although the church may be relatively young, it still has enough history to remember and by remembering, be reminded of its purpose.
The day’s final act of opening the cornerstone that was installed in 1953 was part of staying the course. Harper Shannon who was pastor when it was installed, was on hand to help open the stone. Inside was a church handbook, detailing the members and the church’s policies.
Godfrey said the church plans to replace the cornerstone, putting inside strips of paper with the attendees’ names on them and DVDs of the celebration weekend.
“I think they’ll still have DVD players when the cornerstone is opened 50 years from now,” he noted.
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