Shane Stidham said his church has some good problems to deal with.
“The church is built, we’re in it, and it’s about 80% full,” said Stidham, pastor of Fulton Bridge Baptist Church in Hamilton.
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The congregation moved into its new building in November 2025, just five months after construction started. They started the project because they were growing at a rapid pace. When Stidham became pastor four years ago, they were running about 60 in worship. By fall of 2024, they were averaging between 250 and 300.
Now an average Sunday sees about 350 to 400 people walk through the doors, and the church is starting to look at adding a second service.
‘Secret sauce’?
“I knew the church would grow, but I didn’t know it would be like this,” Stidham said. “Our outreach team is incredible; they love to go after lost people. There’s no secret sauce. Anything we can do in the community that we think there’s somebody there who’s lost, we go there.”
He said it’s all God, and his congregation is excited to jump in and work.
“I could not script this,” Stidham said. “They love each other, and they’re so willing to help.”
In addition to a new worship center, the construction project included doubling the size of the nursery and kitchen and renovating the old sanctuary. Construction teams from Texas came to help as well as teams from Baldwin Baptist Association and their local Marion Baptist Association.
The church spent more than $1 million on the project, but thanks to God’s provision, by the time they moved in, they had the debt down to $270,000.
The gifts came from donors both inside and outside the church. Stidham said the generosity has made him cry and affirmed that God is at work in their church.
“We’re excited; we love to be there,” he said. “People can’t wait to get back. The building is absolutely beautiful, but man — those people.”
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