Lake Highland Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association (BBA) has ministered to residents of its changing community for 80 years. Although church membership has dwindled over the past decade, Lake Highland Baptist has gained members from other churches leaving the area and adapted its ministries to reach a congregation composed mostly of youth and older adults, according to Director of Education Jennifer Duckworth.
Recently the East Lake-area church, led by Pastor Ken Daniel, celebrated its 80th anniversary with a rare homecoming celebration that revealed its secret to longevity. “The church has been around for 80 years because people have passed on their love for the community, for God’s people and for sharing the message of Christ with others,” said Duckworth, who coordinated the event. “Everyone in our congregation is so giving, but the cost of running the church is so expensive. But God has kept the doors open because there is such a great need in the community for the love of Christ.”
During the celebration, former pastors shared memories and the youth choir from the 1970s reunited to sing under the direction of former music minister Allen Headley. Butch Henderson of BBA presented the church with a certificate recognizing the anniversary.
“This day was particularly memorable for some of our senior adults who have been members of the church for most of their lives,” Duckworth said. “If it hadn’t been for everybody giving what they could, volunteering (and) making personal sacrifices, there is no way it could have taken place or be the memorable day that it was.”
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