Southside Baptist Church, Talladega, holds a special place in Tommy Griffin’s heart.
Not only did Griffin accept Christ as his personal Savior and witness the baptism of his wife inside the Coosa River Baptist Association church’s sanctuary but he also was a charter member of the congregation when it was officially organized March 3, 1957.
"Having been saved there, it means a lot to me," Griffin said. "A lot of Christian saints have impacted my life in tremendous ways (through the church), and that is what stands out to me the most."
He recently joined about 200 people — including three other charter members — to commemorate Southside Baptist’s 50th anniversary May 6.
The celebration service included presentations of plaques by the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission and Coosa River Association, words of encouragement from the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and music from the church choir. Members and guests also were challenged through a sermon by Pastor Chet Roden on principle elements for the church’s future.
"We need to have Jesus at the center of our attention, let Christ abide in us, abide in Christ’s love and bear fruit. Those four things are the key for our survival as a church body," Roden said.
Since he accepted the call in September 2001 to serve as pastor, Roden has seen the congregation’s commitment to missions — the heartbeat of Southside Baptist — increase dramatically.
"Our members see the importance of working for the Lord and sowing the seeds before they are planted, which could be years from now," he noted.
Close to home, the congregation ministers to race fans in the spring at a campsite near the Talladega Superspeedway through a Sunday worship service and pinewood derby race, which attracted 108 people during race weekend in April.
"The racing ministry has become almost like an addiction for our members but in a good way. They look forward to it every year," Roden said.
Meanwhile the church has demonstrated a commitment to missions beyond the United States. Last year, seven members participated in a missions trip to Guatemala, and this June, eight members are returning there to participate in door-to-door evangelism. Such ministry efforts not only are beneficial to the spiritual growth of the congregation but are also essential to Southside Baptist’s survival, Roden emphasized.
David Ledbetter, a member of the church since 2003, said Southside Baptist helped him take the next step in his spiritual walk.
"Since my wife, Charlotte, and I joined the church, I have seen what my purpose here on earth is," he explained. "The church has shown me the role I need to take upon myself is trying to reach others for Christ."
Southside Baptist was started as a church plant of First Baptist Church, Talladega, in 1954. Three years later, 90 members were on hand to mark the official organization of the church.
The congregation has worshiped in the same sanctuary for the past 50 years. But in 2005, Southside Baptist kicked off its Building God’s Place campaign and received pledges in the amount of $238,376. Roden said the campaign is taking place because the church is running out of space to adequately minister in its community, where it is possible that as many as 4,000 people within two miles of the church are unreached.
Long-range plans call for additional education space, a multipurpose facility and a new sanctuary.
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