Thomasville’s Vineland Baptist celebrates centennial

Vineland Baptist Church, Thomasville, celebrated its centennial July 21 with approximately 150 people in attendance. 

The anniversary service began at 10:30 a.m., and attendees received a special bulletin with a photo of the Bethel Baptist Association church featured on the front cover.

Bobby Hopper, Bethel Association’s director of missions, spoke to the congregation about the past and moving into the future, and John Reid, representative from the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, presented the church with a framed certificate. 

Pastor Lister Hill also spoke and read Scripture during the service, noted Joanne Alexander, who served on the anniversary planning committee. 

“We did a lot of [singing] during the service of some old songs that they would’ve sang back in … 1913,” Alexander said, adding that a couple of the church members were even “dressed in the fashion back then.” 

Lunch followed at noon in the fellowship hall, and a singing was held afterward with Dixie Disciples. Amber Ranew also sang.

Hill noted that friends of the church and past members who had moved away attended the celebration. “We just had a great time,” he said.

Speaking of his vision for the future of Vineland, Hill said, “We would hope that it would just continue to grow and spread the message of Christ’s love to the community as well as the surrounding area — to be the lighthouse for the lost and dying world. That’s what I would hope Vineland would be and as pastor what I hope it is being.”