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A 3RIEF HISTORY of the
FIRST SOUTHERN 3APHST CHURCH	„
of
PEARLINGTON, MISSISSIPPI	W.'*
In the early 1960's, when NASA acquired the property for a huggjspace program in Hancock County, many families were uprooted and dispersed, pangfof these families were relocated in Pearlington, Mississippi.^J^result was the merger of the Logtown , Baptist Church, Nepoloon Baptist Church, and the Pearlington Baptist Mission which was sponsored by the First 3aptist Church of Biloxi, I^Iississippi.
On September 29, 1963, one hundred twenty-six members from tho two churches and the mission mot together for the purpose of organizing a now church. This meeting was under the leadership of the Reverand Kr. 0. 3. Anderson, Superintendent of Mis*, sions of the Gulf Coast Baptist Association. The new church was constituted and named, "FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH."
The Rev. Bob Scurlock was the first pastor.	The	firot council members and
building committee members were:	C. N. KcCartty,	3arl Breland, Alfred Hougens,
Larry Landrum, T. F. Ward and Ray Smith. The three deacons, Ray Smith, T. P. TsJard and Ora Holdeij^wpj^&^active daaoons in the former churches ,
A new building was constructed adjacent to the Pearlington one room irissjon*, in Pearlington, Mississippi. Ktig jg tho buildinf:*^ho church is using^a£ presemTJ The congregation moved into the new^building in the spring of 1964. A new pastorium ^j«|re^purchased in November 1963-
The ministers who.have served the church'^r^:	Rev.	Bob Scuriock, Rev, Thomas
Hires, Rev. John Wardle, Rev. Harold Voice, Rev. Bob Hay, and Rev. J* L. Raoborry-.
Rev.	J. L. Rasberry is the	present pastor.
The church has a full	time program with * 3unday	School, Church Training,
W.M.U. organization, R.A. and G.A. organizations and a bus ministry. (The churchrs full-time pastor lives on the fieldT^ 7