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collected for the Building Fund.
In -July the Sound Equalization System was installed by the Sound (Vxiinunicat ion Inc. of Jackson, Mississippi at a cost of five thousand six hundred dollars. This was hooked to the radio system and the control rocm was installed in the anall room under the stairs in the front of the Church.
During October the attention of the Church was brought to a possible mission outreach at Bayside Park. The Association would place a trailer there. Our Church's responsibility would be to provide literature and teaching staff. No date was set; but it was mentioned that, probably around Easter would Ix' a gtxxl t.inx? to lx;gin.
During November the Sunday School Enlargement Campaign was begun with the help of J. W. Brister, Associational Director.
It was announced that our Radio Ministry cost us about three hundred dollars a month and is sponsored by several Sunday School classes. Our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this year was $3,500.00. Our Church budget was $147,561.00. The following is a sumnary of our report on the years's basic numerical growth: - Church membership 788 - Sunday School 323 - Church Training 104 - Women's Missionary Union 46 -Brotherhood 40 - Church Music 88.
As this history ends First Baptist Church is eighty seven years old. The seed was planted in 1846 but it took fifty years to become a mature plant. Several sprouts had occurred, but they died. The year 1896 was the magic year of maturity.
One cannot read this history without noting the word "missions' used t houghout..
At first it was applied to the local church. Then it reached out to Kiln, Lakeshore, Waveland, and Diamondhead. Then it reached out to missions in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and California. Recently it reached out to Dominican Republic, Kenya, and Rome. Throughout its history this Church has obeyed the Great Cormussion "Go ye into all the world and preach the gos^l to every creature." Mark 16:15.
Through this history I trust that one can realize that Gcxi can use His people though few in number - to accomplish great, things. He has brought us from a meager