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Church pictorial directories were distributed during April. Each individual or family unit who had a picture taken, received a free directory. On April 28, a ?Back to Peru Fellowship? was held in honor of Uless and Mary Lee Bergeron upon their return to mission work in Peru after being home for a year. It was sponsored by our GAs and RAs.
First Baptist Church was one hundred years old on April 19, 1996. A centennial celebration and homecoming are planned for June 8 and 9. On Saturday night a catered dinner is planned at Hancock High School, and on Sunday there are special services at the Church.
May was a busy, exciting month with all the planning and working to ready ourselves for the centennial celebration ahead.
As this history ends, First Baptist Church is 100 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 throughout. At first it was applied to the local church. Then it reached out to Kiln, Lakeshore, Waveland, Diamondhead, and Bayside. Then it reached out to missions in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and California. Outside our country, it reached out to missions in the Dominican Republic, Kenya, and Rome. Throughout its history this Church has obeyed the Great Commission: ?Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.? Mark 16:15
Through this history I trust that one can realize that God can use His people, though few in number, to accomplish great things. He has brought us from a meager beginning to an abundant present. God has blessed us in so many ways! Perhaps the greatest blessing was good leaders who were willing to step out in faith when things seemed tough. May we accept the challenges of the future in the same manner.
Compiled by: Beatrice Ladner
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