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Reverend HamberLin set alxxit to "raise?? them from the deadr' In 1K77 when (he* Gulf (oast. Baptist Association was org;m i /*?d f i 1 Coast Churches had the indentical pastor, J. B. Hamberlin. Baptists looked upon him as a veritable John the Baptist in this beautiful but awfully wicked country. In five and a half years that he remained in service the fruits of his labors may be tabulated thus:	Eight	Churches Constituted,
100 Persons Baptized, Three Houses of Worship Built, more that $10,000.00 raised for all purposes." He was influential in the organization of Gulf Coast Baptist Association. He retired to Healing Springs, Alabama, in November 1888 because of failing health. He died in 1907 at about 80 years of age.
In 1895 the State Mission Board returned the Reverend J. J. W. Mathis, a missionary, to revive the work here. A meeting was held in the Methodist Church on August 2, 1895, Rev. Mathis acquired a plat of land measuring tw> humdred fifty-three feet on Esterbrook by seventy-three feet on Toulme Street. This lot was acquired from Mrs. Dan (Jean N.) Seal for $75.00. The deed was taken in the name of "Reverend J. J. Mathis, H. L. Pledger, H. M. Graham, William Sylvester, and Mary C. Lumkin, Trustees of the Baptist Church of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and their successors in office".
A building was started on this land and by the spring of 1896 the building was "closed-in" and "partially seated" with chairs donated by various friends of the group. In April 1896, Brother Mathis secured the service of Reverend L. N. Brock of Mobile, Alabama, and a revival meeting of "several days duration" was hold. Tw> people were baptized at the close of the meeting. Then on April 19. 1896, an organizational meeting was held and the First Baptist Church of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi was organized officially with twelve or fourteen charter members. Unfortunately the record of this meeting was lost so no actual record exists of the names of the original members. Reverend/Mathis was succeeded by J. G. Sibley as Pastor.
For two years 1900-1902 there were no meeting held as the Church. The building was rendted by the Episcopal Congregation. On Novemlx_;r 2, 1902, a meeting was held at the Bay St. Louis Church which was attended by those in the corrmunity who were