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Buffer zone forces merger of churches
In the early 1960's, when NASA acquired the property (or a huge apace program In Hancock County, many families were uprooted and dispersed. Quite a few of these famille* were relocated In Pearlington, Mississippi. One result was the merger of Uie Logtown Baptist Church, Napoleon Baptist Church, and the Pearlington Baptist Mission which had been sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Biloxi, Mississippi.
On September 29, 1963, one hundred twenty-six members from the two churches and the mission met together for the purpose of organizing a new diurdi. This meeting was under the leadership of the Reverend Mr. 0. B. Anderson, Superintendent of Missions of the Gulf Coast Baptist Association. The new church was constituted and was named First Southern Baptist Churdi.
The Reverend Bob Scurlock was Um first pastor. The original council members and building committee members were: C. W. McCartty, Earl
Breland, Alfred Hougens, Larry Landrum, T. P. Ward and Ray Smith. The three deacons, Ray Smith, T. P. Ward and Ora Holden, had been active deacons in Um former churches.
A new building was constructed adjacent to tha Pearlington one room mission In Pearlington, Mississippi. The church is using that same building at present. Tha congregation moved into the new church building In the spring of 1964. A new pastorium had been purchased in November 1963.
The ministers who have served the church since Its beginning are:	Rev.	Bob
Scurlock, Rev. Thomas Hire*, Rev. John Wardle, Rev. Harold Voice, and Rev. Bob May. The Revtrmd J. L. Rasberry is the present pastor.
This church has a full time program with Sunday School, Church Training, ■ W.M.U. Organization, R. A- and 0. A. Organizations for the young people, and a bus ministry.
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