Thought I might give you a little heads up on an event coming later this summer that we are getting excited about. Now I could be talking about Vacation Bible School, which I hope you’ll also mark on your calendar for July 11-16, but I’m not. I could be referring to any particular Sunday in which the followers of Christ assemble for worship (I get excited every week), but no.
Would you please write down the date of Sunday, August 15, and plan to come and join us for Ridgway First Baptist Church’s 120th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration? We are so grateful for what our God has done in us and through us and for us in the past, what He is doing now, and what we are confident He’ll do in the future. That’s what we want to celebrate, and what we invite you to celebrate with us on August 15.
The last time we recognized an anniversary was in 1990 when we observed our 100th year of serving Christ as the Ridgway First Baptist Church. This church has a storied history of faith, hope and love, serving our local community and sending out missionaries around the world.
One of my favorite pieces of that history is the leap of faith our membership took to build our current facility. Originally the church was established with just 13 charter members near the corner of Combs and Sycamore streets. The membership had grown to 98 by 1900. But in 1941 an additional numerical growth occurred when the New Zion Baptist Church closed and its members transferred to Ridgway FBC. At that time the congregation voted to relocate and build on the corner of Valter and South streets, which is our present location.
The records show that at that time there the church treasury held just $1.83. Yet the church believed that God would provide and supply their needs as they moved forward in faith. Of course, God did not disappoint. The plans were made, the work began, and the building completed as donations of time, money and materials were given generously, even by people from other denominations.
On September 5, 1943, the new church building was dedicated to the Lord. Then, on August 6, 1944, just three years after the church stepped out in faith with such a meager amount in the treasury, the mortgage was paid off and the note burned.
That’s just one example of the ways in which God has blessed this church abundantly, and how His people have trusted Him wholeheartedly. Today we’re walking in the shadows of some giants in the faith, men and women who have left a tremendous legacy of faithfulness and obedience. And we’re walking in the power of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, who always leads His faithful ones in the way they should go. Personally, I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store for this church.
We want to extend a warm invitation for everyone in the community to join us on August 15. The invitation also goes out to former members and friends who may have moved out of the area, current members who may not have blessed us with your presence for some time, and anyone who wants to come and celebrate with us.
We have invited former pastor Duane Faulkenberry to bring the message that day. Bro. Duane served as pastor here from 1984-1991, and currently serves Bryan St. Baptist Church in Herrin as pastor. Our music leader for our morning service will be Don Moye. Don grew up in this church and went on to become a music minister at First Baptist Church in Vidalia, GA, where he currently serves as Executive Pastor.
After the morning services we’re planning lunch catered in by the Bar-B-Q Barn in Harrisburg. Following lunch we have a Southern Gospel group called the River City Quartet scheduled to encourage us through their music ministry.
August 15 promises to be a special day of rejoicing in the Lord, fellowship with God’s people and anticipation of His future blessings. How about making plans to join us?
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