Your Life

Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

Church celebrates 150 years, plans events, expansion

GULFPORT — On Nov. 15, First Missionary Baptist Church will kick off its 150th-year anniversary celebration, and church members have a year of activities planned.

“It is what we have going but on a larger scale,” Pastor S.V. Adolph Jr. “I call it First Missionary on steroids.

During the next year, the church will present national speakers, singers, college choirs, plays, portrait contests and more.

FMBC has a colorful history. Rev. A. Vardaman along with Handsboro residents started the church in a log cabin near Bayou Bernard. The church members used the bayou for baptisms. A small building was built at this site. In 1887, the church was moved to its present site, but a building there was later destroyed by fire. Another building was built, and it lasted until another fire consumed it in 1959. The present-day church was built in 1962.

The church building also has been through several expansions over the years.

“While we understand that the church is more than a building, we pray our outward improvements are a demonstration of our inward expansion,” Adolph said.

The church is planning another expansion in conjunction with the kickoff of the 150th anniversary. Plans are to add a new sanctuary along with other additions to support the growing congregation, which is at 800 members.

First Missionary has many programs, including a tutorial program for students and an active youth ministry.

“Our youth ministry is phenomenal,” Adolph said. “We have an atmosphere that causes the youth to want to attend without being forced by their parents to come. We use prayer meetings and Bible studies for teenagers and the little guys.”

Church members provide guidance to help teens cope with peer pressure and other adversities. The church also has a food pantry.

Members support units of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and are developing a Girl Scout program. Members help Scouts get uniforms and supplies, in addition to mentoring them.

A nursery is available for morning worship services. Each fall, a weeklong teaching program offers a variety of topics, such as “Rising above Life’s Adversities.”

Adolph, from Houston, has been in the ministry for 35 years and with First Missionary since 1990.

“We have had a honeymoon for 19 years,” he said. “I have always considered the First Missionary a dream church.”