In 1868, 156 years ago, the community of Jesup was described
as “a small hamlet consisting of one railroad wood rack for the purpose of
supplying fuel to the wood-burning engines on the original Atlantic and Gulf Railroad,
one saw mill, a commissary, five bar rooms, and a miscellaneous collection of
hutments to house a group of whites and blacks, laborers associated with the
saw mill. There were no churches in the community.
Two years later in 1870, the small community officially
became a town and was given the name “Jesup.” At about this time, the present
First Methodist Church was organized, and in their church building they
conducted the first elementary school held in Jesup.
In 1877, with many Baptists having moved to Jesup, the First Baptist Church was organized and a building erected on Cherry Street near the railroad. A schism occurred in 1886, resulting in the formation of the Altamaha Baptist Church (not to be confused with the present Altamaha Baptist). However, in 1898 the two churches were reunited by the calamity of the Great Storm which destroyed the meeting house of the First Baptist Church and forced its members to meet with the Altamaha Church. In 1901, the combined congregations united to build a new church centrally located on Macon Street. It was formally constituted as First Baptist Church on June 22, 1902.
After 50 years at the Macon Street location, the church,
under the leadership of Rev. Floyd T. Jenkins, constructed a new complex on the
present Brunswick Street site. The first service was held on September 16,
1951. The present Fellowship Hall was the sanctuary.
In June, 1967, under the leadership of Rev. Dewey Norton,
the church broke ground as part of a building and renovation campaign which
consummated in the construction of the present education building at a cost of
$330,000. The new facility contained a 110-seat chapel and facilities for
Sunday School classes, which were held there for the first time on November 19,
1967. The new facility was formally dedicated on February 25, 1968. The sanctuary was used until March 24, 2002.
Inside the old sanctuary
Construction of new sanctuary
Dedication of new sanctuary
Following this historical pattern of growth and service, on
October 20, 1996, led by Dr. Felix Haynes, the church appointed a Building
Committee to study the facilities needs of the church and to present a phased
program of construction and renovation. The first capital campaign, New
Beginnings I, culminated on November 8, 1998, with pledges and gifts of
$1,356,098.40.
With that financial base, the church moved forward with its
Phase I plan and dedicated its new 900-seat sanctuary on March 24, 2002.
Subsequent capital campaigns, designated as New Beginnings II and III and
Finishing with Faith I and II, have provided for the completion of the Senior
Adult and choir areas, the building of kitchen and youth facilities, renovation
of the old sanctuary into the Fellowship Hall, and remodeling of the
administrative wing. As of September 29, 2013, we have no indebtedness under the
leadership of Dr. Mike VonMoss. God has been faithful and so have His People at
First Baptist Church.
For 147 years First Baptist Church has maintained a viable
presence in Jesup. Over the years we have been instrumental in starting two
missions which became fully independent churches: Memorial Baptist and Anderson
Drive Baptist. In concert with the Altamaha Baptist Association, we supported
the establishment of Trinity Baptist Church.
In addition, First Baptist has sent mission teams to New
York, Arkansas, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland, and
Louisiana. Our members have participated in international mission trips which
include the Bahamas, England, North Korea, Germany, Israel, and Peru. And also,
an International Mission Board Missionary who served in the Middle East. Local,
area, and state missions have included the First School Pre-School Program,
Tabitha’s Place, the Jesup Housing Authority and Fort Stewart residents, the
Good Samaritan Center, the weekly Anna Keith Meals Ministry, the International
Seafarers’ Center, the Baxley Children’s Home, Camp Hawkins, the Christmas
Shoebox Ministry, Morningstar Treatment Services, in addition to the outreach
of individual mission groups, yearly Vacation Bible School, and weekly Sunday
School classes. Beginning in the mid-1980s First Baptist pioneered a program of
services for individuals with special needs. That ongoing effort has been
recognized as a model in the Georgia Baptist Convention.
In summary, First Baptist Church has sought to follow the
teaching of Christ in the Great Commission: “Therefore, go and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20
NIV)
We have no record, and it is impossible to name every person
who has been saved, followed our Lord in Scriptural Baptism, felt the call to
ministry, traveled to some primitive country with the Word of God, prayed for
the lost, visited the sick, fed the hungry, given a penny for missions, or
given a cool drink of water in Christ’s name over the past 147 years. God has
truly blessed First Baptist Church, and we pray that the next 147 years will
find us even more fruitful in proclaiming the love of God.