below is a brief synopsis of our church's history from inception
On May 14, 1883 seven concerned people under the leadership of T.S. Powell, pastor of Bunker Hill Church, met at the Columbia, MS. courthouse for the express purpose of organizing themselves into a Baptist church. These Charter members – Dr. & Mrs. M.L. Banks, Mr. & Mrs. W.C. Mobley, W.R. Fortenberry, J.W. Holleman, and Mrs. E. Finn (mother of Mrs. Banks) felt this to be an important step for the cause of Christ and for their own spiritual well being. From 1883 – 1890 this small group, which was steadily increasing, met for worship in the courthouse, Masonic Hall, or the newly constructed Methodist Church, and they adopted as their motto “He will be our guide.” When the church paused in 1913 to take a look at themselves and their accomplishments so that these could be recorded in a church leadership of its early pastors – T.S. Powell, J.G. Chastain, F.D. Baars, James N. Walker, Rollard W. Hall, T.E. Robinson, J.R. Carter, J.P. Culpepper, W.H. Willams, J.T. Dale, W.A. Hewitt, Bryan Simmons, S.A. Wilkinson, J.B. Quin, and W.E. Farr-they could point with pride to certain memorable dates:
1890 – Church building erected near cemetery on lot donated by General T.S. Ford.
1891 – Church dedicated with B.D. Grey preaching the sermon.
1898 – Parsonage built on High School Avenue lot purchased from G.H. Rankin
1900 – Pastor called for half time instead of one fourth.
1903 – Additions were made to the church.
1904 – Pastor called for full time.
1907 – New parsonage built on corner of Dale Street and High School Avenue on lot purchased from Dr. T.B. Ford.
1908 – Balcony placed on church building to accommodate increase in Sunday School.
1909 – South Mississippi Baptist Sunday School Convention held in Columbia Church.
1910 – Additional Sunday School rooms built.
1912 – Sunday School receive A-1 award: a movement launched in February to erect a new building resulted in a completed structure in November.
Sep 1912 – Sep 1913 Unprecedented growth when more than 400 names were added to the roll.
1961 – New church building was built;
1965 – new parsonage constructed;
1969 – Full payment of church building;
1970 – New pipe organ installed;
1971 – church bus purchased;
1971 – Minister of Education and Minister of Music hired. Church building was air conditioned.
1976 – Dr. J. Roy McComb began his leadership as pastor of the church.
1977 – Wayne Ward called as Minister of Education. Served until 2006.
1977 – Bernie Parker called as Minister of Music. Served until 2006.
1979 – Don Lum called as Minister of Youth. Served until 1997.
1986 – Fire in the building destroyed education building, church offices, music suite and music library.
1989 – Family Activity and Gym built.
1993 – Dr. Wayne VanHorn called as Pastor. Served until 2005.
1995 – Sanctuary remodeled
1998 – CJ Johnson called as Minister of Youth. Served until 2011.
2001 – Jennifer Baker called as Preschool/Children Ministry. Currently serving.
June, 2006 – Tom Thurman called to minister to our Senior Adults. Currently serving.
At the close of 2006 our church giving totaled $1,264,536.04.
April 1, 2007 - Dr. Bryant Barnes begins service as pastor.
May 4, 2008 - FBC celebrates 125 years of ministry with a month long celebration.
June, 2008 - O.J. Seals begins service as Minister of Education.
April, 2009 - Hugh Plunkett called to serve at Minister of Music. Currently serving.
October, 2010 - Mary Herrington called to serve as Associate Minister for Church Care. Currently serving.
July, 2011 - Shannon Willis called to serve as Interim Youth Minister. Currently serving.
1890 – Church building erected near cemetery on lot donated by General T.S. Ford.
1891 – Church dedicated with B.D. Grey preaching the sermon.
1898 – Parsonage built on High School Avenue lot purchased from G.H. Rankin
1900 – Pastor called for half time instead of one fourth.
1903 – Additions were made to the church.
1904 – Pastor called for full time.
1907 – New parsonage built on corner of Dale Street and High School Avenue on lot purchased from Dr. T.B. Ford.
1908 – Balcony placed on church building to accommodate increase in Sunday School.
1909 – South Mississippi Baptist Sunday School Convention held in Columbia Church.
1910 – Additional Sunday School rooms built.
1912 – Sunday School receive A-1 award: a movement launched in February to erect a new building resulted in a completed structure in November.
Sep 1912 – Sep 1913 Unprecedented growth when more than 400 names were added to the roll.
1961 – New church building was built;
1965 – new parsonage constructed;
1969 – Full payment of church building;
1970 – New pipe organ installed;
1971 – church bus purchased;
1971 – Minister of Education and Minister of Music hired. Church building was air conditioned.
1976 – Dr. J. Roy McComb began his leadership as pastor of the church.
1977 – Wayne Ward called as Minister of Education. Served until 2006.
1977 – Bernie Parker called as Minister of Music. Served until 2006.
1979 – Don Lum called as Minister of Youth. Served until 1997.
1986 – Fire in the building destroyed education building, church offices, music suite and music library.
1989 – Family Activity and Gym built.
1993 – Dr. Wayne VanHorn called as Pastor. Served until 2005.
1995 – Sanctuary remodeled
1998 – CJ Johnson called as Minister of Youth. Served until 2011.
2001 – Jennifer Baker called as Preschool/Children Ministry. Currently serving.
June, 2006 – Tom Thurman called to minister to our Senior Adults. Currently serving.
At the close of 2006 our church giving totaled $1,264,536.04.
April 1, 2007 - Dr. Bryant Barnes begins service as pastor.
May 4, 2008 - FBC celebrates 125 years of ministry with a month long celebration.
June, 2008 - O.J. Seals begins service as Minister of Education.
April, 2009 - Hugh Plunkett called to serve at Minister of Music. Currently serving.
October, 2010 - Mary Herrington called to serve as Associate Minister for Church Care. Currently serving.
July, 2011 - Shannon Willis called to serve as Interim Youth Minister. Currently serving.