First Baptist to celebrate 150 years of ministry
By JIMMY GALVAN

THE HISTORICAL MARKER sits in front of First Baptist Church and tells the history behind the ministry. First Baptist of Jasper will celebrate 150 years this Sunday, Dec. 2 with regular services at 10:30 a.m. and a special program set for 2 p.m. where the new facilities will be dedicated. The public is invited to attend. Newsboy photo/ Jimmy Galvan

It may be hard to put into words how it feels to be b a c k home, but t h i s Sunday, Dec. 3, F i r s t Baptist of J a s p e r will hold a dedication and c e l e b r a - tion of its new facilities.

"It is beyond words how it has felt to be back home," said First Baptist of Jasper Pastor Brian South. "It was so exciting to be home the past two Sundays. There was a lot of emotion and we knew that but it was a lot of joy and thanking the Lord that we have a place to meet.

" W e w i l l n e v e r take it for granted a g a i n , " S o u t h said.

T o help with the celebration and dedication, Dr. John Bisagno, pastor emeritus of First Baptist

Church of Houston, will be the guest speaker at the 2 p.m. service along with Christian recording artist Amy Roth of Nashville, Tenn.

The celebration will mark 150 years of service for the church in Jasper. The church actually marked the anniversary last year but since the new building was not complete, the event was delayed until this year.

"We are actually in the 151st year of service so it's close enough," South said. "We have been pushing this event back so much and we are cutting it close because we have only been in the building for two Sundays.

We had to work out all the kinks in the sound systems and the lights but we are ready to go."

South admitted that even with the kinks not fully worked out, it was "unbelievable" to be home again.

"We always worry about those who are hard of hearing but with this building, the acoustics are incredible," South said. "From the pulpit, I am seeing something that not everybody gets to see and that is the joy on the faces of the people in the congregation. That makes it all worthwhile."

The public is invited to attended the dedication ceremony at 2 p.m.

Sunday at First Baptist. Regular church services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

South pointed out when he talked to Bisagno about speaking at the dedication, he told him that he once conducted a revival at the church in Jasper in the 1980's.

"He remembered coming to First Jasper and said what a pretty little town Jasper is in East Texas," South said. "I told him the town hasn't changed much but you will definitely be in a different church this time around."

Finger foods will be served following the 2 p.m. service.