First Baptist Church of Destin celebrates 60 years of worship and memories

The First Baptist Church of Destin will be celebrating its 60th anniversary Sept 14, 2014. The celebration will start during the Sunday morning service at 10:30 a.m. We encourage those who attend to also come to the Bible Study at 9:15 a.m. After the service there will be a lunch in the fellowship hall downstairs. The church encourages all to attend. There will also be activities for the children.

On April 29, 1951, the First Baptist Church of Destin was dedicated after being built as a mission from First Baptist of Fort Walton Beach. First pastor Myron Johnson conducted services in an old school house on Calhoun Avenue until a permanent construction became complete in the spring of 1952. Ten years later, the educational building was built. In September of 1954, the mission officially became a church under pastor Henry Jarvis.

In 1975, five acres of land on Beach Drive was purchased. In 1980, Rev. Charles Padgett came to First Baptist and led the way toward a new building program called Building On First Love. On December 7, 1986, members stood in a circle of prayer around the land as the fallow ground was turned for construction. On Aug. 30, 1987, a dedication ceremony was held for the new facility.

Under the ministry of Bro. Charles Padgett, a preschool was started in the old location on Calhoun. In the churches’ new location on Beach Drive, through the years, God blessed the church with an increased parking lot, youth building,  and a new educational and fellowship hall building in 1994.  Also a Kindergarten through 6th grade school was established. Rocky Bayou Christian School now has a Destin campus on the grounds at Destin First Baptist church. In the new building addition, the Lord blessed the church with a choir room. First Baptist also has a wonderful Child Development Center where children are taught God’s word along with the Preschool Abeka program.

Pastor Dr. Farren Roper and his wife, Laurie, came to FBC in 2012. Dr. Roper is from Georgia and is a certified “Faith” leader from Lifeway/Southern Baptist Convention. He also has a certificate in Marriage Works from the American Association of Christian Counselors and has written a book called, “Counseling The Called.” He preaches God’s Holy Word and there are many smiles when he baptizes those who have given their life to Christ.

After the service on Sept. 14, there will be pictures and other material about the church on display in the fellowship Hall. It will be very interesting to see these pictures and reminisce!

The churches website is www.firstbaptistdestin.com.