First Baptist Church of Haynesville celebrating 200 years of ministry 

HAYNESVILLE — First Baptist Church of Haynesville will be celebrating its 200th anniversary on Sunday, October 20. 

The service will last from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a meal to follow. 

FBCH will be hosting revival services the following Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with a different speaker every night. These speakers include Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett McConnell, Lead Pastor Jeremy Morton of First Baptist Church of Woodstock and Pastor Jim Perdue, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins. 

According to a document from the FBCH History Committee sent to the Journal, the first Baptist congregation established in Houston County was in the community of Hayneville. 

“It was originally named Dry Creek Baptist Church. There were 9 charter members, and Rev. Frederick Barber was the first pastor. The church was constituted on October 9, 1824 (the same year that Perry was incorporated), and the name was changed to Hayneville Baptist Church in 1837. The William Coalson family gifted land for Hayneville Baptist Church to be built,” the document said. “Joseph Tooke, considered to be the wealthiest man in Houston County at that time, donated the building materials for Hayneville Baptist Church.” 

Jeannine Hall has been a member of FBCH since 1987. Along with Gail Yansom and Theresa Singletary, she is a member of the church’s History Committee. 

Hall said it is very important to celebrate a milestone like this one. 

“The City of Perry is also celebrating its 200th birthday of [the city] being founded as well, and so it is just very interesting to think back to those early days as Perry was being founded as our church was being founded,” Hall said. 

She also mentioned that the Houston Home Journal has been an integral part of FBCH’s history. The Journal covered the church’s 150th anniversary in 1974. 

“We do have a very rich history, and our church has grown substantially throughout the years,” she said. 

According to Hall, FBCH now has a full-time youth pastor and a music minister. The church sadly lost its senior pastor, David Fisher, who passed away in January of this year. FBCH is now led by associate pastor Winfred Huff, who is filling in as they search for a new senior pastor. 

Hall also mentioned that FBCH has several different ministries for every age group. 

“We try to have different fun things in church during the year, so the whole congregation can get together,” she said. 

Some events FBCH puts on that Hall mentioned include a 1950s-themed sock hop, a wild game supper for the men, a special women’s weekend and a widow’s ministry. The church softball team has also been a big deal for the church since its creation in the 1970s. 

Hall said she and the church members are humbled that FBCH has been here for almost 200 years. 

“We’re humbled that God has really blessed the church, when you think about the different time periods going back to the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Great Depression as [FBCH] has been there all this time,” she said. “God has blessed this congregation, and it’s kind of humbling to think about all of the different people who have been on that property over 200 years who have really served the Lord and just wanted the best for the community.” 

All are welcome for the FBCH Homecoming celebration, and the church is happy to receive any new visitors.

Stay up to date on the church at facebook.com/FirstBaptistHaynesville.