Jamestown Baptist Church, 3800 ABC Avenue, celebrates its 65th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 4 with a special homecoming service and fellowship luncheon.
The Rev. Shannon Knight, pastor of Grace Church in Guin, Ala., and a noted Gospel singer, will be the guest for the special worship. In addition to his pastoral work, Knight is the lead singer for the Music City Quartet, and has been featured on TBN and Gaither homecoming concerts.
He will be both preaching and singing during his program. After the service, lunch will be served in the church’s social hall.
The church’s roots were set early in 1960 when the Rev. Clyde Jones and the Rev. W.F. Haines, a pair of local Baptist pastors, felt led to start a church in the Jamestown community of Waycross, the church history says.
After discussions with many, the two started leading services at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings in a tent across from the present campus of Jamestown Baptist. Services, aided by hymnbooks borrowed from Central Baptist, followed in a house before the church’s first structure was erected on its current location.
The church had 33 charter members for the first service in the first building as Jamestown Baptist Church, Sunday, June 26, 1960.
All of the charter members have passed, but many of their relatives have been members, both past and present.
Dennis Carter was called as the church’s first pastor. Other pastors who’ve served the church include Kelly Runyon, Bryan Herrington, Ashley Corbett, Buddy Wasson, Danny Crosby, Ronnie Foster, Billy Adkins, and present pastor Dennis Dean, Jr.
Among staff members, Sheran Strickland was the first music director.
Lamar Christie, who originally came as Minister of Music/Youth, became Minister of Music with the arrival of Lloyd Sermons as Youth Pastor. Other ‘s in that role have included Darren Aldridge, Sam Quick, Stephen Crane, and currently Hal Clifton.
The church’s campus has expanded to include a 500-seat sanctuary, two educational wings, a large social hall, and a Family Life Center, which includes gym, large meeting room, game room, dining area, and kitchen.
JBC hopes to continue being salt and light in not only the Jamestown community, but Waycross and Ware County, as well.
