First Baptist Church (Panama City, Florida)

First Baptist Church of Panama City, FL is the largest church in Bay County, FL. The megachurch is listed as the 220th largest church of the Southern Baptist Convention in the nation,[1] and is located at 640 Grace Ave, in the downtown area.[2] The senior pastor is Dr. Craig Conner, the senior associate pastor is Bill Sears, the associate pastor as well as the minister of music is Ken Brookins, and the minister of students is Chris Love.[3]

History

The first sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Panama City

Before First Baptist Church of Panama City was built, early residents of Panama City held church in a one-room schoolhouse, where all denominations worshiped together. First Baptist Church of Panama City was started in 1908, and the first pastor was H. S. Howard, who served from September 1909 until June 1911. From March 16, 1926 to November 1929, Reverend W.A. Burns served as senior pastor for the church. He moved the church from its first location to a more stately sanctuary on Harrison Avenue. In July 1931, Rev. E.D. McDaniels became pastor, and led the church through the days of the Great Depression, and also began to record the history of the church.[4]

Building and Facility

From then on, the church continued to grow and finished building the current sanctuary that it uses now in 2008.[5] First Baptist Church also bought several properties and buildings to accommodate their ministries and mission. They constructed an educational building in the 1950s, which is still in use today, as well as utilizing many different sanctuaries over the years.[6] The Church purchased the town's old National Guard Armory to renovate it into the Family Life Building.[7] When parking became a problem for churchgoers, the Church decided to construct a parking garage in 2008, making it the only Parking garage in Panama City.[8][9]

Ministries and Missions

First Baptist Church hosts ministries for all age groups, including a music ministry, discipleship groups, The Most Excellent Way (a group to help those with addiction abuse problems), and FAITH evangelism training.[10] The church also heads missions locally, nationally, and internationally, and also have a separate church service for Hispanic Christians which are told in the Spanish language.[11] The church also broadcasts television ministries to Bay County and the surrounding areas.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Largest Churches in the Southern Baptist Convention
  2. ↑ First Baptist Church of Panama City Panama City, FL, 32401 - YP.com
  3. ↑ http://www.firstbaptistpc.com/#/welcome/ministerial-staff
  4. ↑ Panama City - Glenda A. Walters - Google Books
  5. ↑ "And Twelve Came Forward", a Centennial History: First Baptist Church Panama ... - Donald W. Shepherd - Google Books
  6. ↑ http://pac.nwrls.lib.fl.us/TLCScripts/interpac.dll?LabelDisplay&LastResult=ItemTitles%26Config=pac%26FormId=230634115%26Branch=,0,%26LimitsId=0%26StartIndex=30%26ItemsPerPage=10%26SortField=0%26PeriodLimit=-1%26IdIsDataNumber=0%26DataNumber=150417726%26NotAddToHistory=1%26Count=135%26ItemField=4%26SearchAvailableOnly=0%26PeriodLimit=-1&DataNumber=0&RecordNumber=503273&SearchAvailableOnly=0&FormId=230634115&ItemField=4&Config=pac&Branch=,0, Northwest Regional Library System - First Baptist Church Building. Retrieved 7/23/2013
  7. ↑ http://pac.nwrls.lib.fl.us/TLCScripts/interpac.dll?LabelDisplay&LastResult=ItemTitles%26Config=pac%26FormId=225782886%26Branch=,0,%26LimitsId=0%26StartIndex=50%26ItemsPerPage=10%26SortField=0%26PeriodLimit=-1%26IdIsDataNumber=0%26DataNumber=150520815%26NotAddToHistory=1%26Count=272%26ItemField=4%26SearchAvailableOnly=0%26PeriodLimit=-1&DataNumber=0&RecordNumber=482035&SearchAvailableOnly=0&FormId=225782886&ItemField=4&Config=pac&Branch=,0, Northwest Regional Library System - First Baptist Church Family Life Building. Retrieved 7/23/2013.
  8. ↑ http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=6639849290d55e4896416e590ca2daaf. Trimble 3D Warehouse - First Baptist Church Parking Garage. Retrieved 7/23/13
  9. ↑ http://pac.nwrls.lib.fl.us/TLCScripts/interpac.dll?LabelDisplay&LastResult=ItemTitles%26Config=pac%26FormId=225782886%26Branch=,0,%26LimitsId=0%26StartIndex=50%26ItemsPerPage=10%26SortField=0%26PeriodLimit=-1%26IdIsDataNumber=0%26DataNumber=150520815%26NotAddToHistory=1%26Count=272%26ItemField=4%26SearchAvailableOnly=0%26PeriodLimit=-1&DataNumber=0&RecordNumber=322281&SearchAvailableOnly=0&FormId=225782886&ItemField=4&Config=pac&Branch=,0, Northwest Regional Library System - First Baptist Church. Retrieved 7/23/2013
  10. ↑ http://www.firstbaptistpc.com/#/ministries
  11. ↑ http://www.firstbaptistpc.com/#/missions
  12. ↑ http://www.locatetv.com/listings/wmbb-abc#14-Jul-2013

Further reading

Coordinates: 30°09′37″N 85°39′39″W / 30.16025°N 85.66085°W / 30.16025; -85.66085

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