its 150th anniversary Sunday, April 16

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

First Baptist Church of Troy will present a special Sesquicentennial Celebration service at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16.

The year 2000 is a Year of Celebration for the historic church as it celebrates "2000 Years of Faith and 150 Years of Ministry in Troy."

Day Barnes, publicity chairperson for the event, said First Baptist Church had its beginning in the rough pioneer period of southeast Alabama.

"When Alfred Newton Worthy brought his family to the village of Troy on Christmas Eve 1849, the population was between 250 and 300," Barnes said. "There were as many saloons as dry goods stores with a mere handful of religious people."

Barnes said Worthy was a man of God who overcame many difficulties and soon brought together eight men and nine women, one of whom was a slave, to organize the Baptist Church of Christ in Troy on the third Sunday of April 1850.

On this third Sunday in April, 150 years later, the membership of First Baptist Church invites former members and all friends of the church to celebrate this special day with them.

A regular morning worship service will be held at 10:15 with lunch immediately following.

The special dedication and reunion service, "We Will Proclaim," will begin at 1 p.m. The service will feature the Sesquicentennial orchestra, adult choir and children’s choir. The Hand Bell Ensemble will be featured during the instrumental worship and the 150-year history of the church will be told in a skit titled "Children of the Heavenly King."

Dr. Ed Walter will present the pastor’s vision for the future of First Baptist Church of Troy in the new millennium and the congregation will be invited to join in the singing of several traditional hymns of the church.

"This is going to be a great day of celebration and we want to invite everyone to join," Barnes said.

Former members and guests are encouraged to share both services and lunch with the membership. Over the years, First Baptist Church has touched the lives of so many and all are invited to celebrate this ministry on its 150th anniversary.