First Baptist Church (Panama City, Florida)

First Baptist Church is located in Panama City, Florida. The megachurch is listed as the 220th largest church of the Southern Baptist Convention in the nation.[1] The senior pastor is 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 Shane Booker[2]

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 worshipped in a one-room schoolhouse with other denominations. First Baptist Church 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, W. A. Burns served as senior pastor for the church. He moved the church from its first location to a more stately location. In July 1931, E. D. McDaniels became pastor and led the church through the days of the Great Depression; he also began to record the history of the church.[3]

Building and facility

The church grew and finished building the sanctuary that it continued to use as of 2008.[4] First Baptist Church also bought several properties and buildings to accommodate their ministries and mission. They constructed an educational building in the 1950s, as well as utilizing many different sanctuaries over the years.[5] The Church purchased the town's old National Guard Armory to renovate it into the Family Life Building.[6] 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.[7][8]

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.[9] 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.[10] The church also broadcasts television ministries to Bay County and the surrounding areas.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Largest Churches in the Southern Baptist Convention
  2. ↑ http://www.firstbaptistpc.com/#/welcome/ministerial-staff
  3. ↑ Panama City - Glenda A. Walters - Google Books
  4. ↑ "And Twelve Came Forward", a Centennial History: First Baptist Church Panama ... - Donald W. Shepherd - Google Books
  5. ↑ 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
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=6639849290d55e4896416e590ca2daaf. Trimble 3D Warehouse - First Baptist Church Parking Garage. Retrieved 7/23/13
  8. ↑ 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
  9. ↑ http://www.firstbaptistpc.com/#/ministries
  10. ↑ http://www.firstbaptistpc.com/#/missions
  11. ↑ 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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