Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington Baptist Celebrates 20th Anniversary
FARMINGTON — Farmington Baptist Church on Main Street was formed 20 years ago when about 56 people met on July 18, 1993, and voted to organize a new church in Farmington.
Today, the church has about 450 members.
Farmington Baptist will commemorate its 20-year anniversary on Sunday (July 21) with a brunch from 9-10 a.m. and a celebration service at 10:30 a.m.
“It was exciting,” said Ann Johnson, a charter member who now is the church secretary. “My husband and I like the traditional things about church and that was one of the attractions for us. That and the people here are why we’ve kept coming for 20 years. Obviously, we’re happy here because we’re still here.”
Farmington Baptist started as a springboard from First Baptist Church in Farmington, according to Preston Beeks, who has served as the pastor for Farmington Baptist for 19 years.
First Baptist Church vacated its building at 49 W. Main St., and moved to a new location on Rheas Mill Road. Beeks said some people preferred a more traditional Southern Baptist service and began discussing the possibility of a new church in the old church building on Main Street.
Farmington Baptist purchased the property from First Baptist Church and J. Lowell Ponder, a retired pastor who was 88 years-old at the time, agreed to serve as interim pastor.
Another charter member, JoAnn Reeves, remembers that first year as a new church.
She said Ponder was a wonderful, Christian man who gave the church the energy it needed to move forward.
“He made it exciting and God was leading so clearly,” Reeves said. “Everything fell into place.”
Referring to both Farmington Baptist and First Baptist on Rheas Mill Road, Reeves said she believes it was God’s plan for two churches to come about 20 years ago.
“Both are active and growing,” Reeves said.
Farmington Baptist began its first major construction project within five years. The stairs to the sanctuary were steep and difficult to manage for older members. It was determined the sanctuary could be lowered by three feet and work began to remodel the sanctuary to make it more accessible. The project included a new foyer entry, offices, a new roof and steeple.
Within the next five years, the church had outgrown its space and church members voted to build a new sanctuary. The new facility was completed with many hours of volunteer labor and sacrificial giving and the church moved into its new 400-seat auditorium in October 2003.
Beeks said the church has more than doubled its property over the years. It has two acres on its main campus and another acre across the street for parking.
The church has developed many programs and ministries to reach the community during the past 20 years.
Some of the annual events include a community Trunk or Treat, August Luau, children’s camps and ice cream on Sunday evenings after church in August. On Wednesdays, the church sponsors “Main Street Kids” that is open to the children in the community. Other ministries include ladies’ and men’s outreach activities, community and state mission projects, overseas mission trips and partnerships with other churches.
Johnson says she has grown in God during the past 20 years at Farmington Baptist, adding, “That’s what it is all about.”