New Madrid Baptist Church plans 75th anniversary celebration

To mark the 75th year of the New Madrid Baptist Church, Becky Branum, left, and Debbie Russell work on a pamphlet which will detail the church's history. The public is invited to join the congregation for a day of activities on July 16 that will include a special worship service, dedication of the new family life center, lunch and an afternoon singing. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

NEW MADRID, Mo. – It will be a day of celebration as members of the New Madrid Baptist Church and their guests gather to mark the church’s 75th anniversary.

Activities will begin at the 10:30 a.m. worship service July 16 in the sanctuary of the church, located at 1240 Scott St. The church’s longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeff Polk, will speak along with Rick Faulkner, chairman of the deacons. Gary Clark, the church’s former choir director, will lead the music.

The service is an opportunity for the public to join with current and former members as former pastors and deacons, who have returned for the event, as well as longtime members are recognized. Following the service, the church’s new FamilyLife Center will be dedicated.

In 1965, improvements continued at the New Madrid First Baptist Church with the addition of the large front porch and a steeple to top off the structure. (Submitted Photo)

Activities will continue with a dinner in the Family Life Center. At 1:15 p.m. that day, past and present members will gather in the church for a singing.

Church history

According to the church’s history, there were several attempts to organize a Baptist church in New Madrid. All of those attempts failed.

However, on July 11, 1948, J.E. Brown, who was serving as director of Missions for the New Madrid Baptist Association, and his wife, Gertrude, assembled a group at the old Masonic Hall in New Madrid, to propose organizing a Missionary Baptist Church. Nineteen signed on at the end of the first service with more members to soon follow.

Brown would become the pastor for the new church, serving until ill health forced his retirement in June 1953.

The Masonic Hall was the congregation’s home only briefly. Property was purchased at the church’s present location at the corner of Scott and LaForge streets, where services were first held in the newly constructed basement in 1950.

As the congregation grew, so did the church building.

A two-story educational building was soon added followed by an auditorium. In 1961, the church dedicated its newly completed baptistery and new piano and organ.

In 1965, a remodeling and improvement program was completed that included the placement of the church steeple and the creation of the front steps, porch and large white columns.

Ground was broken on the Family Living Center in 2019 with work completed in 2021. Although the opening was delayed by the pandemic, the 40 by 48-foot building is now regularly used by the congregation along with other organizations.

Throughout its 75-year history, the New Madrid Baptist Church has been an active partner in New Madrid and the surrounding area.

Church members recall revival services which filled the church to overflowing. Outreach programs have extended the church’s message and numerous programs developed for the younger members of the congregation.

Today, Long and the church members are involved in the National Day of Prayer and assist with “Meet Me at the Pole” at the high school. As part of the community outreach, the church provides meals for sports teams and works with the Community Food Bank to distribute food to those in need.

Debbie Russell, who heads the church’s History Committee, attributes the church’s continued growth to strong leadership.

“I think by the Lord’s leading, the pastors have come and the members were willing to follow,” she said. “I am looking forward to the anniversary celebration. It will be an opportunity to see some of those pastors and to share in the fellowship with those families who have grown up in the church.”