Past: First Baptist Church of Jackson is celebrating its 200th Anniversary the week of April 21 - 28, 2024.

The First Baptist Church of Jackson is celebrating its 200th Anniversary having been organized April 30, 1824. Jackson Baptist Church was organized by members of Old Bethel Baptist Church, the first non-Catholic church west of the Mississippi River. Members of Old Bethel Church organized a total of 9 mission churches and of these 9, the Jackson Church is the only remaining daughter of Old Bethel. On April 24, 1824, 9 members of Old Bethel were granted permission to leave Bethel for the purpose of organizing another church. The Jackson Baptist Church ( as it was named when organized ) was officially organized on April 30 1824. In later years the name was changed to First Baptist Church. This church, the oldest church still having regular services in Cape Girardeau County, has endured Cholera epidemics, a fire that destroyed the building, the Civil War, a tornado that again destroyed the church building, & inner strife. But thru it all they continued to persevere and grow. Located at 212 South High Street in Jackson, they are presently one of the largest land owners in the Uptown Jackson area. The church has continued to serve the Jackson area from this location since 1856 when a fire destroyed the building and all of the records. FBC Jackson is also the oldest member of the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association as well as one of the oldest Baptist Churches in the state of Missouri. In 1924, First Baptist conducted a Vacation Bible School event that was the first VBS in the state.

A week long celebration has been planned for April 21 thru April 28. The festivities will begin on Sunday, April 21 at 9:00 AM, with a train ride to & from the historic Old Bethel Church. While there, a special service will be held and refreshments will be served. Since First Baptist had its beginnings at Old Bethel, it was decided that the celebration should begin at Old Bethel as well. A worship service will be held at 10:30 at FBC followed by an old fashioned "Dinner on the Grounds". Other events planned for the week include an ice cream social and light meal on Tuesday evening with historical items and information on display. On Wednesday evening, a ribbon cutting will be held at 5:00 to honor the past 200 years and mark the beginning of next era in the life of the church. On Saturday evening at 6:30 a reenactment of the church's history will be

presented thru word and song. This will be a fun event and all are invited to attend. On Sunday April 28, a special Celebration Sunday service will be held at 10:30 with Dr. Wes Fowler, Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention,as the guest speaker with Rev, Jin Raney leading the song and worship service. Rev. Raney was a former worship minister at First Baptist Jackson. Other guests will include former ministers and staff members and their families. The celebration will conclude with a fellowship luncheon following the service .

The public, former members, their families, & former staff members are invited to join the members of First Baptist of Jackson as they honor and celebrate their history and the persons that have been a large part of that history and look forward to the ministry that God has planned for them.