First Baptist Church celebrates 50 years
<p>Pastor Merle Milner of the First Baptist Church in Libby is pictured with membes of his congregation in groundbreaking ceremonies that will result in a 48x72 cedar-shaked new church on the Farm to Market Road. Pictured in background are Randy Milner, left, Nick Adams, Mary Jo Myer, Stan Schopp, Bill Dirkes, Nancy Schopp, Mervin Hamilton, Dennis Tandberg, Jerry Peterson, Jim Regh, Linda DeHaven, Erv McLaury, Jean McLaury and Tim Smith. Children in foreground are Nathan Adams, Jerry Regh, Travis Schopp, Heather Milner, Ronda Milner, David Cosgriff, Jay Schopp, John Schopp, Irene Olsen,…
<p>Joseph Slaughter</p>
Church One
Libby’s First Baptist Church celebrates its 50th anniversary Sunday.
The church first opened on Nov. 14, 1965, but has not had its own building for quite as long as its existence. Indeed, for many of those 50 years, the church held its services in Libby’s former Moose Hall.
During its first service under Pastor Matthew Thornycroft, 13 people attended, and returned later that night.
Nearly a year later, the church bought property across the street from the McGrade Elementary School to serve as its foundation.
The property would remain vacant until Merle Milner’s tenure as the church’s pastor, beginning in June of 1970. Between then and his departure in December of 1977, the church bought a trailer and moved it over to the newly-acquired property. A well was also placed at the site.
The church would not have its own true building until June of 1972, when Capp Homes Inc. began erecting it. As the church grew, so too did its attendees, raising to between 35 and 40 people.
Three years later, the members of the church sold the land and broke ground on the church’s new foundation in March of the following year. The congregation swelled once again to between 70 and 80 people.
Today, the church resides a quarter of a mile south of its previous location, resting on six-and-a-half acres of land.
The church’s current pastor, Joseph Slaughter is holding a service Sunday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. in celebration of the Church’s 50 years since its inception.
The event will feature an opening with a sermon, followed by a 25-minute stretch of time with an open microphone for visitors and members of the church to speak about the church and its accomplishments, or to reminisce. In the midst of this, the church will enjoy the company of Nathaniel Dupea, grandson of the church’s previous pastor, Robert Noller. Dupea will use this time to read a letter from Noller, who wishes his congregation well from afar as he maintains his health.
Slaughter intends to end the service with a fellowship dinner, inviting all in attendance to stay and socialize.
“This event is about celebrating 50 years of the first Baptist church being in the community, and allowing people a ministry to explore the Bible and what it teaches,” said Slaughter. “The idea is to send the message that we are still here to provide that same ministry. We are not here to provide a daycare or school system. The idea of founding the church was to provide a place where people could discuss the Bible and how it applies to everyday life.”