The 150th church anniversary of the Baconton Missionary Baptist Church of Walthourville will be observed on May 26.

Baconton Missionary Baptist Church, like most black churches of the late 1800s, answered to the need of former slaves to “pick and choose their praying ground.”  In 1869, God moved upon the hearts of the Rev. W.M. Quarterman. Deacons Julius Rogers, Joe Howell, P.M Mciver, Flanders Pray, and Will Bacon; and they along with 35 members began this church.

Members of Baconton have been planning and preparing for this historical occasion for a while.  Rev. Dr. Hermon  Scott,  Moderator of the Zion Missionary Baptist Association and Pastor of Baconton, said, “We actually began the countdown  to this  celebration four years ago  when we celebrated the Zion Missionary Baptist Association’s  150th Anniversary.”   

“Our overall focus has been ‘Praising God.’  After our 149th Anniversary, our program chairperson, Ms. Barbara J. Jackson, began having planning meetings to plan a monthly event leading up to our main event in May,” Scott said.  

“This year we are celebrating the fact that ‘Our Story is Still Unfolding’ as we ‘Praise God with Worthy Worship,” he said.  

Since the beginning of 2019, each month the Baconton Church Family has celebrated something special. In January they had the Old Ship of Zion musical program; in February during Black History Month the men were in charge of an old fashioned men’s day.  In March during Women History Month, they celebrated with Women in White with different color hats; and in April they had the church’s family picnic at Hillary Park in Walthourville.

The celebratory week’s schedule: begins at 7 p.m. nightly, starting on Tuesday (May 21), with First African Baptist Church, Riceboro, and Rev. Dr.  Neil Dawson; Wednesday  (May 22) with  Good Shepherd  Missionary Baptist Church, Allenhurst, and Rev. Dr. C.L. Anderson; and Thursday (May 23) with First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and Rev. Dr. Sinclair Thorne.

 “Our Sunday service will begin with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.  At 10:15 a.m., we will have a prayer and testimony time with a final opportunity to place items in the time capsule. At 10:45 a.m., we will seal and carry the time capsule outside to be buried for 50 years. There will be the historic ringing of the bell (15 times representing 150 years),” Pastor Scott stated. “We will unveil the historical marker and burn two mortgages.  Then we will enter the sanctuary for a ‘Worthy Worship Experience.’  Pastor Anthony Q. Corbett will be our guest preacher.  Rev. Corbett is the State Moderator for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and Pastor of Lundy Street Missionary Baptist Church in Macon.”  

Pastor Scott is Baconton’s 18th pastor, having served for nearly 22 years.  

“When my family came to Baconton Baptist, we found a congregation of people serious  about their love  for God and a desire  to grow,” he said.

For more information, call 912-368-9134.