On September 21, 1841, the United Baptist Church at Albany, Kentucky was organized. That institution, now known as the First Baptist Church of Albany, will be celebrating its 175th anniversary on Labor Day Weekend.

Amoung the first members of the church were two future Governors of Kentucky: Thomas Elliot Bramlette (1863-1867) and Preston Leslie (1871-1875). Leslie also served as Governor of the Montana Territory. Also among the first members was Sam Bell Maxey, who served two terms (1875-1887) as United States Senator from Texas.

Albany First Baptist Church has been located at the same location in downtown Albany since the 1840s, although it certainly is a bit larger than in those days. Known as “The Light House of the Lakes,” its work in the mission field, both foreign and local, is an extension of the principles of the founding members in 1841. The Wolf River and Trooper Island ministries are in their 46th year.

An “Ice Cream Social” will be held at the church Fellowship Hall on Saturday evening, September 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, September 4, there will be no Sunday School and the church service will begin at 10 a.m. Several former pastors will be present, and the featured speaker will be Charles Foster Johnson, who pastured the church in the late 1980s.

A pot luck dinner will be held on Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m. with more fellowship following in the afternoon. Brother Jeff Brown and the entire congregation invite you to come see old friends and renew acquaintances and celebrate and worship with us on this joyous weekend.

Schedule: Saturday, Sept. 3, Ice Cream Social, 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 4, worship service at 10 a.m. and church dinner in the fellowship hall at 12:30 p.m.

About Pastor Johnson:

Charles Foster Johnson is pastor of Bread, a faith community in Fort Worth.

Throughout his thirty-five year pastoral ministry, he has served churches in Mississippi, Kentucky and Texas, including Second Baptist Church of Lubbock where he led in a complete church relocation, and Trinity Baptist Church of San Antonio, where he helped build a multi-cultural and multi-racial community of faith among the 6,000 member congregation. He served interim pastorates with Immanuel Baptist Church of Nashville and Broadway Church of Forth Worth, and served a two-year term on the faculty of McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, as Visiting Professor of Preaching.

In 2013, he founded Pastors for Texas Children, a statewide ecumenical organization mobilizing the faith community for public education ministry and advocacy. His child advocacy also includes service on the Board of Trustees of the Child Friendly Faith Project and with New Horizons Treatment Center for Children.

He is a frequent preacher and speaker in university, church, business, education, and non-profit circles. He has written for numerous publications, and has made guest appearances on several cable network news shows. He is involved in civic and denominational life, including the Mentor Pastor faculty at Perkins School of Theology, SMU and the Board of Trustees for Brite Divinity School, TCU. He was named “Baptist of the Year” by the Baptist Center of Ethics in 2004. He was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 2008.

He is married to Jana, has three children, and three grandchildren. He enjoys reading, hunting, and spending time at his ranch in Desdemona, Texas. You may find him on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.