A little more than 14 years ago, the Albany First Baptist Church started the planning and construction on a new facility to add on to the existing building located just off the square in Albany. On Sunday night, with a final push for pledges, AFB was able to secure enough funds to pay off the $21,000 remaining on its loan. Sunday night, AFB received more than $37,000 in pledges which put the funds $16,000 in excess.

Above, members of the community as well as church members came together to fellowship during the note burning ceremony. Below, Steve Peddicord gave a history of the project along with how plans for the new facility got started. Soon after AFB entered the 21st Century, the building of a new Fellowship Hall and Activities Center began being discussed. Under the guidance of Interim Pastor Dr. C. Michael Watts, who served in that position from 2003-2005, his long-time vision of an activities center came to fruition, as the church was gifted the J.G. Smith city block in 2004. Dr. Watts had served as pastor from 1969-1975 and his dynamic leadership during both his pastorates deserves mention for moving the church into a broader ministry. After negotiations with the City of Albany, the street between the two properties was closed and construction began by Boils Construction in 2004 and was completed in 2005.

In all, AFB paid almost $1.9 million for the new facility and is now paid in full as of Sunday night.