The end of summer 2019 marks the end of the 50th year that Albany First Baptist Church has conducted Sunday morning services as a mission program at Wolf River Resort and Marina.

The church minutes of May 14, 1969, reflect that Rev. C. Michael “Bro. Mike” Watts informed the church that plans were being made to begin a mission program that summer, “at the lake.” This of course at the time was Adam’s Fishing Camp, also known as Adam’s Dock, now known as Wolf River Resort and Marina. Bro. Mike informed the church body that he would be working with the deacons and laymen of the church in order to have worship services each Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. The services were set to begin with the Memorial Day weekend and end with the Labor Day weekend. The focus was on providing an informal worship service for vacationers.

Over the years, a few changes have been made to this mission program. The services now begin at 8:00 a.m. and the church van and loudspeaker are no longer used to announce the services. Initially congregational singing was a Capella and later an acoustic guitar accompaniment was added to the services in the 1980s and now the services include use of a piano and a pianist.

The first group from Albany First Baptist met in the campground area and those in attendance sat on large road tiles. Later, the location was moved a short distance and seating consisted of boards and concrete blocks. Later, in the 1990s, the location was moved again, however there were wooden pews.

After those first pews deteriorated due to age, Bro. Bruce Hacker built beautiful pews from treated lumber, which were used until services were moved indoors.

In 2007, Bruce Carrender, owner of the Marina, built a beautiful chapel and named it “Jeremy’s Chapel” in memory of his grandson. The white chapel was complete with a bell and tower, podium, air conditioning, carpet and a white fence surrounding the structure.

The chapel, built for Albany First Baptist to use in its lake ministry, was dedicated with a packed house in attendance on May 26, 2007. Over the years, the services have blessed thousands of people as well as blessing those at First Baptist who have participated in the ministry. Many people have commented about the distinct sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit at the services.

Simply said, it was of God and it has continued. In addition to providing worship services, the ministry has been a training ground for many of the men of First Baptist as they have shared publicly the Good News of Christ Jesus. The deacons and laymen of the church have grown in their boldness for the Lord by being involved in this ministry.

We are here due to the generosity of the dock owners, beginning with the Adams family and later owners, down to and including the current owners, the Carrender family.

God has provided. Pray for this ministry as we continue to plant seeds of the gospel and await God’s increase.

I Corinthians 3:6, KJV

(Contributed by Albany First Baptist Church)