1951 Our average attendance was 125; Easter church attendance was 330. Thirty-two new members joined the church.

1953 Florence Channon was honored for 50 years as a Sunday School teacher, mostly in the junior department.

1954 The parsonage on South Main was sold and a newer brick house at 306 W. Blackburn was purchased. When newly-hired minister Reece Bayless and his family arrived in town, Carl Kienast was waiting on the steps of the former parsonage to escort the Baylesses to their new home.

First Baptist Church 1957

1958 Rev. Bayless began a telephone ministry called Dial-a-Devotion that continued for more than 25 years.

Bishop house & the Annex

While some Sunday School classes met in the Annex, other classes met in the church. The men's class met in the basement, as did the nursery-kindergarten class. The primary class and the junior department met on the second floor; junior high met in the tower room, a small circular room at the southeast corner of the sanctuary. Those who attended Sunday School as children before 1984 remember the special features of two classrooms: the nursery had a large sandbox and the primary classroom had the fire escape.

1962 Reece and Frances Bayless joined other Baptist ministers and their wives on a missionary journey to Haiti. Frances took many simple dresses made by the church women as a missions project; she brought back nothing but the clothes she wore for the trip home.

1964 The Katherine Bishop house south of the Annex was purchased and rented to Paris Township as the supervisor's office until both houses were demolished to make room for the addition to the church.

1967 A family room, bedroom, and second bath were added to the parsonage.

1970 After 75 years of use, the pipe organ had to be replaced. Mrs. Faye Reed donated the funds to purchase a new Allen electronic organ in memory of her late husband Claude. It didn't fit in the organ loft, but the pipes remained until 1984. During the Christmas seasons, the loft served as home for our Christmas tree.

Our 1970 Vacation Bible School, based on Psalm 24 "the earth is the Lord's," stressed conservation and ecology. 40 children received attendance certificates.

1974 Remodeling

1976 Reece Bayless completed 21 years of ministry here. Retired minister Maurice Powers of Chrisman served as interim pastor until James Harper arrived.

1977 Although we had considered building an addition - or a new church - many times over the years, plans moved into high gear when the church was named a beneficiary in Faye Reed's will (1973), a bequest which ultimately totaled $250,000.00. A goal-setting retreat led to the formation of 5 committees charged with planning new facilities. Ron Parrott was general chairman.

1977-1984 After deciding to expand the present church instead building a new one, the two houses were torn down and work began. The education wing was actually a separate building designed so that it appeared to be an addition. The sanctuary and other areas of the church were remodeled at the same time.

1979  The Board of Christian Education compiled and distributed a booklet of cookie recipes to honor the mothers in the church.

1983 First Baptist, First United Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches joined forces to present a Vacation Bible School for more than 100 children.

1984 Our $640,000.00 education building and renovated church were dedicated on April 15.
Rev. Wendell P. Webster, who had arrived in 1983, was killed in an automobile accident on his way to speak at Judson College.

1985 Webster Chapel was dedicated in memory of Rev. Wendell P. Webster on March 31. James Conger became pastor; he and his family purchased a home within walking distance of the church. The parsonage was sold.

1993 To honor the mothers in the church on Mother's Day, we purchased blankets for Church World Service disaster relief. Similarly, we honored the fathers on Father's Day by sponsoring a Huddleson Home child's trip to summer camp.

1995 Our 150th anniversary was recognized with three special services. In April, a church birthday party featured memories shared by church members. On July 22-23, the church hosted a Homecoming weekend. A potluck dinner brought former and current members and pastors together for an evening of reminiscing. Revs. Hyde, Harper, Brown, and Conger spoke at the worship service the following morning. Other honored guests included Frances Bayless Newell and Peggy Webster. A September service looked toward the future.
Two members who served on the 100th Anniversary committees - Dora Johnson and Dorothy Lowry - were still active members in 1995. Mrs. Lowry also served on the planning committee for the 150th.

1996 All the children's Sunday School classes came together in Reed Hall for an April morning of fun and games that tested their Bible knowledge.