Eastlawn Baptist Church

Eastlawn Baptist Church's History ~ 1949-2007

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In January of 1946 First Baptist Church organized a mission in a multi-family building on Admiral Schley Street which was then known as the Admiral Schley Mission. The location is now 13^th Street and Choctaw Avenue. A bus was supplied to transport the children to attend Sunday School as there were no preaching services the first four months. Dr. L.E. Green, pastor of First Baptist, sent Rev. Billy Stogner, then serving as mission assistant pastor, to Admiral Schley to begin the regular preaching services. He served as the mission’s first pastor until January 1, 1949.

In the early part of 1949 a housing problem arose and the mission had to move from the multi-family building, due to the government’s plan to move these structures after the war. The First Baptist Church purchased a small T-shaped concrete block building on Belair from Mississippi Presbytery for $3,000 which had been constructed and used as a mission by First Presbyterian, Pascagoula. Into this building, Admiral Schley Sunday School was moved. At this time, the name was changed to Eastlawn Baptist Mission.

On November 11, 1951 the mission voted to become an organized church. According to the church minutes, there were 72 charter members. The records show a total Sunday School enrollment of 120 at that time. The first permanent auditorium was erected in 1954.

In 1957 Eastlawn secured the deed from First Baptist for this church property. Additional lots to the north and south of the original lot were acquired, and worship, educational, and recreational facilities were erected and renovated to meet the expanding needs of this ever growing church. Later in 1957, Eastlawn borrowed $100,000 from Pascagoula-Moss Point Bank to build a new sanctuary and education building.

Between 1960-68 the church had the foresight to see the need for a mission in the area of Lincoln Heights subdivision. Eastlawn with the help of three area churches (First Baptist, Unity Baptist, Calvary Baptist) secured the land and began a mission which today is known as Ingalls Avenue Baptist Church.

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This page was last edited 11/15/2007 17:12:29