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EAGLE LAKE — First Baptist Church of Eagle Lake celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Around 100 members of First Baptist Church of Eagle Lake gathered to celebrate the history of the church that started in 1875 as the first Baptist church in Eagle Lake. According to pastor Joshua Turpin, the church has expanded since and even helped start other churches, such as Iglesia Bautista Getsemani.
“Our church, in particular for those lives who have been touched, is a sort of church that has made a mark on people,” Turpin said. “Even if they’re not here physically, they care, and they really want to come back and come say ‘thank you’ to how God has moved in their life through this community.”
First Baptist Church of Eagle Lake, a member of the Ministerial Alliance of Eagle Lake, works with other churches in the area to run a food pantry. First Baptist Church of Eagle Lake houses the pantry and, according to Turpin, provides the most volunteers. The pantry serves around 500 meals a month. Previously, the church has also organized an elementary school reading program, a vacation Bible school and other events.
“We are very proud of the food pantry,” Turpin said. “… We’ve had a number of opportunities, and we’ve had fun doing it. It is certainly our mission to try to do more.”
First Baptist Church of Eagle Lake is currently run by only three staff members: Turpin, Secretary Kathy Willis and worship leader Clark Powers. Turpin said that the church has about 100 members actively involved with about 35 attending weekly.
“One of the ways that I have seen the church grow is in connecting a little bit more with the community that’s here,” Turpin said. “…It’s been traditionally an Anglo church. We have had some Hispanic members in the past, but I’ve seen that grow some from my time here [with] more Hispanic members join[ing].”
Turpin has been pastor for four years and said he sees a lot of potential for the church to expand childcare and start a youth group. Currently, the church has a small children’s ministry ran by Barbara Cadman and Brittany Turpin.
“We have the people; we have the love; we have the space,” Joshua Turpin said. “It’s just a matter of time before there are more people than we can reach who we can care for in that way.”
