Immanuel Baptist Church will celebrate its 50th anniversary Sunday with a potluck, live music and a special guest speaker.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the congregation will kick off its celebration with Jimmy Dukes, the church’s first pastor, who will lead the service. Afterward, the congregation will host a potluck with live music from the IBC quartet.
The group of musicians, who are all congregation members, will play a small concert after lunch in the church’s sanctuary.
“I am looking foward to hearing Brother Jimmy Dukes speak and the music,” said Carolyn Gore, the church’s secretary. “The quartet is really good. We have a lot of good talent in the church, especially the singing.”
Gore said the church wanted to spread the word to former members or those who have moved away and invite them to reunite and see old friends.
“We want to welcome anyone that wants to come,” Gore said. “We want to reach the community and help the best we can.”
Immanuel Baptist Church held its first service Oct. 1, 1967. In its first year, the church grew from 32 members to more than 100, according to Russell Robertson, a congregation member.
The church moved to its current location at 916 Medallion Drive in 2005.
Bea Ellis, who has been with the church for 45 years, said she is happy with the original members’ vision and how it has evolved.
“It just means so much to me,” Ellis said. “All of my family has been brought up in this church, and we still go there. It is just wonderful.”
•Contact Lauren Randall at 581-7239 or lrandall @gwcommonwealth.com.
