For 50 years, Ridgecrest Baptist Church has been a part of the Bridge Creek community, growing from humble beginnings into a congregation that has become a cornerstone of the community.
The church will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sunday, September 27, with a special service and lunch recognizing five decades of faith, fellowship and service to the people of Bridge Creek.
Ridgecrest began in the home of one of its charter members when Bridge Creek was still a small, rural community. As the congregation quickly grew, land was given for the construction of the church’s original building. Located in the center of the Bridge Creek community, Ridgecrest’s physical presence has remained a familiar landmark through the years, according to church organizers, while its spiritual commitment to its congregation and neighbors has helped establish the church as an important part of the community’s history.
The anniversary service will begin at 10 a.m. and will look back at the past 50 years of Ridgecrest Baptist Church. The service will recognize the many people who have contributed to the church’s ministry and reflect on the ways the congregation has served one another and the Bridge Creek community.
Three former pastors will return to take part in the celebration. Wayne Childers, Ridgecrest’s first pastor, will be joined by David Rivers, who served as pastor for 15 years, and Kelley Russell, who recently led the congregation.
Their participation will connect different generations of Ridgecrest’s history and provide an opportunity to hear from pastors who have each played an important role in the church’s story.
A fellowship lunch will immediately follow the anniversary service. The gathering will bring together current and former members, families, friends and community members to share a meal and celebrate Ridgecrest’s 50 years in Bridge Creek.
A church spokesperson said, “All are welcome and encouraged to join us for this anniversary service, celebrating the people and faith that have sustained its ministry for half a century.”
• photo provided Fifty years of Ridgecrest Baptist Church will be celebrated this weekend at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the church, 1118 S. Sara Rd. All are welcome to attend.
• photo provided This is the Ridgecrest Baptist Church’s original sanctuary before being destroyed in 1999 by an F5 mile-wide tornado. A wall reportedly collapsed into an area where the daycare was, and a church van was thrown into the sanctuary.
