Our History
In the Beginning
In August of 1961, The Baptist Center (as it was first called) started with Vacation Bible School in Bay Harbor with 71 enrolled. (Bay Harbor is located on the eastern side of Bay County, Florida.) From August 1961, through July, 1962, the Women's Missionary Society in the local churches carried on a week-day program. At that time, the Baptist Center was housed in a very small building on Poston Avenue.
Recognizing the need, the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board sent Miss Evelyn Stanford as Missionary and Director in June of 1962.
After Miss Stanford's resignation in 1964, Mrs. Vada Andler was appointed as Director and Mrs. Ethel Cooper as assistant.
In 1970, Miss Patty Brown came as a summer missionary and in 1972, she became a full time worker after Mrs. Cooper moved from the area.
In 2009, Mrs. Andler went home to be with the Lord and Miss Patty became the director.
The Work
Mrs. Andler immediately began work on cleaning up the community such as getting an old pool hall and a house of prostitution removed from the area.
Mrs. Andler started looking for a better location and the Lord opened her eyes to the potential of the tall building which now houses the present center.
The Work Continues
Through contributions from local Southern Baptist Churches, groups, and individuals, the work continues to grow. Many people have found Christ through the work of the Baptist Center as physical and spiritual needs are being met. The work at the center continues today through the efforts of many volunteers and contributions.