The 150-Year Heritage of First Baptist–Boone

First Baptist Church of Boone recently enjoyed our 150th Anniversary Celebration: A Heritage and Vision of Sharing God’s Love from 1871-2021. The celebration included a Service of Worship on Sunday, September 12, 2021, For the Lord is good: his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5. The gathering for worship included remarks from mission partners Larry Hovis of CBFNC and Tom Beam of the NC Baptists on Mission. Special, sacred music was shared by the chancel choir and organ, as well as prayers and readings from former ministers, and a sermon by Reverend Gerald Hodges of Roxboro. An exhibit hall of historical artifacts was on display in the church Library/Media Center. The Celebration continued with a birthday party in the parking lot the following Wednesday.

First Baptist-Boone sits at the corner of King and College Streets in downtown Boone, adjacent to Appalachian State University. Reverend Roy A. Dobyns Jr. has served as the senior pastor since September 2009. The ministerial staff is also comprised of Billy Ralph Winkler, minister of Music, and Tierney Boss, College Ministry associate. Tierney also serves as the North Carolina Cooperative Baptist Student Fellowship App State campus minister (CBSF). The support staff includes Faye Ayers, organist; Carol Lea Liles, administrative office assistant; and Michael Turner, building and grounds.

One Hundred and Fifty years ago, a newly formed First Baptist Church had a charter membership of just 17. The Watauga County courthouse provided the first place of worship. The first church building was a white, wood framed structure erected on Rivers Street in 1875. A new building was constructed on the corner of King and College Streets in 1916, which is where the church is located today.

The spirit of a loving and mission hearted church is exemplified by the vision statement…“to share God’s love on this corner, from this corner, to every corner.” The beautiful steeple and church bells placed on a corner by a faithful

people bring hope to the community. For By Roy Dobyns, Jr. example, from the corner in 2015, church Senior Pastor bells rang and members of the congrega- First Baptist–Boone tion gathered on the steps, mourning the needless loss of human lives at the Mother Emmanuel Church in Charleston, SC. In 2018 the community gathered on the steps to mourn the loss of human lives at a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburg, PA. And 2021 the church gathered on the steps to mourn the loss of two local law enforcement officers as they were carried home to their final resting place. Tommy Justus, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist and former youth pastor at First Baptist Boone with Larry Hovis, CBFNC executive coordinator. The corner location is a constant reminder to the congregation of our purpose of feeding, forgiving and healing by serving the local community through missions such as the Christmas Day Lunch, a weekly food pantry, college day free lunch and a local school supply storage. Music ministry and traditional worship have always been important to FBC Boone. The music ministry is made up of the chancel choir, organist, choral scholars, handbell choirs and choirs for all ages. Cantatas and productions during Advent and Lent are looked forward to every year. FBC Boone has long recognized women in ministry and leadership. By the latter decades of the 20th Century, women were elected as deacons. More recently, in 2012, First Baptist began participation in Baptist Women in Ministry Sundays in support of women called by God to preach. Please pray for the First Baptist Church of Boone. Join me in thanking God for our remarkable heritage and continued vision to share God’s love “on this corner, from this corner, to every corner.” Portions of this article were taken from the history submitted by the 150th Anniversary History Sub-Team.