October 21, 2024
THOMASVILLE, Ga. – What started out as a church plant during World War II quickly grew into one of Georgia’s premier soul-winning stations.
Dawson Street Baptist Church, where thousands of people have come to know the Lord, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary on Sunday.
“There’s no way to really measure everything that God has done here, or to even remember it, but, so many young men and women have been called to ministry and missions out of this church,” said Senior Pastor Lee Waller. “The record of the lives that have been transformed, we don’t have a record of that, but God has recorded it all. And that’s what we’re gong to be doing on Sunday, celebrating all the great things He has done.”
The church, which had pre-COVID Sunday morning attendance of about 350, has had baptisms every year of its existence. Records from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board shows more than 1,100 baptisms at the church since 1972, the year the organization began compiling such statistics.
But the reach of Dawson Street goes far beyond Thomasville. The church gives 15 percent of its undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program to support missions and ministries in Georgia, across the nation and around the world. That amounts to well over $1 million in the past decade alone. The total is much higher when the church’s contributions to the Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon and Mission Georgia offerings are included.
“God has done a great work in this church,” Waller said. “There is just a sweet, unified spirit among our people. They are just so giving.”
That showed recently when a church plant in Vermont requested a $500 contribution to help with start-up costs. Dawson Street members took a collection and gave more than $3,000 to the church plant.
Dawson Street Baptist Mission started under the direction of Thomasville First Baptist Church in 1944 and constituted as Dawson Street Baptist Church on March 23, 1947, with 176 charter members.
“The church has enjoyed a rich history of seeing God work in many wonderful ways,” Waller said.
The anniversary celebration begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday and will feature musical worship from all age choirs and orchestra, greetings from former pastors Johnny Fain and Tom Suiter, a video and printed history, a covered-dish lunch and more.
“All are welcome to join us in giving thanks to God for His many wonderful works,” Waller said.
