Little Did They Know

     How often is it that we will purpose and do something that will be good for the immediate but not think about the long range results? Every day we will do things that we do not even think about that could start a ripple effect reaching on into eternity. 

     One hundred sixty seven years ago a small group of Christians, wanting something better for their community, decided to start a church, a gathering, to worship God and to share Jesus Christ with all who would listen. They wanted a church based upon the inerrancy of Scripture. Every few weeks a circuit riding preacher would come and spend the day, from morning to evening, preaching the gospel, with dinner on the grounds. For identification purposes they called the first  gathering Dyal Station Church, because they were meeting at the train station.

     From the train station to a little school house, then to their own building the church continued to grow. Then they moved to their own property, donated by a prominent family in the community, and built a new building. Sadly, their first building burned down and then they built a new one. Their new building still stands today.

     The name was changed to Live Oak Baptist Church because of its new location in the center of a Live Oak grove.

     The church, under godly leadership, continued to grow. They joined the SBC, started a Sabbath School and hired a full time pastor. In 1996 work was started on a new auditorium. The old sanctuary was moved back and to the left to make room for the new building.

          Interestingly enough, the Southern Baptist Convention started the year Dyal Station Church was organized, 1845, and both have been going strong ever since.

     All glory to God for the ministry and outreach the church has had for 167 years. Our prayer as a body is that God will continue to give us fire and desire to reach the world for Jesus Christ.