First Baptist Church of Monroe 50th Anniversary Events
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
7 p.m.: Concert with the Nelson family and Peggy Thielke Admission is free
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
3 to 5 p.m.: Games and food
5:30 p.m.: Teen youth rally with Mike Pelletier; cost is $10 per teen
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
10:30 a.m.:Anniversary service. Picnic on the grounds to follow. Former pastors James Cooper, Wylie Fulton and Dan Stertz will be in attendance.
MONROE - From its earliest days Monroe always had a Baptist church.
However, in 1905 the Baptists merged with the Disciples of Christ and former members of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches to form the Union Church.
For more than 50 years Monroe was without a Baptist church.
In 1958 the Baptists once again organized and filed articles of incorporation with the Rev. James Cooper as pastor. First Baptist Church was born.
According to the "Badger Baptist," the first services for the new congregation were held Jan. 12, 1958, with about 40 people attending.
The members met in homes, at the Kiwanis Chalet across from Twining Park and at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows hall before they built a new church in 1963. By January 1964 the congregation was able to meet in the basement of the new church, located at 853 31st Ave.
The congregation continues to meet in the building.
The Rev. Grant Rice was the pastor at the time the new building was constructed. He was guest speaker at the dedication ceremony in November 1965. By 1965 Rice was director of the Wisconsin Independent Baptist Mission for Starting New Churches.
According to the Monroe Evening Times Nov. 7, 1965 edition, the congregation donated most of the materials and labor for the new church.
There were about 150 people at the dedication ceremony.
Songs sung that day included "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "To God be the Glory."
Included in the dedication program was the scripture from Psalms 122:1: "I was glad when they said unto me 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'"
The Rev. Matthew Spoonhour came to the church in 2005.
Spoonhour said the congregation is excited about the anniversary.
"They're excited because the doors have been open for 50 years," he said. "God has been faithful to us."
The Rev. James Cooper, original pastor at the church, is expected to speak at the anniversary celebration.
"It will be a privilege to meet him," Spoonhour said.
However, in 1905 the Baptists merged with the Disciples of Christ and former members of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches to form the Union Church.
For more than 50 years Monroe was without a Baptist church.
In 1958 the Baptists once again organized and filed articles of incorporation with the Rev. James Cooper as pastor. First Baptist Church was born.
According to the "Badger Baptist," the first services for the new congregation were held Jan. 12, 1958, with about 40 people attending.
The members met in homes, at the Kiwanis Chalet across from Twining Park and at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows hall before they built a new church in 1963. By January 1964 the congregation was able to meet in the basement of the new church, located at 853 31st Ave.
The congregation continues to meet in the building.
The Rev. Grant Rice was the pastor at the time the new building was constructed. He was guest speaker at the dedication ceremony in November 1965. By 1965 Rice was director of the Wisconsin Independent Baptist Mission for Starting New Churches.
According to the Monroe Evening Times Nov. 7, 1965 edition, the congregation donated most of the materials and labor for the new church.
There were about 150 people at the dedication ceremony.
Songs sung that day included "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "To God be the Glory."
Included in the dedication program was the scripture from Psalms 122:1: "I was glad when they said unto me 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'"
The Rev. Matthew Spoonhour came to the church in 2005.
Spoonhour said the congregation is excited about the anniversary.
"They're excited because the doors have been open for 50 years," he said. "God has been faithful to us."
The Rev. James Cooper, original pastor at the church, is expected to speak at the anniversary celebration.
"It will be a privilege to meet him," Spoonhour said.