MIDDLEBURG – The First Baptist Church of Middleburg celebrated its 125th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 22.

With many festivities, the members rang together as a congregation for another year. The celebrations included a particular service on Wednesday followed by fellowship at Seamark Ranch on Sunday, with games of cornhole and wiffle ball, an apple pie judging and a watermelon eating contest. 

The church’s story began in 1899, when five men and seven women met in the old Geiger store in the northwest corner of the G.A. Prevatt yard. 

At that meeting, they formed a council and voted to constitute a new church–first under the name Middleburg Missionary Baptist Church. The original sanctuary, G.A. Prevatt Chapel, was built on the same property that the current church building sits on today. It was renovated in 1997.

Since then, the church has grown and expanded its efforts throughout the county, starting its first mission church, Hibernia Baptist Church, in 1997, relaunching Crosspointe Church in 2012 and launching the Family Church Green Cove in 2023. 

Making its home here in Clay County, the church and its members have also been involved with many humanitarian efforts in the community.

Starting its Agape House in 1996, the church still hosts a food pantry and clothes closet for those in need, serving thousands of families in the county. In 2003, they established the KidsFirst Learning Center to provide quality instruction and care in a Christian-based environment. 

From building a home for a local family in their "Church Has Left the Building Campaign" and spearheading more than 200 local mission projects to traveling around the world for more than 50 mission trips and providing disaster relief for those in need, First Baptist Church of Middleburg has left a true impact. And they plan to continue. 

Julia Joseph has been a part of the church since she was in her mother’s womb, officially becoming a member in 1968. 

When she was about 14, Joseph said she began playing the piano and organ for the church, even leading the church’s children’s choir.

She said her family has worshiped with the First Baptist Church of Middleburg for six generations, and it's been amazing to see the church's growth. 

“I’ve been in all the buildings [and] played music there,” Joseph said. “And I saw a lot of different faces, and I made a lot of wonderful friends. And it’s just a blessing to be here, and I’m very grateful that God put us here.”

Jack and Wanda Justino have been church members for 48 years and have seen the church through seven pastors. 

They said they loved the church when they moved from Jacksonville to Middleburg. 

“It’s been a great time,” Jack said. 

Congregation members continue the spirit of those who came before them every Sunday by sharing their faith and love. Dr. Chris Bonts, senior pastor, said celebrating this accomplishment was no different. 

“God has shown his faithfulness in a myriad of ways as he has sustained the ministry of First Baptist Middleburg for 125 years,” he said. “That story of faithfulness is told through the thousands of lives across multiple generations that have been impacted by this great church's various ministries and missions.”