Saying farewell to First Baptist Church

It is with great sadness that I am writing this letter but also with great love and memories for the First Baptist Church!

First Baptist Church was started in 1912 and had many different ministries over the years around Havre, around the state, and even the nation and worldwide through the many different organizations and ministries they supported both financially and physically. After a lot of trying to hold on and stay open, First Baptist Church closed their doors in August 2017. The church had just celebrated their 100th anniversary five years before so it was with a heavy heart that the church closed. As has been the case with several of the churches around town, the numbers of people attending the church had gradually continued to decline until there were not enough to keep the church running. This letter, though, is not to dwell on the sad side of this all, but to thank First Baptist Church for all they did for me and my family as well as the many others the church touched over the years!

My husband, Dave, and I moved to Helena last spring but had lived in Havre for 40 years, starting when we both attended college at good old Northern Montana College. It was during our college years that we went looking for a church and, after trying out several churches, ended up at First Baptist Church, where we were made to feel like we had a family and a home away from home. We spent our years as newlyweds there and raised our two children there from babies to grownups. Our kids were both baptized there, attended church camp with other children from the church, and grew in their relationship with Jesus with the help of First Baptist Church. Our son became a pastor and our daughter and her husband seek to serve God in all their life decisions due to the church helping in their Christian walk.

One of the favorite projects the church did, that was fun for the church and always brought a crowd, was our spaghetti dinner. We raised money for different projects for the church and people in the community but the best part about it was just the fellowship of getting to visit with others and of course the awesome taste of the spaghetti! Many of you might know by now that the Abundant Life Minisgtries bought the church. The spaghetti recipe was officially passed down to them so they can continue the tradition if they choose to. I pray they will make many memories of their own at the church and am happy the church is continuing on as a church!

All the monies from the sale of the church and parsonage are in the process of being given to various organizations around town that the church has been giving to for some time.

So, I will say goodbye First Baptist Church! You have been an awesome home to me and special place to help grow my faith, my family, and my relationship with God. You will always be in my heart!

Kim Bowker

Helena

First Baptist Church member