KEVIL—Even a snowstorm couldn’t stop a Paducah-area church from celebrating their anniversary together.

Spring Bayou Baptist Church planned their 175th anniversary on Sunday, Jan. 14, aware that weather may make it impossible to meet together in person. However, embracing technology that was unheard of on Jan. 14, 1873, the exact date nine charter members met together to form the western Kentucky congregation, the church held its “service” via Facebook live.

Nearly 100 tuned into the service, which included music led by Spring Bayou’s pastor, Wes Morehead, as well as a sermon, preached right from his office.

“It was kind of an amazing thing. Our anniversary actually fell on Sunday,” Morehead explained.

Morehead, who has been pastor since mid-2016 and was the music minister before his tenure as pastor began, added, “If you think about it, it’s our 175th anniversary and we were able to do a message on Facebook. It was neat. We could do everything but take up an offering.”

The church will officially celebrate their anniversary this upcoming Sunday, Jan. 21, in a more traditional way, which will include hymns sung out of a hymnal versus off the screen. Morehead’s predecessor, Terry Tipton, will deliver the message and special music will be provided by a Paducah-area Southern Gospel trio, Trinity. A catered meal will follow the celebration. Morehead expects over 200 to attend.

The church originally met in a log structure that was built slightly to the east of Spring Bayou Creek. In 1853, they upgraded to a frame building and have constructed multiple buildings since then.

At their centennial anniversary celebration in 1943, members expressed their gratitude to God. “On this Thanksgiving Day, as we are celebrating our centennial and offering our deepest thanks to God, we are reminded anew of God’s protective and guiding hand through the years. It is only through His divine grace we were permitted to gather here today. May His ever-present hand continue to guide us and may the future inspire us on to an ever greater brotherhood.”

Spring Bayou has grown from those first nine members to averaging nearly 200 per Sunday. Their focus is on families and being multi-generational, with thriving ministries to children, college students, and senior citizens.

“Our motto here is ‘Gather, Grow, and Go.’; So our desire is to continue that and to continue to fulfill the gospel of Christ,” Morehead shared. “We want Him to get the glory for it. I always go back to Ephesians 3:20-21 for that.” (WR)