Sarepta Baptist Church, which dates back more than 140 years, broke ground on a new facility last Saturday. The new church design, more than 7,000 square feet, will face Hwy. 9.
“We’re excited about building a new one,” said Sandra Cozart, a lifelong member of the church who has served as treasurer for years. “I would have never thought we would be building a new church in Sarepta, but that day has come and we are all so excited about it. Everything has just fallen together.”
Participating in the ground breaking ceremony was the church’s long range planning team, from left, Shade Bethany, J.D. “Peanut” McCormick, Spin and Pastor Jerry Smith, L.C. Austin, Freddie Martin, and Sandra Cozart. Not pictured is Shirley Eastman.
Structural issues with the current facility, built in the early 1940s, and recent growth in attendance prompted the idea of the new church.
“We started this effort in April and have raised more than $75,000,” Cozart said. “It’s just been amazing the number of people who have come forward wanting to help.”
“We’ve had 18 new members join the church the past year,” Cozart said. “A lot of them are people who grew up in Sarepta and are coming back home.”
Cozart cherishes a church ledger with notes dating back to the early 20th Century. Through the years it shows the church has at times been referred to as “The Baptist Church of Christ at Sarepta” and “The Missionary Baptist Church at Sarepta.”
Pastor salary in 1917 was $47. The church put a new roof on for $65 in 1935.
In 1937, the church collected $1.37 to pay the light bill. They bought a new piano in 1938 for $75.
The present church facility was built just after World War II. New carpet and pews were added in 1976. They built a new pastorium in 1978, added vinyl siding to the church building in 1984 and remodeled in 1991.
The church currently has approximately 110 on roll and averages 50-plus for Sunday services.
“We might have one or two pews open in the back,” Cozart said. “It’s rather full every week.”
Jerry Smith is pastor at Sarepta. His wife Spin did the rendering of plans for the new facility. It features a sanctuary that will double the church’s seating capacity, a new 1,100 square foot fellowship hall, seven additional rooms for Sunday School and nursery, a new pastor’s office and conference room.
“It’s going to be a lot bigger than anything we’ve ever had, but if you’re going to grow you have to have the space,” Cozart said.
You may contribute to the effort by mailing a check to:
Sarepta Baptist Church
Attn: Sandra Cozart
132 CR 175
Randolph, MS 38864.