© Southside Baptist Church 2012

History of Southside Baptist Birthed in the summer of 1949 as Fred Brown was conducting a tent revival under the direction of West Highland Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church was begun on Carlton Street as a mission church of West Highland.  As the invitation was given for those who would come and join with West Highland, having intentions of planting a new church in the area, Henry Wishum was the first to go forward in this direction. Our first services were held in a house on South Cotton Street, and Charter Sunday was announced as January 15, 1950. With Fletcher Corbit as the Charter Pastor were 32 Charter members. Sunday School was sponsored by West Highland Baptist Church, and as the church moved towards being self-supporting, First Baptist Church of Andalusia assisted the church financially, and with lay leadership until it was able to stand independently and ungirded.  At this time, Southside Baptist did not own the house on South Cotton Street where services were being held.  The first property that Southside actually owned was a lot on Carlton Street (a green house was located there at the time) and was purchased after a tent revival held in August, 1950.  All services began to be held in this house at that time.  In 1955, this house was moved to the back side of the lot, and the first sanctuary of Southside Baptist was completed.  The old house was then used for Sunday School and Training Union.  With growth, more space was needed for Southside Baptist, therefore, another house and lot below the church was bought and used until completion of an Education Wing (the first house was torn down during this time).  Sunday School and Training Union expanded into this new building, then another house and lot (just north of the sanctuary) was purchased.  Still another house and lot above the sanctuary (belonging to Orbie Farris) was purchased, and Sunday School and Training Union expanded even further.  The Educational Building was completed in 1964, and the buildings north and south of the sanctuary were torn down to create parking areas.  Later, another purchase gave us the first lot we had owned, and another lot above it (the Kirkland house).  What blessings we experienced during this period of growth! Still growing under, through, and with God’s grace, plans for a new church facility were put into place in the late 1980’s.  Approximately nine acres of land on Highway 29 South were purchased on October 17, 1989.  Dedication of the land was on October 24, 1992, and construction of an educational building began that same month.  Our first Sunday service was held in the new educational building on August 6, 1993,  and our note for this building was paid in full on November 12, 1995!  However, our building committee, led by the Holy Spirit, felt that to win our “Jerusalem” in Andalusia, a new worship center was needed to support this ministry. Immediately, plans were developed for building this new worship center, and construction began in August, 1996. The worship center was completed in 1997, and its dedication service was held in conjunction with homecoming on October 26, 1997. Since moving into our new sanctuary, God has blessed us tremendously. Our Sunday School record attendance of 253 had stood for many years, but has been broken twice, first on November 12, 2000 with an attendance of 257 and again on February 4, 2001 with an attendance of 267!  Our worship attendance also set records during this year.  On February 6, 2001, a second morning worship service was begun and continues to be a huge success.  A new Family Life Center has been built, and was dedicated in April, 2004.  It is a wonderful addition and opportunity for the church to advance its ministry with God’s guidance. Southside Baptist Church continues in God’s service, and is thankful for His blessings and His guidance to our church and its outreach. The goal at Southside Baptist Church is that no one will look at us and say “Look what Southside is doing,” but, rather, “Look what God is doing through Southside!”  God has tremendously blessed His people at Southside Baptist Church, as they have looked to Him for wisdom and leadership.