"Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

These words from our Lord ought to be a source of inspiration to all of us who are members of this fellowship known as the "First Baptist Church of Elizabethtown, Kentucky." For historical documents state that, in the year 1866, this congregation now known as the First Baptist Church was granted permission from the church that birthed us which is the Severns Valley Baptist Church of this city of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, giving 25 slave members permission to start their own church. This congregation has flourished across the years to become one of the leading churches in the state of Kentucky and also on a national level. This has come about because of her dedicated leaders, her members, and the officials that went forward under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I am certainly proud to be numbered in a small way in the achievements of this congregation down across these years. Many, many souls have been added to the kingdom because of the great preaching and the teaching ministry of this congregation. Mrs. Bishop and I in our small way have been blessed by having an opportunity to share down across these past 35 years in this church.

It is my prayer that the congregation will seek to do more for the cause of Christ and to be a beacon light for fallen humanity here in this community. It does not yet appear what this congregation can achieve for the Lord if we continue to pray, love, preach, witness and fellowship for our Lord in the next century.

Thanks be to our Heavenly Father for a dedicated membership these days, and as we look back over these years, we can say like the Psalmist as he said, "If it had not been for the Lord who is on our side" - Psalms 124.

May we continue to seek the Lord's guidance as we enter this new millennium, with a greater determination to lift up the Lord's name and serve Him. To each of our wonderful members and our new friends on the "net"... May God Forever Bless You All!

The Lord's Undershepherd,

Bernard T. Bishop(BTH.DD.)