Faith Fellowship Baptist Church (FFBC) was awarded the Community Spirit Award for 2024.
“Receiving this award confirms to us that we are doing what God has called us to do in our community,” Pastor Justin Colquette said. “We are grateful to be a part of this amazing community and can’t wait to see what next year brings.”
In 2023, a small group of 31 met to pray about their future and at the end of the meeting, God spoke to their hearts and they started worshipping together. After just a little while, the group grew to 125 people. Faith Fellowship opened its doors to the community on Easter Sunday in 2023.
Throughout the year, they have helped organize and volunteer at Big T Memorial Golf Scramble, Breakfast with Santa, Kindness from Case Memorial Foundation, Boo on the Square, The Stanley’s Community Concert, National Night Out, Gospel Karaoke Night, Freestone County Youth Rodeo, Troy Burns Family Community Concert, and Jingle All The Way.
“We are extremely grateful to be able to serve the community of Fairfi eld,” Colquette said. “We are called not to sit behind the walls of a church building, but to build relationships in our community and share the love of Christ as we do.”
FFBC grew out of their first building quickly and then moved into the Old Marathon building. The church has purchased land on Hwy 84, East of Fairfield to build their future home.
“The impact Faith Fellowship Baptist Church has had in our community as well as with the Chamber has been amazing,” Chamber Executive Director Brenda Pate said.
2024 was not an easy year for the church as they lost two of its founding members, Billy Patterson and Gayle Sheppard.
“There was not a time I saw Billy Patterson that he didn’t hesitate to tell me how much he appreciated the work the Chamber was doing,” Brenda Pate said. “There was not a time that I saw Gayle Sheppard that she didn’t greet me with a warm smile.”
