Shady Grove Baptist Church Marks 150 Years of ‘Keeping On’

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

SHADY GROVE — Pastor Terry Gibson does not describe Shady Grove Baptist Church as a large congregation.

He describes it as one that has kept going.

For 150 years.

“It’s been very honoring to be the pastor of a church that has that kind of a reputation of keeping on, keeping on for 150 years,” Gibson said.

On Sunday, Oct. 18, Shady Grove Baptist Church will celebrate that history with what Gibson and the congregation are calling their “150th Year of Jubilee.”

The special anniversary service begins at 10:30 a.m. at the church, located at Highway 287 and FM 232. The day will include special music, a reading of the church’s history, the dedication of a commemorative bell and lunch for those attending.

After lunch concludes, attention will turn to another piece of Shady Grove history, with the dedication of a historical marker recognizing nearby Old Shady Grove Cemetery scheduled for 2 p.m.

Gibson said the church especially hopes former members and people with family ties to Shady Grove will come home for the celebration.

“We would like to invite all of those who have been former members of Shady Grove Church,” Gibson said. “We’d love for them to come and fellowship with us on that day.”

Over his years as pastor, Gibson said he has repeatedly encountered people throughout Houston County and beyond who tell him they once attended the little country church.

Earlier this year, an older woman visiting from out of state walked through the doors and told the congregation she remembered coming to Shady Grove when she was a little girl.

“I thought, ‘How unique. Here the church is still going,’” Gibson said.

That ability simply to still be there is something Gibson does not take lightly.

His own story with Shady Grove began during a difficult period in his life.

In 2010, Gibson had suffered a heart attack that required three stents. His doctor told him not to preach for 30 days.

The day he arrived home from the hospital, his telephone rang.

On the other end was someone from Shady Grove telling him the church’s pastor had resigned and asking Gibson to consider preaching there.

Gibson was not exactly expecting a new ministry assignment.

“I said to myself, ‘It doesn’t work that way,’” he remembered.

Once his doctor allowed him to return to the pulpit, Gibson visited Shady Grove. The congregation asked him to become pastor.

Sixteen years later, he is still there.

“It’s been a very enjoyable ministry,” Gibson said.

During those years, he said the church has remained small but has continued to see baptisms, new members and families pass through its doors.

“We are a small church,” Gibson said. “But God has shown us His blessings down through the time that I’ve been there.”

For the anniversary, the congregation chose the biblical idea of Jubilee as the theme for its celebration.

“We’re calling it our 150th year of Jubilee,” Gibson said.

In Scripture, the Jubilee represented a time of restoration and celebration. For Shady Grove, Gibson said, the idea seemed especially appropriate for looking back on a century and a half of church life.

The morning service will include special music and a reading of the church’s history, allowing current and former members to hear some of the story behind the congregation they remember.

A large bell donated to the church will also be displayed and dedicated in honor of the anniversary.

Following the service, lunch will be provided for those attending.

The afternoon will then connect the church’s history with that of the surrounding Shady Grove community.

Ethel Gallant has spent years working to obtain a historical marker for Old Shady Grove Cemetery, located back in the woods from the present church. Because the cemetery itself is difficult for the public to reach, the marker will be placed on church property.

The public dedication is scheduled for 2 p.m., following the anniversary lunch.

Weather permitting, organizers hope to take interested visitors out to see the old cemetery afterward.

For Gibson, the anniversary is not simply about collecting names and dates from the past.

He has seen Shady Grove experience the same rises and falls familiar to many small rural congregations. There have been periods with only a handful of people keeping things going and other periods when the church grew again.

“The church has had its ups and downs in its history when there were just a few people keeping it going,” Gibson said. “But then it would have a spurt of energy, a comeback.”

After decades in ministry, Gibson said those years have taught him something about churches that may never fill a giant sanctuary or draw attention beyond their own community.

“I have learned that God loves a small church just as well,” Gibson said.

Shady Grove has had small days and big days, he said, but through all of them the doors remained open.

“We have the testimony,” Gibson said. “It’s been there a long time, and we pray it will continue to keep on going.”

Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]