5 /5 D Jent: The Forest Baptist Church is an active Missionary Southern Baptist Congregation that is associated on a local level with the Franklin Baptist Association and the Illinois State Baptist Association on a state level. The Illinois Baptist Association is a part of the national Southern Baptist Convention with over 45,000 local congregations scattered across the United States.
Founded on March 26, 1886, sixteen charter members went into the organization of this local congregation. The presiding Elders at the initial organizational meeting were from the Williams Prairie Baptist Church in Williamson County, Illinois, the Rev. William Epps Pickard, and two Elder representatives from the Townmount Baptist Church located about 4 miles directly south of present location.
Meetings are believed to have been held in a local schoolhouse and within the homes of its members until a church building of their own could be built. One of the charter members, Mr. Tilford L. Dorris, donated land adjacent to his home to build upon. The building of a wood-frame construction was completed in 1887. This facility was utilized until the 1940s, when the present church building was erected by labor from the congregation, approximately 60 feet from the previous building.
With the new building, a basement was completed, and services held in the basement of the new structure until the facility could be completed as the adjacent wood frame building was torn down and some of the lumber incorporated in the new edifice that could be utilized.
Meeting every Sunday for worship services, this congregation supports mission causes around the globe through the Southern Baptist Convention. If one is looking for a close family knit congregation within the area, the Forest Baptist Church family would welcome your family to join in its services.
With a present membership of 50, on any given Sunday, the average attendance during worship is around 30, according to the Annual Church Profile of the Illinois Baptist State Association. No matter the size, no matter the need, no matter the cause, Jesus Christ is a forgiving Savior, that is a Friend to All!
