The final worship service of First Baptist Church of Evans was on July 30.
Some two months prior, its members had voted, alongside those of the First Baptist Church of Augusta, to unite the fold of FBC Evans to that of Augusta. The Evans congregation devoted time during its worship to honor its 93-year-old legacy.
The decision was the culmination of years of decline at the Evans church. A gradual decrease in membership gave way to a financial strain that came closer to a head in the late 2010’s, says FBC Augusta pastor Will Dyer, who first met with FBC Evans pastor Philip Hedgecloth in spring of 2018.
“Eating lunch together at Mai Thai in Evans, he shared the story of their church and asked if the First Baptist Church of Augusta would be willing to have a conversation about partnering with their community,” said Dyer. “Over the course of the next few months, we dreamed about what a collaboration between our two churches might look like in the future.”
Talks between the pastors and their respective assemblies initially bore the proposal that the Evans campus at the corner of Belair and Washington roads be a second location for the Augusta church, said Dyer, before ultimately the churches ultimately agreed upon a merger.
“Our churches share a common theological tradition and, more importantly, a desire to see the Kingdom of God furthered throughout the CSRA and around the globe,” Dyer said.
The FBC Evans community then officially integrated with that of the Augusta congregation, beginning worship at the Walton Way Ext. campus on Aug. 6, with members attending Sunday services and Wednesday night groups and participating in mission work.
“The transition has been wonderful,” said Dyer. “As I walk through our worship spaces on Sunday morning, it brings a smile to my face as I see so many from FBC Evans who have jumped in with both feet as they settle into their new life at FBC Augusta.”
As FBC Evans had done in the months leading up to its closure, on Aug. 27 FBC Augusta carved out time in its worship services to commemorate the Evans church, in what the pastor refers to as an “incredible day of celebration” for the now unified communities that was also a “moment of closure and finality.”
“Closing the door on such a storied history is never something that is easy to do,” Dyer said. “However, we trust that in the midst of death, God is preparing to bring new life.”
On Saturday, according to the listing of the closed-bid auction of the Evans church property, a team will examine offers made on the campus and building. Dyer notes that though the property is expected to draw a significant monetary value — more than $1 million — the church’s primary concern has never been financial.
Proceeds from the sale will establish an endowment, the annual earnings of which will contribute to FBC Augusta’s ministry and outreach, including in Columbia County.
“The First Baptist Church of Augusta takes seriously the call to be good neighbors in the places where God has put us,” said Dyer. “As we prepare to sell the property, our first thought will be to ensure that whatever is placed at that location will enrich and better serve the people of Evans and Columbia County.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
