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Beacon Baptist Church

13343 Fivay Road
727-863-2149

In the year 1973, with the help of the Florida Baptist Convention, the efforts of Rev. Bill Guess director of missions for the Pinellas Baptist Association and First Baptist Church of Jasmine Lakes, five (5) acres of land was purchased on Fivay road. First Baptist Church of Jasmine Lakes was the sponsoring church of the new mission known as Beacon Woods Baptist Chapel.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held May 11, 1975, for the sanctuary. In June 1975, First Baptist of Jasmine Lakes extended a call to Rev. Harvey Self to serve as mission pastor. The sponsoring church chose three (3) couples to help the pastor begin this work. They were Bryce and Maggie Bliss, Peter and Mary Stillwell, and Jim and Marge Manley. In October 1975 they held their first service in this new building, with a dedication in the afternoon. A fellowship hall was added in 1977, as the first step in their long-range building program.

Beacon Woods Baptist Chapel was a mission church for three (3) years. On October 1, 1978 it was constituted a church, with the name being changed to Beacon Baptist Church. There were 106 charter members of the new church.

A growth in church attendance was experienced in following years. Sometimes there were two (2) worship services held on Sunday morning, 8:30 and 11:00 am. There was a building program in the plans for a fellowship hall in the back of the existing building. Ground breaking took place March 11, 1984 for that building and it was completed and dedicated on July 21, 1985.

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