The history of Moultrie Baptist Church began with a vision in the hearts and minds of men and women seeking to do the will of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the fast growing area south of St. Augustine, Florida.
In the early 19701s, the subdivision known as St. Augustine Shores was being developed. Just a short distance to the north on U.S. 1 was the community of Moultrie. Baptist residents of the areafelt the need for a neighborhood Baptist church, a place to worship.
Present day Moultrie Baptist Church began as a mission sponsored by the Calvary Baptist Church of St. Augustine in August of 1980. Ancient City Baptist Church became a cosponsor in June of 1982.
Originally called the St. Augustine Shores Baptist Chapel, the church began meeting in a room in the St. Augustine Shores Clubhouse and in the homes of various members and over the past 20 years has built a building of its own on U.S. 1, completed at least one major expansion project and is now poise on the brink of the new millennium with renewed optimism and dedication to the spread of the Gospel.
In the Spring of that year, Calvary Baptist Church sponsored a survey of Baptist interests in the St. Augustine Shores. This survey was conducted by Jeff Brown, a seminary student serving as a summer church extension worker.
The first service was held August 10, 1980, in the card room of the Shores Riverview Club led by Jeff Brown with special music provided by Theresa Franklin. A total of 12 people attended.
The Rev. Carl Franklin of Calvary Baptist Church led the second service, and Dr. Armando Silverio led the third and many subsequent services.
The Rev. William 3Bill2 Carmichael, former pastor of the Ancient City Baptist Church and member of the Florida Baptist Convention Training Department, gave great help and encouragement to the fledgling congregation during those critical first several months.
By January 1981, weekly Bible study began, and attendance averaged about 30 people and sometimes reached as high as 70. During the first part of 1981, the 9:30 a.m. service had to be moved to a larger meeting with Bible study in members1 homes on Thursday evenings.
In June, Sunday school classes began following the 9:30 service, and in September, the church began holding regular Wednesday evening prayer meetings followed by choir practice.
In December of 1981, the Rev. Michael Mott was called to be the church1s first pastor. On Dec. 6, a total of 34 members and friends were present as Rev. Franklin introduced the Rev. Mott and his wife, Marilyn. Following the service, a party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Futch to honor the Motts.
Rev. Mott conducted his first service on Jan. 31 before 86 members and friends. The sermon topic was 3Dedication2, the choir sang 3Because He Lives2, and the congregation sang 3The Longer I Serve Him2.
On May 2, 1982, chapel services were changed to the traditional 11 a.m. in the main hall of the Riverview Club. Sunday school classes were held for all ages, and refreshments were served between Sunday school and worship service.
In June 1982, through a coordinated effort of the Ancient City Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church and the Shores Baptist Chapel a plan was formulated to secure property owned by the Barnes family and located on Moultrie Hill on U.S. 1 South near the Moultrie Creek bridge. Construction began in June 1985 on the new Moultrie Baptist Church.
The first service in the new sanctuary on April 13, 1986.
Two morning worship services began in February of 1990, one at 8:30 and one at 11 o1clock.
As the church grew, lack of space became evident. In January of 1994, construction was begun on a new educational building.
In 1995, the church called the Rev. David Morrell as full-time minister of music and youth.
In March 1999, after four years of faithful service, the Morrells accepted a call to serve the Miami Shores Baptist Church, and a month later the Rev. Glenn Fischer was accepted as interim minister of music.
In May, Rev. Mott and his family accepted a call to become pastor of the Seminole Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.
In August, the congregation called Bro. Mark Pope as interim youth minister.
In September, the church called Dr. Clarence E. Hackett of the Florida Baptist Convention Stewardship Department as interim pastor.
In July 2000, the Rev. Larry McCarty became only the second full-time pastor in the church's history. Rev. McCarty is a native of St. Augustine and a graduate of St. Augustine High School, Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., and Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He had served as pastor of the Baynes Baptist Church in Burlington, N.C., for 11 years.