Our Story

We are Blessed with a history and  heritage that has led up to this point in our service  to God and community.
It  is filled with service and sacrifice by so many people, some of whom are still serving here and some who have moved on to serve elsewhere, but the mission lives on  -to be a beacon of light and hope for  God's children.

How it all started...

In early 1961, the members of First Baptist Church saw the need for a mission on the east side of Marianna.  A mission committee was formed; and the first cottage prayer meeting was held on July 21, 1961, with twenty people attending.
 The Eastside Baptist Chapel held its first service on November 12, 1961.  Approximately fifty people attended this first service.  Forty-two charter members pledged their support to the mission.
 On Sunday, February 17, 1963, a new sanctuary was dedicated at 4878 Highway 90.  The new sanctuary cost $20,000 and could hold more than 200 people.  The membership of Eastside Baptist Chapel was 112.
 On April 30, 1967, The Eastside Baptist Chapel was constituted into the Eastside Baptist Church.  No longer a mission receiving the support of First Baptist Church and the Florida Baptist Convention, the church accepted responsibility to be a local Southern Baptist congregation.
 The buildings of Eastside Baptist Church were totally destroyed by fire on February 28, 1974.  Many onlookers braved the smoke and flames to carry out as much furniture and valuables as possible.  W. H. Hopkins offered the Church use of the Hopkins Pontiac-Olds showroom for Sunday Services.  Every Saturday evening, the cars would be moved out and chairs set up to convert the showroom into a sanctuary.  On March 2, 1975, a new Eastside Baptist Church building was dedicated to the Lord in the same location.

Expanding the vision...

 In 1997, Eastside Baptist Church purchased 13 acres on Highway 90 to the west of the original location.  Work began on a new worship and education center in 1999.  The first service in the new building was held on April 2, 2000.
 On July 28, 2013, a special called business meeting was held in order to approve New Building Committee nominees.  Seven members were selected and voted in that night.  With a recommendation from the New Building Committee;  on December 22, 2013, the church voted to hire Cosco & Associates of Crestview, Florida, to do a master plan for our property.  In a business meeting on June 4, 2014, the New Building Committee presented to the church a Master Plan that would consist of a Three Phase Plan.  It was presented, and the vote passed.  It was noted that our greatest need is additional educational space (Phase I).   Phase II will be to build a Sanctuary, and at some point Phase III would be to add even more educational space.  Currently, our educational space can seat 199 people; and with Phase I, our seating capacity will be increased to 461.  In a business meeting on September 14, 2014, the New Building Committee brought a motion from the committee to proceed with Phase I of the master plan, and the vote passed.

Where we are headed...

With the recent completion and dedication of the children's wing and state of the art children's worship center, we are  strategically positioned to care for and minister to children of all ages like never before. Eastside has   dedicated and talented  support staff whose primary focus is  teaching the  gospel in a positive and dynamic spirit of Christian love.
  Proverbs 22:6
 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Be a part of our story...

Join us every Sunday as we gather to worship together at 10:15 am.