DaySpring Baptist Church celebrated 109th anniversary on Sunday with current, past clergy

Voleer Thomas
·2 min read

Past and current clergy and members of DaySpring Baptist Church celebrated the church's 109th anniversary during a worship service Sunday morning.

Attended by nearly 100 parishioners, including some from churches throughout Gainesville, Hawthorne, Waldo and Williston, the celebration's theme was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

“This is an exciting day for DaySpring Missionary Baptist Church,” said Minister Jane Barclay, a member of the church located at 1945 NE Eighth Ave. “Somebody has been faithful. Thank you for the faithfulness of God that he put in the hearts of men and women to carry on the ministry.”

There was scripture reading, devotion led by church deacons and inspirational songs by the church's praise team.

Praise and worship was followed by the reading of the church’s history by Deaconess Annie Roberts, a scripture reading by Jerald Means and a praise dance by "Crown Me Royal."

The Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, pastor of the church, introduced the guest speaker, Pastor Durell Sykes of St. Petersburg.

“I am so excited about this young lady,” Herring said. “She is a servant with many diverse skills. She is an ambassador and the pastor for the Trayvon Martin Foundation as well as the recipient of their 2020 Trailblazers Award.”

Sykes made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed pastor of New Bethel AME Church in Hialeah.

She was recently installed as executive pastor of Bethel Community Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, where she serves beside her husband Bishop Manuel Sykes.

Church anniversary: 107 years and counting at DaySpring Baptist Church

The title of her sermon was “The Faithful Finisher.”

Parishioners stand during the service celebrating the 109th anniversary of DaySpring Baptist Church in northeast Gainesville on Sunday. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)
Parishioners stand during the service celebrating the 109th anniversary of DaySpring Baptist Church in northeast Gainesville on Sunday. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)

“No matter what you have endured this month, still believe that God is at work and that he is a faithful finisher,” Sykes said. “It’ll always work out for my good, not because I’m good but because I serve a good God and he is good to me.”

Pastor Durell Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church St. Petersburg was the guest speaker during the 109th anniversary celebration service of DaySpring Baptist Church on Sunday. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)
Pastor Durell Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church St. Petersburg was the guest speaker during the 109th anniversary celebration service of DaySpring Baptist Church on Sunday. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)

Worrying can not be present when dealing with the works of God, Sykes said.

The Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, pastor of DaySpring Baptist Church, praise the lord during a service celebrating the 109th anniversary of the church located at 1945 NE Eighth Ave. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)
The Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, pastor of DaySpring Baptist Church, praise the lord during a service celebrating the 109th anniversary of the church located at 1945 NE Eighth Ave. (Credit: Photo by Voleer Thomas, Correspondent)

“Worry is a sin,” Sykes said. “You have to trust in God. Remind yourself that he is a faithful finisher. No matter what God has given you, don’t worry about what other people are doing. Say, ‘I’m going to use what God has given me to do and what he has called me to do.’ They can imitate you but they can’t duplicate you.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Churches from community helps NE G'ville church celebrate anniversary