Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Georgiana is staying busy this summer. In late July, the church hosted a concert featuring the Russellville-based ministry trio known as “Purpose.”

“The concert was absolutely awesome,” Charlene Powell of Mt. Pleasant said. “We had a good turnout, around 65, and it was such a wonderful experience for everyone involved.”

Attendee Michael Vigor agreed.

“My favorite song of the night was ‘The Lighthouse,’ because that is what we and the church are supposed to be, a lighthouse for all to see who are lost in the storms of life,” he said.

The group, which has been together since 2011, travels to perform an average of 47 out of 52 weekends a year. They had one of their songs, “Trust Him,” break into the national radio charts for the first time in 2017. Their latest release, “Not Gonna Give the Devil My Song,” hit the airwaves in early July.

Now, the Georgiana church is gearing up for its annual Homecoming Service set for Sunday, Aug. 18. This year, the church will be celebrating 131 years of helping to serve the spiritual needs of the south Butler County community.

Homecoming services will begin at 10:30 a.m. that Sunday with Greenville native Ben Nelson bringing the message. Nelson serves as campus pastor at The Gathering Place Church on the Calera Campus in Birmingham and is also a co-founder with his wife, Cassidy, of Mission Bulgaria, founded to help create leaders and support missionaries to spread the word of God in the nation of Bulgaria.

Nelson studied Biblical studies and theology at Ames Christian University. He and Cassidy have two children, Kye and Wendy, and reside in Birmingham. Nelson is the son of Ellinor Nelson and the late Paul Nelson, who once served as the pastor of Mount Pleasant.

“My heart is for people to know four things: to know Jesus, to be free, to serve others and to change the world,” Nelson said.

Tim Sims will be leading the morning worship and providing the special music. Sims served Mount Pleasant as minister of music from 2006 until 2008. He is currently the worship leader at Hephzibah Baptist Church in Troy. Sims and wife, Teresa, have two daughters, Melanie and Mollie, and one granddaughter, Mary Brooke. Sims, who attended Troy University where he majored in instrumental music education,  has served the Lord in several churches over the last 32 years.

Following the morning services, a fellowship lunch will be shared. As a part of this year’s Homecoming festivities, there will be an afternoon singing. New Vision, a popular gospel group from McKenzie, will begin performing at 1:30 p.m. to provide an afternoon of good old gospel music.

“We want to invite former members, family and friends to come and join us in this special celebration,” Powell said. “If you can’t make it for morning service, we invite you to join us for the singing. We look forward to a wonderful time and everyone is welcome.”