Most people who travel to Freeport from out of town do so on highway 20. One of the billboards you will pass by when entering 'the Port' is pictured above. When I first came to First Baptist our billboard was in some ways a microcosm of the direction of the church. Our billboard once proudly declared the following two taglines. FBC: Where everybody is a somebody. And FBC: Where lasting friendships are made.
Setting the larger context: My ministry predecessor had taken our church through "the 40 Days of Purpose" and was influenced by the Warren/Hybels church growth movement. For a biblical review of this very popular 'philosophy of ministry' I would encourage you to carefully read this very important book or listen to this classic sermon.
In time the leadership believed it would be appropriate to change the church billboard to better highlight what our ministry was all about (per 1 Timothy 3:15; Colossians 1:28-29). Sometimes small changes represent important paradigm shifts. For a season I use to honk my car horn whenever traveling past this sign. This was my way of thanking God for His gracious work of revitalization at First Baptist. "He who began a good work is faithful to complete it."
