Lake Ellen Baptist Church was founded on September 19, 1869, here in Medart, Florida. All this takes place just four years after the Civil War. Settlers would gather together with a strong faith in God through Jesus Christ and were reverently obedient to the doctrines of the Word of God. They were determined to be a church and came great distances, by mules, horses and wagons and even by foot. The church was originally known as “Oak Grove Baptist Church” but later was renamed “Lake Ellen Baptist Church”.

There have been four sanctuary buildings prior to the one we are in now. The fourth one, which was completed and dedicated in 1953 now serves as a Youth Center. Our present fellowship hall was completed in 1978. Our fifth and present sanctuary was completed in 2001. Our office building was completed in April 2005, which made more room for education space in the fellowship hall building. Our newest building is the Family Life Center, which was completed in September, 2009.

From the early beginnings until now this church has witnessed many changes. We only met once a month until 1946, then twice a month until 1952. On January 9, 1952, Lake Ellen Baptist became a full-time church. Baptisms used to take place in Pigott’s Pond or Lake Ellen, until 1984 when a modern baptistry was installed in the fourth sanctuary.

God continues to pour out His Spirit here at Lake Ellen. Through the last decade and a half we have seen the ministry opportunities multiply beyond our wildest dreams. We see God working through us to minister to children in ways that we never thought possible. From Sunday School and RA’s, GA’s, Mission Friends and Vacation Bible School, also through AWANA, and Good News Clubs at each of the Elementary Schools every week.

Our Youth Ministries have multiplied to include Youth Worship on Wednesday Nights, Sunday afternoon fellowship and Bible Study groups, Disciple Now that touches the entire county, Fifth Quarters after the local High School Football Games, Summer Camps and Mission Trips here in the US.

On a regular basis our adults have Women on Mission, Ladies morning and evening Bible studies , Wom-en’s Fellowship times, and Men’s Gathering. These all revolve around our church family.

Our ministry outwardly includes Respite Care ministry, which meets every Monday to serve clients and families with Dementia Patients. We sponsor Medart Elementary School to assist in special needs. Our Food Share ministry serves better than 60 families most weeks with produce and dry goods.

Our Disaster Relief serves to help people near and far who have suffered loss in a storm or flood disaster. This group works through the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Department to assist people in cleanup, recovery and putting their lives and homes back together after these disasters.

Our Acts 1:8 Ministry is LEBC on Missions, both in the USA and foreign countries. We started in 2011 sending mission teams to Nicaragua and Mexico. This has resulted in partnering with CrossVision Ministries and helping plant new churches in Mexico and every year strive to build the gospel influence there.

There is no doubt that God has His fingerprint all over His church here at LEBC. We praise Him for every time we get to join Him in what He is doing throughout our world. When we think of where we have been and where we are, the question emerges of where we will go from here. The answer to that is to go wherever and to whomever our Lord leads us to make much of His Glory for His Kingdom.

Oh how we wait with anticipation for His soon return, and say with the Spirit, “Come Lord Jesus”. But until He comes, we pray for the empowering of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work set before us.