Alabama Road Trip #2 – A Quiet Walk into Unexpected History
Downtown Dothan has a way of waking slowly. Morning light settles on the brick storefronts, the sidewalks glow soft and empty, and the city feels like it’s still stretching from sleep. On the final morning of our trip, Dusty and I wandered those early streets while waiting for places to open—no rush, no plans, just one last walk before heading home.
That’s when we found ourselves standing at the base of First Baptist Dothan, its steeple reaching upward like a compass needle fixed on heaven. I expected a nice photo.
What I got was a story that runs 138 years deep.
A Church Born From Nine Dreamers
In November of 1887, Dothan wasn’t yet the city we know today. It was rough around the edges—dusty, ambitious, and growing faster than anyone expected. In the middle of it all, a group of just nine people gathered with nothing but determination and a shared belief that their community needed a church.
No grand building.
No wealthy donor.
No real reason to think something lasting would grow from a group that barely filled a row of pews.
But faith has never needed the odds in its favor.
By 1888, they built their first structure—a small wooden frame building on South St. Andrews Street. Church tradition says that one of their early pastors, W.D.C. Burr, carved the pulpit and communion table himself. Imagine that for a moment: a pastor shaping the very furniture that would hold the weight of countless prayers.
They inscribed a simple declaration into their foundational documents:
“The love of Christ constraineth us.”
And above the baptistry, they carved another: “Jehovah-Jireh — The Lord will provide.”
Turns out, they were right.
Growing With a Growing City
As Dothan expanded from a frontier town into a bustling regional hub, First Baptist grew right alongside it. Their stories unwind together—two parallel journeys woven into one tapestry.
This wasn’t a distant church perched on a hill.
It was a living, working piece of the community.
Through the early 1900s and well beyond, First Baptist became a gathering place, an anchor, and a force for civic good. The little frame church was eventually replaced by larger and larger sanctuaries, each one reflecting the growing needs of the city around it.
Generations passed through the doors. Babies were dedicated, teenagers baptized, families married, and entire communities supported through hard times and good ones.
If the wooden church was the seed, the century that followed was the tree.
Leadership That Stayed Long Enough to Matter
In a world where leadership often comes and goes, First Baptist Dothan quietly held onto one of its greatest strengths: stability.
Pastor Johnny Fain began ministering in 1976 and served for more than forty years—fifteen of those as First Baptist’s Senior Pastor. Think of how many lives unfold in fifteen years. Children grow up, graduate, get married, and begin families of their own. His presence became part of the church’s identity.
Pastor Fain’s vision?
To be missions-minded.
To step beyond the church walls.
To build a congregation that lived its faith outside the sanctuary as much as inside it.
When he retired in 2019, he didn’t slow down. He founded Assignment International Ministries to mentor pastors worldwide—proof that leadership here wasn’t just a position. It was a lifelong calling.
The Heart of the Church Has Always Been Its People
Buildings weather. Pastors retire. Circumstances change.
But the people? They’re the real story.
Research for this stop revealed countless members who left their mark on Dothan through civic service, philanthropy, teaching, organizing, and community-building. While their names may not be carved in stone, their impact is everywhere.
This is one of the church’s most enduring truths:
the sermon didn’t end at the door.
Generations of members carried hope, service, and kindness into the city. Their actions became chapters in Dothan’s history—quiet but powerful.
A New Chapter on an Old Foundation
When Dr. Taylor Rutland stepped into the role of Senior Pastor after Pastor Fain’s retirement, the church entered its newest season. With deep academic roots and a passion for missional living, he stepped into a legacy shaped by 138 years of community, leadership, and faith.
He now preaches from a pulpit that—symbolically—descends from one carved by hand in 1888. And he continues the work of connecting ancient scripture with the modern world.
This is how a historic church stays alive:
by honoring the past without becoming trapped in it.
Echo’s Corner: A Quiet Secret in the Woodwork
If you listen closely to old churches, they creak like storytellers clearing their throats.
First Baptist Dothan has one such whisper:
A pulpit carved by a pastor who believed every stroke of the chisel was an act of devotion.
Was it perfect? Probably not.
But handmade things rarely are. They simply endure.
And sometimes… that’s the whole point.
—Echo
If You Visit
📍 Location: Downtown Dothan, Alabama
🕰 Best Time: Early morning for photos, or during an open sanctuary tour
👟 Tip: Pair this with a walking loop through downtown—several historic buildings are just steps away.
Related TMP Stops:
• Dothan Federal Building
• Dothan Visitor Center & King Peanut
• Peach Water Tower
• Orr Park
Final Thoughts
From nine charter members in a wooden room to a landmark church woven into the identity of a city, First Baptist Dothan stands as a quiet testament to endurance. Its secrets aren’t scandalous—they’re simple truths lived out over generations:
❤️ Dedication
🪵 Craftsmanship
⛪ Community
🌍 Service
🔔 And a belief that the future is worth building.
This church isn’t just a building.
It’s a 138-year conversation between faith and the people who carried it forward.
Want the Full Story?
Watch the accompanying TMP episode here:
Coming soon!
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