Pine Grove Baptist Church, located on Ga. Highway 92 South, celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

The congregation began in 1948 with about 30 members and the first year they had to meet in a tent. A year later they had constructed a somewhat unfinished building and met there, with all hands working on completing it as soon as possible. Twenty years later they added a fellowship hall, which comfortably seats 100 persons, and additional Sunday school rooms.

The congregation currently numbers 120 members. There are six charter members still enrolled, Wendell and Juanita Jones, Ulton and Ruby Singleton, Allie Mae Gossett and Agnes Brown.

Oddly enough, besides the church's pastor, there are four ordained ministers who are members.

Sunday morning worship is at 11 a.m. and Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m. A Sunday night service is at 7 p.m. and Wednesday night services are at 7 p.m., with studies provided for the youth.

The pastor is Dr. Ralph N. Kelly, who was born and reared in Macon, Ga. He is a graduate of the Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans and a 1968 graduate of Mercer University with a bachelors in Christianity and Speech. He received his Doctorate of Ministry in 1984 from Luther Rice Seminary in Florida.

Dr. Kelly has been at Pine Grove for three years.

Married to Pamela, a native of New Orleans, they are the parents of Ryan, 21, who is majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech.

He believes that "The Church" is not made up of four walls and believes in taking the church to the people.

"I've held church at a playground, a mobile home park and if the nearest place to baptize is a swimming pool, that's just fine. Last year I spent nine days in Venezuela and I look forward to going back," he said.

"I'm really serious about the Gospel and enjoy preaching at outdoor Gospel shows, where I can reach people I would not otherwise reach."

The Rev. Wendell Jones serves as the music minister and Zack and Angel Nauck serve as youth directors.