FBC Pastor 1970-1979

Family information:

James I. Brown was born in Waycross, Georgia on May 22, 1930. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1942 and attended public schools there graduating from Robert E. Lee High School. His children are James M. Brown, Mary Kristina Brown, and Paul Allen Brown.  Rev. Brown passed in March 2003. <Obit Info>

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He was ordained by the Murray Hill Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida on April 9, 1950. He received an A. B.. Degree from Stetson University, Deland, Florida in 1952 and a B. D.. Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, KY in 1956, and M. Div. (updated) from Southern Baptist Seminary in 1973. He did additional studies in Psychology at the University of South Florida in 1964-1965.

Denominational Services:

He served on the Mission Board of Florida Baptist Convention. He served on the Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Served as a member of the Operations Board of Area Mental Health Clinic, Dublin, Georgia. Served as a member of Advisory Board for the Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, Dublin, Georgia. Served on the Council for The Aging in Dublin. Served as a group therapist with Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in Dublin.

His Pastoral Experiences were:

Bryceville Baptist Church, Bryceville, Florida, 1950-1952; Greenup Fork Baptist Church, Owenton, KY, 1953-1955; First Baptist Church, Trenton, Florida, 1955-1956; Norwood Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1957-1965; First Baptist Church, Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, 1966-1967; New Holland Baptist Church, New Holland, Georgia, 1968-1970; First Baptist Church, Dublin, Georgia 1970-1979; Pinehurst Baptist Church, Dublin, Georgia ????-????.

Some of the improvements that were made during the pastorate of Reverend Brown:

The sanctuary was renovated by the Sams Company of Waco, Texas, at a cost of $180,000.00. Included in this project were the following: covering the entire wall surface with sheetrock, providing new pews, a new sound and light system, new carpet, new doors, new choir chairs, painting the entire wall and ceiling surfaces, and coating the decorative overhead beams. Also in the same project, the area back of the sanctuary was converted into a large, beautifully carpeted and furnished parlor and commodious choir room with tiered seats in a semi-circular arrangement Ample storage was provided for music and choir robes This was the first major renovation to the sanctuary and replacement of the pews since the construction of the church in 1908.

A partially enclosed wall in front of the educational building extending for a length of 80 square feet was built to conform to the beautiful architectural style and design of the sanctuary. The church contracted with the Llorans Company of Decatur, Georgia to install plexiglass sheeting over the exterior of the surface of the stained glass windows at a cost of about $25,000.00. An activities building was constructed on a lot on Maiden Lane which was purchased during Dr. Stanley Hahn’s pastorate at a cost of approximately $80,000.00 This building has a full size basketball court which can be used for other purposes as well, a kitchen, a game room on the second floor and rest rooms and showers.

An addition to the first educational annex was built by Dublin Construction Company at a cost of about $349,000.00. This building contained a church library, classrooms, departmental rooms, a dining hall with a seating capacity of 300, a large modern kitchen with the finest of equipment. The cost figure also included carpeting throughout and complete furnishings, as well as many commodious storage areas.

The Maffett Company remodeled the Coleman Office Building into an office building for the church staff and well as a conference room for general church use. The same company also remodeled and enlarged the nursery department in the first educational annex and put carpeting throughout that building.

Among other improvements a radio ministry was added and this enabled many of the shut-ins to hear and enjoy the evening services which meant a great deal to many listeners in this area. The Sunday morning services began being taped and the tapes placed in the church office for use and purchase by members.