1906-1909

Following the resignation of Rev. M. A. Jenkens of the First Baptist Church of Dublin in 1906, the congregation began earnestly to pray that the Lord would guide them in the selection of a pastor. Their eyes turned to Allen Fort, Jr. of Americus, Georgia, a deeply spiritual young lawyer, who had consecrated his life to the Lord and who accepted the church November 4, 1906. He began his ministry December 26, 1906. J. B. Daniel, Judge W. A. Wood and Dr. J. B. Donaldson (a dentist) went to Americus to witness the ordination of Mr. Fort to the ministry of the gospel.

The Sunday School rooms of the new church building were dedicated to Sunday School Work in October 1906. (This is the present building 2002).

The church borrowed $11,000.00 to complete the church building and buy some furnishings. The deacons recommended that the pastors salary be raised from $1,500.00 to $1,800.00, which was passed by the church.

On December 20, 1908, the first service was held in the new church with every seat on the first floor, the gallery, and chairs in the aisles, filled to capacity.

Although young in the cause, Rev. Fort carried on the work like a veteran and during the first year of his pastorate, the work prospered numerically, financially, and spiritually. Membership grew to 582 and contributions were $10,997.75.

Rev. Fort resigned the pastorate of the First Baptist Church on September 15, 1909 to accept the pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Concluding his resignation, Rev. Fort expressed for the church these words: “May the Great Head of the church ever preside over all your deliberations, and may His abiding presence be with you all even unto the consummation of the age”.

Reverend Allen Fort, Jr. died in Nashville at the age of 36.

The following biographies copied from Baptist Biographies published in 1917 by Index Press, Atlanta, Georgia, now in the public domain. (2008)