A small house on S. 27th Avenue, near Forest General Hospital, was the home of University Baptist in its infancy in 1959.  In Hattiesburg, 52 years ago, that was considered "way out west"!  Although there is some disagreement on whether this new congregation sprang up spontaneously or whether it was started as a mission of another church, one principle, still adhered to is:  No Plege Cards at budget time.

Four events mark out UBC's distinctiveness and prophetic role in the community:

1st - in 1970, when no other local Baptist church would accept Nigerian, Sammy Olorunto into membership, University Baptist did.  For his scholarship to then William Carey College, it was a requirement that he join a local Baptist Church.  The church lost a number of prominent members and a large part of its financial base when it voted to take this young student into its membership.

2nd - in the early 1980's the church sponsored the La Sang family of Vietnamese refugees.  They needed a house, jobs, a car, help securing essential services (school, bank, doctor); you name it and the congregation took care of those needs.  In addition, they celebrated birthdays and other special days with them.  Eventually 18 family members were brought to the Hattiesburg area and were served by UBC members.

3rd - the church elected its first female deacon in 1976, and the first female served as deacon chair in 1989.  Prominently displayed on the church's website is a short version of Galatians 5:28, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (NRSV).  Inclusiveness is a hallmark of UBC.

4th - finally, UBC was affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists as early as 1988, three years before the creation of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  A delegation from UBC attended that first, organizational meeting of concerned Baptists that resulted in the CBF, and we have been represented at General Assemblies every year since.  In addition, UBC has hosted state CBF meetings, two pastors and one pastor's wife have served as State CBF Moderators, several members have served on the state CBF Coordinating Council, and three members have served on the national CBF Coordinating Council.

So, 52 years into our life, University Baptist remains committed to serving the needs of the whole person in the Hattiesburg community and beyond through such vehicles as Christian Women's Job Corps, Prison Ministry, Breadbasket, and regular missions to Honduras under the auspices of Baptist Medical and Dental Missions.  In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel; use words if necessary!"

Nurturing University Baptist's life and ministries throughout its pilgrimage have been the congregations's sustained commitment to a robust Christian education program, traditional sacred music and hymnody, a liturgical style of worship that inspires and comforts, and preaching that is informed by both the best scholarship and earnest commitment to the way of Christ.

Ashley Gill & Dick Conville