Saturday, November 7, 2026
Members of the Freeport Community Church of the Nazarene celebrated the church’s 85th anniversary. The event marked a milestone of the church’s ministry in the area, while also serving as an opportunity to reflect on how it can further its local impact.
Rev. Oral Walcott, lead pastor of the church since December 2018, joined other members of his leadership team and church parishioners on Sunday, Nov. 1 for a special anniversary celebration worship service. This came two days after members participated in the 85th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 30 at the Coral House event venue in Baldwin.
Prior to the Sunday celebration, Walcott reflected on the church’s strengths, stating that its greatest one was the people that make up the church community.
“We have a group of dedicated core of people who are committed to serving God and serving the community and serving in the church,” he said. “We’re not a large congregation, but we’re committed.”
Associate Pastor Rev. Robert Dawley affirmed such sentiments. He had previously served as lead pastor for 27 years, beginning in 1979. Dawley added that the congregation’s ethnic diversity is a point of pride for the church, with its Black, Hispanic and white congregants mirroring the wider Freeport community’s diversity.
When asked how the church can further its impact in Freeport, both Walcott and Dawley said that strengthening its existing youth and community engagement programs will go a long way.
“We continue to serve the community and reach out during the summertime.” Dawley added, “We provide school supplies for the kids for the fall.”
Walcott detailed how further development could be realized.
“I would like to see the church kind of be a hub of life in the community where it’s a place where the entire family can find a home,” he said. “I think one of the blessings that we have as a church is our building that we’ve inherited overtime thanks to the stewardship and vision of those who’ve gone before us.”
The church has a basketball gymnasium and other space for multipurpose activities.
“I would certainly like to see a day where those facilities are used in a greater way for the benefit of the community,” Walcott concluded.
