Pastor Ted Huston looked like he felt at home on Sunday morning, delivering a rousing sermon at Central Baptist Church.
Huston bounded from the pulpit to the front of the church, moving from side to side. His tone switched from calming to fiery and passionate as he told stories and emphasized all have fallen short of God's glory. He stressed the need for everyone to turn their lives over to God and be born again.
It was somewhat of a homecoming for Huston, who helped start Central Baptist in 1987 and returned to celebrate its 30th anniversary this weekend.
Huston worked as a high school football coach then taught at a Christian school in Festus before helping start the church after four families contacted him about the need for an independent and more fundamental Baptist church in the area.
Central Baptist started Aug. 2, 1987, in the original Marvic Roller Rink, 714 Michigan St., which is now a banquet center. When the Flood of 1993 forced church members from the building, they temporarily met at another church on Beck Street before buying property at 1106 St. Mary's Blvd. In 1997, the church bought its current property at 1812 E. McCarty St. and built the current church in 2000.
Huston said coaching isn't entirely different from being a pastor. Coaches win games, while pastors win souls.
"As a pastor (you're) trying to win them to Christ, and you're trying to get them to start understanding these truths that will transform their lives," he said.
Current Pastor Andy Schmidt, who took the reins from Huston four years ago, talked about the goal of leading his congregation to salvation.
"If there's one thing we can't be wrong on, it's salvation," Schmidt said. "We can disagree on how the church is set up, we can disagree on the end-time prophesy, but there's one thing we better not be wrong on. It's salvation. Because the Bible is very clear: In the tabernacle, there's one door to Heaven."
The church believes in being born again and being saved by grace. "If we think works can save us, we're saying God's payment is not sufficient," Schmidt said.
Schmidt said the church has always been especially good at administering to the most needy people in the community.
One service the church officers is a busing service to shuttle people to the church and back home again.
Schmidt said the church is also celebrating because it is on the verge of becoming debt-free by paying off the land and building.
The anniversary slogan for the church comes from Psalm 126:3: "The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."
About 140 people attend the church each Sunday morning. This Sunday, the celebrations included a chicken dinner after the service.