About Us

Our History

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church was founded in 1888 in the town of Baker, located in the Panhandle of Florida. We are a thriving, multigenerational congregation of approximately 350 active members, committed to our mission to love God and love people.

 Baker is situated in a beautiful country setting, within 15 minutes of driving distance of the larger city of Crestview and an hour to the beautiful white-sand beaches of the Emerald Coast.  Our church connects with families from across the region, including students from Baker School (K‑12), other schools within the Okaloosa County School District, as well as a community of homeschooling families.

Our church family is lively and involved, with ministries that welcome and support all ages. We have an active children’s ministry, a worship ministry with choir, and a network of Sunday School classes. Our congregation gathers weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays to hear biblically rich, Christ‑centered messages that challenge and encourage spiritual growth. Throughout the week, our members are engaged in Bible study, worship, fellowship, and outreach opportunities. We are passionate about sharing the gospel with our community and building disciples who impact the world for Christ.

Our Core Beliefs

  • The Bible: We affirm the Bible as the flawless, inspired Word of God, serving as our exclusive authority in all matters.

  • God: There is one and only one living and true God. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

  • Salvation through Faith: Salvation is solely through faith in Jesus Christ, with baptism by immersion as a testament to one's faith. Believers will spend eternity with the Lord, while those who reject Christ face eternal separation in hell.

  • Self-Governing Local Church: The local church, a visible expression of God's Kingdom, is autonomous and self-governing. While we collaborate with various Baptist associations, decisions for our church are made independently.

  • Mission for the Kingdom: Our mission extends beyond church membership to reaching people for the Kingdom. Through the Cooperative Program, we actively support thousands of International and North American Missionaries.

Detailed Beliefs: For a comprehensive understanding, refer to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church is to glorify God by fulfilling the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We believe found within these verses are five God given purposes for our church.