Marble Plains Baptist Church held its annual Easter egg hunt on March 21 at its historic church grounds located at the entrance of Tims Ford State Park.

With more than 1,100 eggs filled with anything from candy to money being distributed, families traveled from four different counties to participate in the event and enjoy fellowship with friends and family.

Children enthusiastically scoured the grounds of the property, leaving no stone unturned as they searched for hidden prizes, filling their baskets and finding all the eggs before the first hour of the event passed, but the fun didn’t end there.

The children then carried their treasures into the community building of the church, giving them an opportunity to fully investigate the goods in their baskets and offering the parents an opportunity for shade, air conditioning and the joyful sight of happy children and a happy church family.

Tables filled with lunch items from chicken to hot dogs to desserts were lovingly prepared and offered by members of the church, and after the table of food was blessed, attendees were invited to fill their plates and enjoy a meal together.

Marble Plains Pastor Roger Parks expressed excitement for the event and its turnout.

“These children and their parents come from four different counties” he said. “Franklin, Coffee, Moore, and Lincoln counties, some people drive over 20 miles to — not just come to this — but to also come to church every Sunday.”

An information table was set up, offering community members the opportunity to learn about and support Lifewise Academy, a program that operates under a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows religious instruction during school hours as long as the program is privately funded, off school property and parent-permitted.

Marble Plains Baptist Church is more than 150 years old. The cemetery is located on property that was founded in 1857 and is the resting place for 17 Civil War veterans.

When the Tims Ford Dam was built, everyone in the community was displaced, and only 12 people remained members of the church.

Today, however, the church is thriving, having more than 200 people as members who call Marble Plains their home church.

Marble Plains Baptist Church offers church services every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m., with Sunday school classes starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday evening services begin at 5 p.m., and Wednesday night services begin at 6 p.m.

The church’s Easter sunrise service will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday.