First Presbyterian has been on the Biloxi Coast since 1891. Since the early 1960s, the church building has been located at 1340 Beach Boulevard, west of the Biloxi lighthouse and the entrance to Keesler Air Force Base. Amazingly, the building fared well during Hurricane Katrina when almost every building around it was reduced to rubble.

Rev. Darin M. Stone of First Presbyterian Church in Biloxi (MS) is excited about what his congregation and other Presbyterian Churches of America are doing to assist new pastors in Africa.

“The PCA funds the African Bible College where those who are new to the faith can learn how to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in their own community,” Stone said. “When a person in Africa comes to us and asks to be trained we teach them what the Bible says and means. They are then more equipped to go out and reach others for Christ.”

First Presbyterian has been on the Biloxi Coast since 1891. Since the early 1960s, the church building has been located at 1340 Beach Boulevard, west of the Biloxi lighthouse and the entrance to Keesler Air Force Base.

Amazingly, the building fared well during Hurricane Katrina when almost every building around it was reduced to rubble.

The church turned its second floor into a well-equipped housing center for volunteers. Those volunteers came weekly from throughout the nation and were able to coordinate from the church grounds until 2008.

“Thousands came to clean, rebuild and restore not only the physical things but to see that the spiritual and mental needs of Coast residents were met,” Stone said.

“We are humbly grateful and in awe of how God’s presence was shown.”