DAPHNE — The Eastern Shore Baptist Church is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a newly released book chronicling its history.

The Rev. Grant Barber asked Robert Glennon, a Daphne author, historian and church member, to write the book a year ago, looking toward this anniversary.

The book, “Eastern Shore Baptist Church Twentieth Anniversary — Our Legacy: Aug. 26, 2007,” will be released tomorrow.

Glennon writes about how the Eastern Shore Baptist Church spun off Daphne Baptist Church, and the number of times it changed locations.

The book includes facts and stories Glennon learned from studying state archives and talking to people in the church community.

When the church started, in 1987, they had no meeting place or money — just a vision, Glennon said.

“There was no one with deep pockets; there was no Ross Perot. These were just regular people who saw a need for a ministry,” Glennon said.

ESBC first met at the Lake Forest Tennis Club and then moved to the East Park Medical Center at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Main Street, according to Glennon.

The medical center began to expand, so the church had to find a new place to meet, he said.

ESBC moved two more times, including a transition to the Econo Lodge on U.S. 98, before moving to a chapel on their property in November of 1990, according to Glennon.

ESBC in 1987 had purchased 6 acres of land on Park Drive, at which the chapel was built.

Establishing the church didn’t come without challenges.

“Everyone, all of the funding sources, were telling them they couldn’t afford it, and that they didn’t have enough people for the project,” Glennon said.

The church had fewer than 100 members at the time, Jan Trawick, ESBC financial secretary, said.

Here, strength in numbers may have been replaced by that which is found in a higher power.

“They chose to go ahead and do it, they went on faith and have never missed a payment or anything like that,” Glennon said.

“It has been a continuous building project since they started pushing dirt in 1989,” he said.

The church began with the small chapel. Over time, offices, classrooms and a gymnasium have been built, according to Glennon.

In December of 2004, the church moved into its 1,600-seat sanctuary at 6847 Park Drive — no thanks to Mother Nature.

“Hurricane Ivan came along on Sept. 16, 2004 and blew the steeple right off,” Glennon said, adding the church had it repaired within three months — just in time for the official grand opening.

Today, ESBC has more than 1,000 members, according to Glennon.

Currently, 600 copies of Glennon’s book are available. The book can be checked out at the Daphne Public Library beginning Monday.

ESBC will have a special service tomorrow at 10 a.m., featuring evangelist and guest speaker, Kelly Green, Trawick, said.

There also will be a celebration service at 6 p.m.

Two of ESBC’s biggest events are the annual Beast Feast and the church’s Vacation Bible School, Trawick said.

Beast Feast is a men’s event that takes place each February, during which each person brings his favorite game dish, his favorite catch, Trawick said.

V.B.S., is held each June; more than 400 kids in the community attend, according to Trawick.

For more information on the Eastern Shore Baptist Church call 626-5550 or visit www.easternshorebaptist.org.