This is how God started His work here in Columbia, and how He is continuing that work to His glory. 

"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it..." Matthew 16:18 ESV

Early in 1965, a survey of the area and a Bible study on a Tuesday evening at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Fred Calderwood were the beginning of what is now Baptist Fellowship.  God blessed those efforts, and by August 1965, the first Sunday morning worship service was held with an attendance of 34.  These events followed, and give you a sense of where we have been, and who we are today:
 

1966- Jack Schneider becomes the first pastor of Baptist Fellowship

1967 - A Bible study initiated by Baptist Fellowship becomes the First Baptist Church of Tolland

1970 - Lester and Grace Cooper donate land in Columbia for a church building

1971 - Our first building (now the chapel and offices) is dedicated

1976 - Scotland Christian Fellowship is started as a mission church of Baptist Fellowship

1978 - Our second (and current) building is dedicated to service

1981 - Iglesia Bautista de Willimantic is started as a mission church and uses our facilities for 20 years

1983 - Lighthouse Christian School, now known as Lighthouse Education and Learning Center, is started and uses our facility

1997 - Dennis Reiter joins the staff as an Associate Pastor

2005 - Brian Keldsen joins the staff as an Associate Pastor

2012 - Brian Keldsen is installed as the new Senior Pastor