A local church is celebrating 30 years in ministry this Sunday.

Andalusia Full Gospel Tabernacle, also known as AFGT, will hold a special 30-year service on Sun., April 2.

The church opened its doors April 5, 1987.

“The buildings and properties that you see today were once just a vision,” said Mindy Hunt Day. “In 1987, Fred and Mary Hunt felt the call (from the Lord) to begin a new work in Andalusia.”

Day said after her grandparents did much searching, seeking and praying, the property was decided upon and purchased.

“After much thought, Andalusia Full Gospel Tabernacle became the name of this new church, better known as the Old Tomato House,” she said.

The first service had 24 in attendance in Sunday school and 35 in morning worship.

Day said her grandfather shared the sermon, “We may not look like much.”

“With our wood slat (pinch) pews and no carpet, we began to experience God move in mighty ways,” she said.

Six years later, her grandparents retired from the ministry and her parents, Pastor John and Teresa Hunt took over the pastoral leadership of AFGT.

Day said that in 1995, her parents saw her mother’s vision of a Christian daycare come to fruition.

“AFGT purchased the first daycare building, Guardian Angel Christian Daycare,” she said. “With one child and three workers, the dream slowly became a reality.”

Today, the daycare has grown to a 16,000 square foot facility and serves more than 200 children and employs 25.

Day said that by 2000, they had outgrown the original sanctuary and that a new sanctuary was needed.

“In February 2001, we had our first service in the new sanctuary,” she said. “We also hired full-time staff to lead and serve with us.”

Day said the church has come a long way since its beginning.

“With web pages, praise teams, and ministries for every age, AFGT, declared that Andalusia will be the hardest place to go to Hell from,” she said. “We have not reached a stopping place. We must go forward. The blueprints say there is more to do.”

Day said that her parents, along with her and her husband, Travis, would like to thank the community that has been a part of AFGT for the last 30 years.

“We are so very blessed,” she said. “We can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in our next 30 years.”

Sunday’s service starts at 10:30 a.m.