DELTA, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau County church that began in a railroad car will mark its 100th anniversary Sunday.

First Baptist Church of Delta, Mo., will mark its centennial with special services beginning at 9:45 a.m. Sunday. Activities include a catered meal, recognition of former staff and church members, stories from days past and special music and a guest speaker.

The Rev. Bradley Fowler will speak at the worship service. He is a former member of the church and now preaches at a church in Hernando, Miss.

Talking about a "century of service," church members related stories about the work of the First Baptist congregation.

In its recent history, the church provides a food pantry for families hit by fires or disasters, a senior citizen ministry, ladies' quilting groups, a homebound ministry and a van ministry.

But it's the story of how the church began that proves fascinating.

Back in 1900, three railroad companies were thriving in the Deray community (which became Delta in 1908). The Iron Mountain Railroad donated a railroad passenger car to the American Baptist Publication Society for use in its revival meetings.

The "Messenger of Peace" rolled into Delta on March 23, 1900, complete with a missionary pastor. Four members of nearby Baptist churches attended the meeting and decided to form a new church in the community.

Barely two weeks later, the church was meeting by the riverside and baptizing new members. In its 100-year-history, the church has baptized twice as many members as there are residents in Delta today -- 950 baptisms have been recorded.

Within its first year, the new congregation had enough money to build a permanent church, which is now a residence in town. In 1947, a vacant Methodist church building was bought and became the meeting place for First Baptist Church. A parsonage was built also.

The church bought five acres of land in 1973 and built at its present site on Route N just outside of town in 1976.

Dozens of people are expected to attend the homecoming service Sunday and many of them have never seen the "new" church, said Retha McManus, a church member and homecoming organizer.

Even some of the members who remember the building will be surprised at some changes, she said. New carpeting has been added, there have been fresh coats of paint applied and new landscaping added outside the building.

But the people will have remained the same, though "some faces will have changed. Some will be new and some will be older," said the Rev. Eric Hodge.

The church expects former members from as far away as Texas and Florida, as well as Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. Former youth members who performed in the New Life Singers choir are expected and will likely perform.

For the past two years the church has been preparing for the centennial homecoming event. Letters have been sent inviting former members who moved away to return, commemorative ornaments have been designed and ordered, the property and grounds renovated and landscaped. And members have been sharing memories from years ago.

"It's been neat hearing the stories and talking about experiences," said Hodge. There are some things that members are still learning about the church's history after poring over records and histories of railroad churches.

During the testimonies about past years, members related stories about when they couldn't drive their motor cars to church because heavy rains had made roads too muddy and "you had to take the wagon because the ruts were too deep," said Retha McManus.

Other older members remember walking along a train track and over a truss bridge from Allenville, Mo., to get to the church, she added.

First Baptist Church is the oldest congregation in Delta -- a Methodist and Presbyterian church once held services but have since disbanded -- and it expects to continue gathering for worship.

"We're trying to get back to focusing on the future after we celebrate out past," Hodge said.