were busy fundraising for a second church bus tour organized by Pastor Chris Austin, this time to Washington DC. to attend ”DC ’97”. It was a gigantic conference on youth and evangelism, that was being presented in the United States Capital. Nineteen ninety-seven was an active year for the youth of First Baptist. Apart from ”DC ’97”, it was the year that the national Awana program was initiated locally. Awana was an answer to prayer, as within weeks of its start no less than 65 children were being trained to love God. The volunteer Awana leadership was excellent, described as, ”energetic and creative people of all ages leading their children.” Youth involvement was also evident in the Interim Student Program, where Aaron Kenny was displaying real ministry gifts. He created a park ministry in the city, presenting the gospel to children daily in a variety of park locations.

The other new program introduced in 1997 was Alpha, a non- denominational bible study organized at First Baptist by Dr. Margaret Munro. It was Christian Education in its purest form, designed to bring people and the truths of the Gospel together. In the initial program, 140 people participated for several weeks in small groups, both at the church and in private homes. Another 40 people took the Alpha course in the fall. Margaret Munro was referred to as ”Miss Alpha", although the program was not unique to First Baptist. Alpha groups were getting together in most North American denominations, and were held across the continent, as well as overseas.

Modern Christian Education programs were growing and had church facilities bursting at the seams. The young Awana group was an example, with 115 attending in only their second year ofoperation. Trustees, for the first time in years, were discussing expansion alternatives and there were many considerations, one of the foremost being parking. This was long range planning, but there were more immediate changes taking place. Modern technology came to First Baptist in 1998 when a new computer was installed in the office, and the church van underwent some long overdue reconditioning. The choirtoo had a change, necessitated when their director, Sylvia (Howard) Henderson, took a leave ofabsence and was replaced by Mary Beth MacMiIlan.

Aaron Kenny spent a second summer in the Interim Student Program before leaving in the fall with his new wife Erica, to begin his own ministry at West End Baptist in Halifax. As he left he commented, "In time I pray the Lord will build up for me as dedicated a youth program as I learned at First Baptist”. With the growing and successful ministry at Camp ’Seggie’, both First Baptist and the Baptist Camp Association were planning a major expansion program, that would begin with a large new lodge constructed over the winter. It would be a combined effort and First Baptist would assume responsibility for 50% of the cost.

It took 162 years for an ordained lady to stand behind the pulpit of the Baptist Church in Charlottetown, but on September 13, 1998, Reverend Kathy Neily was inducted as the part-time Associate Minister. Pastor Kathy and her husband Dr. Don Neily had recently moved to Prince Edward Island and had joined First Baptist in 1997. Kathy Neily would assist in / ~ various ministries of the church, with a major emphasis fififlm #5157

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