After the morning worship services at the First Baptist Church of Springfield, the congregation moved outside to the family life building for the formal dedication of the building in memory of late pastor Jeff Rollins.

The members of the church voted unanimously that this building, which is one of the buildings added to the church under Rollins’ leadership, be named in his honor as the Jeff Rollins Center.

Rollins pastored the church for 25 years before a tragic one-vehicle accident took his life in 2014. Rollins became pastor of the church in 1989, while the church occupied a building on Laurel Street in Springfield.

Rollins was described not just a preacher but a pastor who ministered to multiple generations of families. The church’s outreach locally and abroad expanded broadly under his leadership.

Under Rollins, the church moved from downtown Springfield to an expanded campus north of Springfield on Highway 119. This campus had many during Rollins’ leadership. Added were a children’s wing, a day care center, the family life building (which houses the youth program and many activities of the full membership), the prayer chapel, God’s Mission House, and several recreational fields.

Rollins was known in the community for leadership in many activities as well as those at his church.