The Canaan Missionary Baptist Church is located on Highway 63 in Avera Community. The Pastor is Rev. Thomas Laird. He has been pastor there for one and a half years. The church has Sunday School at 10 a.m. , Morning Worship 11 a.m., with Evening Services at 5:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting is on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The church was begun in 1969 and has about 160 members. The average attendance in worship now is one hundred and forty-five. Rev. Laird also directs the choir. Bro Laird was born in Santiago, Chile where his parents served for more than 20 years as Baptist Missionaries. Rev. Laird is a dynamic young pastor of 22 years old.

The church has a large number of children and youth, and they have a youth committee who works with them.

The church is a part of the BMA (Baptist Missionary Association), whose state offices are in Laurel, MS. The Canaan Baptist Church has built a beautiful new house of worship where visitors are always welcome.