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First Baptist Church has served residents of Panhandle (originally Carson City later Panhandle City) since the late 1800s. In 1897, a group of Baptist residents, under the direction of the Rev. William H. Younger, came together to organize a congregation. The church reorganized in 1905 under the Rev. J. T. Burnett. Members first met in various locations; they began construction on their own building in 1906. The early years of First Baptist Church were a dynamic time. By the 1920s, the church had grown considerably as Panhandle experienced an oil boom. The Rev. A. F. Johnson, who established mission churches before coming here, ministered during this period of growth. Members constructed a new building, on this site, to house the large congregation. However, by the 1930s, the debt incurred by the building and the movement of the area residents to Borger, coupled with the effects of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, led to play financial hardship for the church. Under the Rev. George Thompson, members worked together to raise money, paying off the church's debt in 1940. First Baptist Church has a rich tradition of giving to others. The congregation has a long history of helping the needy in the Panhandle. Members have also been heavily involved in missions, sending groups throughout the Western United States and opening a local mission in 1997. The church has also done mission work in international destinations such as Brazil and Mexico. In 1997 fire destroyed the congregation's 1971 building. However, the church rebuilt and dedicated a new complex on this site in 1999. Today, First Baptist Church continues to serve as a spiritual leader in the community of Panhandle. (2008) |
