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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF JOURDANTON IN OCTOBER 1909, JUST ONE MONTH AFTER THE FOUNDING OF JOURDANTON, SEVEN RESIDENTS GATHERED TO ORGANIZE A BAPTIST CHURCH UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE REV. W.G. GILSTRAP. MEMBERS FIRST MET IN THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLHOUSE FOR WORSHIP SERVICES AND WERE LED BY THE REV. A.P. SMITH; FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WAS HIS FIRST PASTORATE. BY THE END OF 1910, THE CONGREGATION CONSTRUCTED THEIR FIRST BUILDING, A WOOD FRAME STRUCTURE AT THE CORNER OF CANTRELL AVENUE AND POPLAR STREET. IN 1911, THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH FORMED A WOMEN’S MISSIONARY UNION TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR MISSIONS AND TO AID THE CHURCH IN PROJECTS. FIRST BAPTIST HAS MADE HOME AND FOREIGN MISSION WORK A FOCUS THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, DONATING FUNDS TO THE BUCKNER ORPHANS HOME AND OTHER TEXAS ORGANIZATIONS. THE CONGREGATION ALSO WORKED WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH; THE CHURCH’S ANNUAL VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL BEGAN IN 1938. DURING WORLD WAR II, MEMBERS PURCHASED WAR BONDS AND THE CHURCH CONDUCTED SPECIAL SERVICES FOR FAMILIES. OTHER AUXILIARIES INCLUDED THE BROTHERHOOD ORGANIZATION, ESTABLISHED IN 1939. IN 1946, A NEW CHURCH BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED. MEMBERS MET AT JOURDANTON HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM UNTIL THE FIRST SERVICES WERE HELD AT THE NEW STRUCTURE IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. THAT SANCTUARY WAS REPLACED IN 1977, AND A LARGE WORSHIP CENTER WAS COMPLETED AND DEDICATED IN 2003. TODAY, HAVING EXISTED ALMOST AS LONG AS THE COMMUNITY, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF JOURDANTON REMAINS A VITAL PART OF THE CITY’S PAST AND PRESENT. (2010) |
