FIRST BAPTIST

CHURCH

KERENS, TX

1889-2015

History ofFirst Baptist Church

Kerens, TX1889-2015

Compiled byFarrisa Smith

Edited byJymie Carol Inmon HawleyDon and Jean Ann Paschal

A very special thank you goes to all the people who made this book possible. Those who provided information, pictures, and other support: Patti Smith Callegari, Laurie Smith Stephens, Dr. Royce Measures, Jymie Carol Inmon Hawley, Cindy Carnegie, Dr. Lee Henson, Don and Jean Ann Paschal, Leah Atkeisson, Judy Baker, Mildred Horn

History of the

First Baptist Church of Kerens 1889 - 2014

Recognizing the admonitions given in the Great Commission, the church, through

the leadership of lay people, endeavors to meet the needs of its members in

three areas: body, soul, and spirit. Also, First Baptist Church is seeking, not only

to evangelize, but also to assist in the mental, physical, and social needs of

individuals. History is the story told through the lives of the people involved.

In 1860, the Baptists erected the first church edifice in this part of Navarro

County in a grove of post oak trees near the Jimmerson Cemetery, located about

three miles southwest of Kerens. It was a rectangular, one-story building,

painted white. It was also used as a community center. The Civil War broke out

and all local recruiting and other war activities were carried on from that building.

The building was destroyed by fire about 1871.

In 1881, one of the first settlements in Texas was Wadeville which was located

about three miles south of present day Kerens. A railroad was put through this

area and the town of Kerens was plotted by the Saint Louis and Southwestern

Railway Company and established. The town was named after one of the

prominent stockholders, Judge R.C. Kerens. Richard C. Kerens was an Irish

Catholic layman and philanthropist who at one time was the U.S. Ambassador to

Austria-Hungary. He also was a personal friend with Presidents Harrison and

McKinley. The initial settlers of Kerens primarily came from old Wadeville and

surrounding communities, though some came from as far as Corsicana.

Baptist work in Central Texas had been going on since 1836, but even after the

formation of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845, work was very difficult to

get started. The fourth association to operate in Texas met at Providence

Church in July 1848 in Navarro County and was called the Trinity River

Association. Progress was slow, however, until after the Civil War when it

became known as the Richland Association. They met at the Blooming Grove

Church in 1889 and changed their name again to Navarro County Association.

“By this time [1889] the association had a membership of 768 members from

nineteen churches. The Bazette church near Kerens up to this time was the

largest in membership with 169 and the First Baptist of Corsicana was second

with 125 members. The smallest church in the association was located in an

area East of Corsicana known to all as Kerens. The church at Kerens had just

been organized during the year and had at that time of the report 14 members,

as reported in the “History of Corsicana Baptist Association”.

In 1869, the Presbyterians and Masons erected a two-story building on the main

street of Wadeville (2½ miles south of Kerens). The lower floor of the building

was used by all denominations for religious services as well as serving as the

first public school in the area. Exclusively the Masons used the upper floor.

After Kerens was established in 1881, this combination church/lodge building

was taken down, moved to Kerens, and became a school building and Masonic

Lodge. It was located at the City Park, across from the present First Baptist

Church. The churches all used that building for a while.

In 1886, Red Ellis organized a Baptist church. In 1887, it moved to

Independence and a few years later the present Baptist Church was organized.

At that time, the church did not have its own building, but used the Presbyterian

Church which had been constructed at its present site. Presbyterians,

Methodists, and Baptists used this building jointly. Baptists and Methodists had

one Sunday each; the Presbyterians had two. The three denominations held

Sunday school together.

In 1889, the Rev. W.W. Finley, former pastor of the Bazette Baptist Church,

organized the First Baptist Church. Prior to this he had preached in Oklahoma

2

before coming to Texas in 1882. Among the churches that he served in Texas

were those in Whitewright , Van Alstyne, McKinney, Runnels City, Ballinger, East

Waco and Pretty Valley (12 miles south of Waco) before coming to take charge

of the Bazette Church. He continued to be pastor to both Bazette and Kerens

churches for the next two years, along with Pretty Valley. Later Bro. Finley

served another year (1893-1894) in Kerens. The congregation of Presbyterian,

Methodist and Baptist churches had shared the church building belonging to the

Presbyterians for several years. The membership grew even though they had no

building.

The earliest available minutes refer to the church as “Kerens Baptist Church of

Christ.” Later, it was referred to in the minutes as “The Baptist Church of Christ

at Kerens.” By the turn of the [19th-20th] century, it was called “The Baptist

Church of Kerens.”

In 1894-1895 during the pastorate of E.R. Freeman, a wooden church building

was built and occupied in June 1895. The building was constructed at a cost of

$600 and was located at the corner of Schloss Ave. (Colket) and Highway 31

3

[where the Chevrolet House once stood, next to the present Shell] at a cost of

$600. J. L. Joplin and T.J. Shepherd were ordained as deacons.

T.B. Harrell of Blooming Grove served as pastor for a short time followed by H.

A. Conway, who served for two years. During his ministry, J.B. Reese was

elected a deacon and it was during this time that the first BYPU [Baptist Young

People’s Union] was organized.

In 1898, John S. Tanner from Baylor University was pastor for one year. During

this time a library was first put into use in the church. The library contained 211

books valued at $129.65.

In 1899, J. C. F. Kyger, also from Waco, served and during that year the wooden

structure which housed the church, burned, having caught fire from a gristmill

located south of the church.

Church budget for 1899

Church budget $681.28Pastor salary $472Church membership 76Sunday school membership 100Average for the year 66$134 of this budget was designated for missions.

4

In 1900, J.P. Mahoney was called as pastor. The church building committee was

composed of these people: G.W. Speed, J.B. Reese, W.S. Price, J. L. Joplin,

J.V. Noble, Ms. M. E. Ivey and Ms. Addie Mays. This committee was instructed to

proceed with the building of the church on the same location. The church was

completed that same year.

Within the Association at that time there was a growing tension between those

who desired to support the Baptist General Convention of Texas or the Baptist

Missionary movement. The church passed a resolution addressing this problem

in 1902.

Resolved the church beginning this year, take at the end of each quarter a collection for missions and that while all collections so taken shall pass through the hands of our treasure, each contributor shall have the right to designate for what missions and through what channel his or her contributions should be sent. Believing it to be scriptural and Baptistic.

In 1901, W. I. Feazell was pastor for one year.

1901-1904, Charles A. Lovelance served. Lovelance was serving two Sundays

per month. In December of 1903 he tried to resign, but the church would not

accept his resignation and the committee recommended that instead of finding

5

another pastor, the church hire Lovelance full-time for $720 annually. This is the

first full-time staff member at Kerens. He stayed until May 22, 1904.

The next pastor, G. W. Riley, went back to a three-quarter-time and served for

only one year.

W. T. Bayanton, and then J. H. Grimes each served one year. It was during the

Grimes pastorate that the Associational minutes show 164 members, 125 in

Sunday school, and 65 in B.Y.P.U. Kerens continued to have leanings toward

the Missionary movement. In 1907, during Grimes pastorate, the church sent

messengers to the Navarro Baptist County Association. They were G.W. Speed,

Jack Shepard, Homer Carroll and Bro. Fulgum. This Association was probably

not associated with Southern Baptist.

C.C. Smith was pastor for a year after J.H. Grimes.

In 1910, H.A. Phillips was pastor for only 20 months, He played a significant role

in the organization of Southern Baptist work in Navarro County. Though many

churches continued to give support to the Baptist General Convention of Texas,

from 1898 to 1910 there was no association aligned with the B.G.C.T. in Navarro

County. The tension in this area concerning mission work finally prompted the

Zions Rest Baptist Church just north of Corsicana to send a letter on November

20, 1909 to the Baptist churches of Navarro County:

Baptist churches in Navarro County, that are in harmony with The Baptist General Convention of Texas, are hereby requested to meet with us at the First Baptist Church, Corsicana, Texas, at 11 o’clock on January the 29 th, 1910, to consider the wisdom of organizing ourselves for work in the county, and to consider any other matters that may properly come before us.

Kerens received this letter and voted by deacon recommendation to take no

action as a church, but individual members could go on their own as messengers

from the church.

6

Nine churches sent messengers to this meeting. M.A. Phillips and T.J. Shepard

came from Kerens. The body appointed a committee on Resolutions to make

some recommendations concerning a course of action and T.J. Sheppard served

on this committee. In their report they stated their desire to provide an avenue

for churches and individuals to work with the B.G.C.T. without embarrassment. It

was agreed that the next meeting would be at First Baptist Church, Corsicana on

March 25, 1910 for the purpose of organizing the Corsicana Baptist Association.

In 1910, at the first annual meeting of the Corsicana Baptist Association meeting

T.J. Sheppard was elected treasurer, M.A. Phillips and David M. Gardner were

hired as part-time missionaries for the area that summer. Phillips’ salary was

$100 a month plus expenses which were aided by the Association. The second

annual meeting of the Corsicana Baptist Association was held in September of

1911 at Kerens Baptist Church.

Later in 1910, Bro. I. Windsor served nine years, the longest tenured pastor up to

that time. Under his leadership effective revivals were experienced, the church

building was repaired, and a parsonage was constructed just south of the church.

The church building was evidently badly in need of repair. In 1911, carpenters

had to “rod” the church and put pillars in to hold up the roof.

At that time, the church was not meeting on a weekly basis. In 1913, records

reported meetings on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sundays, but 1916 and 1917 records

report meetings only on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. By 1922, however,

the church reported meeting on every Sunday.

7

In 1920, W. A. Corkern arrived as pastor in January, and through the next

several years the church made outstanding progress. A new brick building was

built and the old church and parsonage was sold.

Obtaining the funds for the building to be built is a story of faith and commitment

to Christ’s cause in Kerens. In September 1920, a young man at the University

of Texas who was a member of the church wrote Bro. Corkern and sent a $5

check with this letter:

I am sending a check for five dollars, which is to be put in the bank as the beginning of a fund for a new Baptist church house in Kerens. If nothing is ever added to this amount it is to remain in the bank for that purpose.

The letter was read to the B.Y.P.U. and those young people were challenged to

tithe for the month of October. The tithe amounted to $89. Other additions were

made to the original account and the WMU started another account as well. The

building was completed for a cost of $51,268.35. The opening of the new brick

sanctuary and educational building saw 380 in Sunday School and eyewitnesses

gave a “conservative estimate” of 625 to 700 people at the 11:00 worship hour.

8

Rev. Corkern preached from Galatians 6:14, “Glorying in the Cross”.

On the south face of the new brick building was etched “First Baptist Church.”

During this time there was apparently still some tension over the dividing of

mission dollars. In a business conference on January 13, 1924, a motion was

made that each church member has the right to either send their gifts through the

“Convention board or through the Baptist Missionary Association.” The vote to

accept this as a motion was sharply divided: 48, for and 47, against. It was

approved, however, by a unanimous standing vote.

The 1926 church was heated first by lignite coal and later by natural gas. Air

conditioning was of the “natural ventilation” type.

During the years of 1926-1927, after a short pastorate of R.E. Bass, Bro. W.A.

Corkern returned to lead the church again from 1927 to 1932.

1932 until 1935, Clem Hardy was pastor. He resigned to go to the mission field in

Manaus, Brazil, leaving New York City in May 1936. Bro. and Mrs. Hardy spent

almost a quarter of a century in this area of service.

In 1936, M.O. Cheek had spent years as a missionary in China before returning

to Texas on a medical furlough. Prior to being elected the next pastor, Bro.

Cheek had been pastor in Hubbard. Under his ministry, the vision and the spirit

of missions continued. It was during his ministry that the building erected in 1926

was paid in entirety. W.A. Corkern had requested that he be allowed to pay the

last $10 of the indebtedness, no matter where he might be living. He returned

from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to preach the dedication and note-burning service.

In 1939, Bro. Cheek resigned after three years in Kerens, to become Missionary

for District 14 and moved, with his family, to Waco. He was asked to participate

in the oral history of Texas being collected at Baylor University.

9

“Minutes of Business Meeting of Church May 17, 1939.

Brother M.O. Cheek and Ms. M.O.Cheek were granted church letters and requested that the letters be issued separately.

Ms. Cheek made report for B. T. U.

During month April, every point toward standard came up. Now I have 145 in Monroe and average attendance of 81. Last three Sundays’ average attendance of over 100.

Ms. Carol made report for W. M. U

Mission program average attendance was of 44 every month.

Last program held at First Church Corsicana with 37 women making trip.

Mr.Murphrey reported for Sunday school. We are still short on teachers’ attendance on teachers meeting to obtain standard of excellence.

Good report last month and starting even better this month. Requested prayer for new leaders in the beginners’ department. Mrs. Wilemon is giving up this work, and Ms Horace is taking charge until regular election in September.

Mr. Roland Mays made report for his class. He is having good attendance and requested prayer for him as teacher. He is having 15 to 20 unsaved men in his class on Sunday morning.”

C.W.W.Act. Secy.

During 1940-1943, the pastor was A.E. Harrison. The church grew in number

and the scope of activities multiplied many times and ways. On September 17,

1941,

Gladys Price was elected as church clerk where she served faithfully until 1984.

Gladys Price

10

Served faithfully As Church Clerk For 43 years.

Mildred Horn was elected as Church clerk in 1989 and served until 2012.

Mildred and Travis Horn

Don Paschal's story about the church buildings

Don & Jean Ann Paschal

“I am James Donald Paschal, I use Don Paschal. I was born in Kerens in 1932,

and I am 81 years old now [2014]. My parents were James Andrew, "Pete" they

called him Pete Paschal. He was a mechanic for a Ford house here for many

years behind the church. My mother was Lillian Hilliard Paschal, and she was

11

third grade teacher -- a teacher for 40 years here in Kerens and Orange and the

Good Night School when she first came here in '24.”

“I have one sister, Betty Ullman, and she lives down in the College Station area.

And my wife is Jean Ann Paschal, and she was raised in Corsicana and we

married in 1955.”

“We have three boys: Mark Paschal, he lives in Dallas. He is a private

investigator.

John, he works for a medical company up there; sees patients and he has taught

in Baylor nursing school for a while. And David, David is the manager of some

drugstores, about seven of them. That's what he does for a living. He lives here

with me when he's in town when he’s not in Wichita Falls and Midlothian.”

“So I thought I would record this stuff because I know about the church. I have

lived here for many years.”

“Across the street on the south side from the old Baptist Church used to be a

school in 1900. It was a school for the whole city. The school filled up the whole

block. They built the next school at the end of Colket Street about 1911. They

built two brick schools there and they abandon that one down there. They used it

as a park with a few swings for a long time, it belong to the city.”

“On that block there was a big tabernacle the Baptist built it on half of that

property. It still belonged to the city but they built it and had revivals there. It

would seat about 250 people. It was octagon shaped and had shingles on the

top. It was the place that kids could play in the summer and winter. They could

play marbles under it in the dirt and sand. And it had benches made in it and it

had a little roster or pulpit and a place for the choir on the west side. It would

accommodate about 25 or 30 in the choir, kind of raised thing. They used it for

many years. They would have revivals there in the summer because we had no

12

air conditioning in our church or any other church. We would have between 250

and 300 people there; they would come in wagons and with their families. It

would usually be in July or August before they started gathering cotton. They

would bring quilts and spread them out beside the tabernacle, but not

underneath, just so they could hear. They let the babies be on the blankets.

There would be a lot of cars all around there. “

“They had walks, they still have the walks some places. They came from each

corner. They were concrete walks. Later on the thing fell in bad state of repair so

they tore it down.”

“Then we had a tent revival there. We brought in a big tent one time when

Charlie Pringle was here and we had a tent revival there about a two-week

revival. Jimmy Phillips was united with the church at that time and quite a few

more. A lot of people were saved.”

“Later on we bought that property because we decided to build a new parsonage.

We had a parsonage down on Third, but it was a small one built about the time

the old church was built. We paid to the city $6,000 for the whole city block. The

city had mowed it, there wasn't anything left on the block. So we built on the

southwest corner. After we built the new sanctuary and before we tore down the

brick church, we decided to go ahead and build a parking lot. We needed a

parking lot real bad. When we tore the old church down, we took some of the

money and we built a new parking lot. The Baptist Church sold the southeast

corner of the block to the Church of Christ, who later sold it to a builder who built

two little houses. The rest of the block still belongs to the church. A lady left

money to the church, and we took it and concreted the parking lot. It was

hundred thousand dollars. 300 by 100 by 150 foot parking lot.”

“The brick building was started in about 1924. The building was built just like

Corsicana First Baptist Church, the same architect just on a smaller scale. They

13

started in 1924, and they poured the concrete and let it sit there six or eight

months. They dug all the dirt out for the basement, which was the whole length of

the church. The depth were about shoulder high to a man. We had a lot of

Sunday school rooms, and a cradle roll was down there right in the front of the

building, also two restrooms. There was a sloping floor in the main auditorium.

When entering from the outside, you could go up steps into the auditorium or you

could go down four or five steps into the basement. Later we remodeled the

basement and put a chapel on one side. It had no windows. We put double doors

into the chapel. We had prayer meeting and stuff down there. We wanted to have

a place to have funerals, but no one wanted to go down the stairs. You could go

up the front steps on both sides [south side] and go right into the sanctuary.

There was the office area underneath the baptistery. When you walked in the

back of the church, there were a lot of Sunday school rooms around the back just

like Corsicana. In the back of the church, they had a big petition that would slide

up and down. It would take three men to push it up into the wall. In the front there

were vestibules on each side. After the war, they had drapes because they had

so many Sunday school classes.

“You went up a landing to get upstairs, and then there was another set of stairs.

That was where they did the baptizing, and there were two Sunday school rooms

also. As you walked around, there was room for the organ pipes. The organ had

a motor and a pump. It was a good size organ. There was a room beside the

baptistery about 10 x 10. There were two steps down into the baptistery and we

had a metal baptistery in there. We had a pump up there also that circulated the

water. We had a hot water heater. It was a coil hot water heater you had to go

light it a day before we used it. It took that long to heat the water. It was an open

hot water heater. We had two restrooms up there.”

In the back when you came down for Sunday school rooms all the way around it

accommodated quite a few in the Sunday school.”

14

“In the basement is where we had the air-conditioning and the central heat, we

converted from coal to gas and electric for the cooling. Before that we had great

big fans down in the front with a fan on it like an airplane propeller and they were

noisy. That was the only cooling we had. We had some windows, they were

about 5 foot tall and they swung in the middle, and they were the ones that go

around the top of the building. And all the ones in the sanctuary had stained-

glass windows, some of them had some paint only on them that was fired and

they were really kind of art and very good. We had some 15-foot windows down

at the bottom -- real tall windows, they swiveled in the middle. You would see

those deacons get up -- he had a real long stick -- 20 foot long with a hook on the

end of it to hook the windows on top to unlatch to let air in the church. This would

let air in but before long we would have birds, the preacher would say, ‘Leave the

birds alone and listen to me’.”

“They had an orchestra; they were all senior people. Ama Bain [A.L.] played the

saxophone, and Dorothy Scarbrough played a violin; there were others.”

“In about 1951 or 1952, we air-conditioned the old church. The brick building,

they put in new pews. It had always had a furnace in the basement. At first it

was a coal furnace you had to go down in the morning and build a fire. But later

on we went to gas, then we put air conditioning and heat.”

“The first petition in the basement for new Sunday school rooms was made. The

other thing that was on that block with the brick building was the old Ford house,

where the bus barn is now. It covered about one quarter of that city block. Don

Paschal's father worked there for about 40 years. Mr. Brister owned it; he had

about 14 people working there before the depression hit. Right next to the brick

church was a house the church bought, and they built the Fellowship Hall using

material from the house. Another house was behind it and they tore it down. We

bought that property when Royce Measures was here. It was across the alley.

The alley had all the sewerage lines and service lines through it. There is a 20-

15

foot alley easement going through there and we couldn’t build anything on that.

Now we have a two bus barn back there and a playground.”

16

J.W. Ousley

J.W. Ousley became the pastor in March 1943, and stayed until

September 1945. Eight deacons were elected and were ordained.

Dr. Ousley left to teach in the Bible Department of Baylor University.

Dr. Ousley recounted the progress of the church during his pastorate in his letter

of resignation:

“God had blessed our church during these two and one-half years. Two hundred

and fifty-two members have been added, one hundred four of who have come by

baptism. The organization has been enlarged to care for an increasing

constituency. A weekly visitation program has been promoted and has paid on

hundredfold. This past year the offerings from this church for the cause of Christ

were $10,238.28. The church and the pastorium have been redecorated, and a

public address system has already been paid for and will soon be installed. An

organ fund has been set up, and it is sincerely hoped that soon a beautiful organ

will grace this sanctuary of God. An a cappella Girls’ Choir has been

organized…some recreational equipment has been bought and used in

furthering wholesome recreational life for our young people.”

17

Friday, July 27,1945 -- THE VISITOR

First Baptist Church Kerens, Texas It is the second largest church in the Corsicana Association. S. S. Supt--Howell Brister. About470 enrolled; about 200 average at-tendance. T.U. Director--Roy Cloud. About175 enrolled; about 100 average at-tendance. W.M.U. Ptrs--Miss Annie Jones. About 40 average attendance. Treasurer - J.B. Smith Ch. Deacons --Ford Irey. 20 dea-cons, one in the service. Clerk--Mrs. Wade Price Adult Choir Director--L. Mur-phrey; about 20 members. Girls' Choir Director--Mrs. J.W.Ousley. 27 members (interme-diates) (Girls' Quartet and Girls'Sextet also) Pianist--Mrs. Roland Mays. Concert Mistress of Orchestra--Mrs. Whit Scarborough. Church Visitation Program--Mrs.Edwin Howell. Church Recreation Program--Mrs. J. W. Ousley.

Resident membership of church 410. Total, including both resi-dent and non-resident, 625. Present pastor has been here 28months during which time there have been 230 additions. 17 attended the Latham Springs Encampment. Church has recently bought a new public address system for theauditorium. Offerings are now being made to buy an organ. Plans are under way to buildan educational building after the war. The present Church plant is a $65,000 plant. V.B.S. this month with an en-rollment of 127. Average attend-ance, 104. Revival will be in August with Dr. R. T. DANIELS preachingand B. B. FIELDS leading the music. T.U. Study Course in Sept. with Mrs. A Adameik leading. $2,000 in bonds and good bankaccount. Offerings exceed budgetconsiderably each week and month. --courtesy Mrs. J. W. Ousley.

J.W. Ousley

In January 1946, Dr. E.R. Page of Springfield, Missouri was called as pastor. A

Celeste Pipe Organ was installed in March 1946 at a cost of $3,776. Some strict

guidelines were drawn up for its usage. Only five people at a time were to be

designated as official players, and these had to be at least 16 years old. In

addition, whoever played the organ, other than at regular services, had to sign a

register kept by the instrument.

18

In the following years, attendance in Sunday school averaged 372 per Sunday.

Ross Coggins was ordained as a minister. The church built two cabins at Latham

Springs Baptist Encampment. Dr. Page resigned in 1948 to go to Commerce as

pastor.

In 1949, M.O. Davis was pastor until August 1954. During these years, some of

the events were: Herbert Batson was elected minister of music; first paid minister

of music; repair was done to the auditorium of the church building including new

furniture; aisle and rostrum carpet; and the acquisition of a grand piano. The

building was air-conditioned. Deacons ordained during this time included: Homer

Carroll, Ben R. Cherry, Fay Redford, Alan Paul, A.B. Massey, Marvin Henderson,

Tom B. Washburn, Clifford Breeding, R.G. Griffin, Joe Arnett, James Luther

Whorton, Hobart Hilliard, and Weston Wallace.

A Brotherhood was organized in April 1953. It was extremely successful with as

many as 90 men representing Kerens at Association-wide meetings.

Brotherhood & R.A.’s

19

Standing: Buddy Sessions, Song Leader; Clete Owens, Pianist

Bro. and Mrs. Davis proved their interest in missions by taking a six weeks tour in

the mission field in South America.

Bro. and Mrs. Davis then moved to Crockett. Later Bro. and Mrs. Davis moved to

Tyler where he was quite active in the “ham radio” ministry. Frequently he was

able to help a foreign missionary communicate with relatives in the states and

vice-versa.

1954 until April 1957, Frank Gillham was the pastor. Bro. Frank was an excellent

leader in the affairs of the church as well as a capable pastor. The church was

experiencing the highest Sunday school attendance in the church’s history at

360. The church brought in a Minister of Music, Education, and Youth to live on

the field. Some events from this time were: the first record of an elected counting

committee; the employing of a church secretary; the church bought the Fletcher

property in the anticipation of growth in a physical plant of the church; and a

budget year was set as January 1 to December 31.

The Gillhams left the Kerens pastorate to go as missionaries to East Pakistan

and later served in Japan.

In 1956, the church voted to cooperate with five other churches by going in on a

$1,000 note to buy property near Navarro Junior College to serve as a site for a

Baptist Student Center.

20

1957 until 1959, J. Garland McKee served as pastor. During the later years of

this decade, there were frequent discussions of where to put new classrooms.

September 1959 until November 1961, William F. Foster, known to many as “the

walking pastor”, served in Kerens. Approval was soon given for securing

architects to draw up plans for a new educational unit to be built west of the

church. Due to the cost ($60,000) of this project, financial plans had to be made

and perpetuated through the years.

A plan was proposed that the Harvest Day Offering be used when funds would

be needed for building projects. It is still in use to this day by the church.

First Baptist Kerens has had a fall offering since then. Five people told the same

story about the offering. They were Wanda Smallwood, Judy Baker, Mildred

Horn, Ozell Franklin, and Don Paschal. The offering was given after the cotton

crop had been harvested. The farmers would bring in an offering to the church.

21

Lavois Wallace was hired as church secretary in September 1959 and served

until January 1988. L.C. Ross was licensed to the gospel ministry in March 1961.

The Fosters later went to South Korea as missionaries.

Lavois WallaceChurch Secretary 1959-1988

From February 1962 to June 1966, Don Walker was pastor. He was quite active

in organizational endeavors. Some activities were: church council established;

growth and stewardship programs were emphasized; correlation of activities on

Wednesday night put into use; and the basement renewal begun in Adult II

Department and the dedication of the Annex on September 19, 1965.

1963 through 1966: This was the period of integrations.

June 9, 1966, in the regular monthly business meeting, the majority of 22 to 7

adopted a motion made from the floor which stated "that all white young people

22

only of the community be welcome at youth meetings."

Don Walker, Pastor June 13, 1966, offered his resignation as the best way he

could to protest what he felt to be an open denial of God's will due to the

adoption of the policy excluding persons from our church on the grounds of race.

Joe Keith, minister of music youth and education, submitted his resignation

expressing disappointment in the decision made by the majority of the church

members voting in the business conference to turn away anyone from a church

sponsoring activity because of their race.

In 1966, Charles W. Pringle was called to be pastor. Highlights of his ministry

include: a spiritual uplift to the membership through prayer; preaching and

witnessing; the purchase of a new parsonage; the purchase of the blocks south

of the church (known as the city park); and the cooperation with the Crusade of

Americas in Corsicana.

From November 1969 to October 1971, Ralph Stovall was pastor. Repairs on the

roof of the church and gutters, plus a new heating unit were needed projects. The

church participated in the Evangelist crusade in Corsicana on Tiger Field with

James Robison, the evangelist. Frank O’Bannon was minister of music youth and

education.

1972, Olin Boles, on a medical furlough to the United States from the mission

field in Equatorial, Brazil, was called to be the pastor. Accomplishments during

his ministry were a study group elected to plan improvements of church property.

His plans were presented and approved to pave the north half of the block south

of the church as a parking area and to build a new parsonage on the southwest

corner of the same block. The method of publishing the news of the church on

the back of the Baptist standard was also begun. Morning worship services were

broadcasted on station KCIR once a month (later twice a month). New cushions

23

were purchased for the auditorium. The oldest parsonage, formerly built and

owned by Bro. Corkern, and later purchased by the church, was sold. Bro. Boles

resigned in December 1974 but remained as interim pastor until February 1975,

then returned to the same mission field in Brazil.

Old Parsonage on S.W. 3rd St.

Was built and owned by Bro. Corkern

(later was purchased by the church.)

Parsonage for Minister of Music/Youth

602 SE 3th Carroll Addition (1966)

24

25

Rev. Van Houser

From 1975 to 1980, Rev. Van Houser was pastor. He

was no stranger to the congregation as he had been

involved in a revival with Bro. Boles, when he was

pastor at Kerens. The boundless energy of this young

man was evident in his plans, his devotion to his

calling, and in every area that needed his help. A

study committee was elected to search out the long-

term needs of the church. On August 26, 1979, the

dream of a new ground floor worship center was

realized when the 500 seat auditorium was

dedicated. It is colonial in style and housed the first choir room. A Baldwin

electronic organ was purchased. The stained glass painting over the baptistery in

the old sanctuary was transferred from the old place of worship to the new with a

very special meaning.

26

Several youth choir tours were taken during these years, and trips to Mexico and

Haiti for mission purposes were scheduled. In the summer of 1978, Jean Horn

Murray, Angie Phillips, and Angela Wharton were on staff to serve as camp

sponsors and work at other summer ministries.

The church also purchased property west of the church during this time. Riley

Pippen, John Ward, and Kyle Byrd were licensed to preach.

The Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board commissioned Rosey Evans,

daughter of Mr. and Ms. Robert Evans, on July 18, 1980, as a missionary

27

Dr. Royce Measures

Dr. Royce Measures came to First Baptist in

January 1981. During his pastorate, the church

moved forward in both physical and educational

areas. Dr. Measures was a strong believer in the teaching ministry of the church

and worked diligently to see that the best teachers possible took leadership in the

classes. He established the long-range planning committee to set church

objectives and priorities. As a result, the old brick sanctuary was imploded, and a

new brick veneer educational building of some 8,000 square feet was built at the

cost of $14,500. A 15-passenger van was purchased as well as lots northeast of

the church. A youth group made a summer trip to Glorieta. A youth group leader,

Johnny Singleton, was ordained to the ministry; Andy Bell, served in the summer

of 1983 on the staff as youth director and camp sponsor. In 1986, Dr. Measures

accepted a call to the Houston area.

28

Bro. Chuck Biscoe

In 1987, Bro. Chuck Biscoe became the 33rd

pastor of the First Baptist Church. His

untiring efforts in presenting the gospel,

encouraging the body of believers, and

leading in the overall church program have been hallmarks of his ministry. The

youth made two summer trips to Glorieta. Larry Burden and Rick Mangus were

licensed to preach. The church purchased a new sound system. During this time

Ms. Lavois Wallace was honored as she retired after 28 years of service as

church secretary. Ms. Elaine Holt became the secretary in 1988. During this

ministry, we saw Vacation Bible School return to new heights with 229 average

attendance in 1989. Dixie Edwards was the VBS Director.

29

Rev. Doug Axtell

In 1993, Doug Axtell served as pastor. In

December 1993, the church had a Winter Bible

Study. During his time at Kerens the Dortha

Scarbrough home was donated to the church

and became the new Music and Youth

Parsonage. The church kitchen facilities were remodeled, and the parking lot

south of the church building was paved, curbed, and striped. The youth went to

Glorieta. There was a church wide picnic at Camp Forrest. The nursery

committee was formed. Brian Hogan was ordained as a minister in 1995.

Sunday School promotion day was moved from the first of October to the first of

September. The property in back of the church buildings was fenced with a

chain-link fence. The Church held a revival in 1995 with our own Kyle Byrd of

Front Line Ministries as evangelist. After Brian Hogan left in 1995, Larry Bell was

hired as Youth Interim and Bobby Bain as Music Interim.

In January 1996, the Deacon Family Ministry was active with George Edwards as

the overseer. The Deacon Family Ministry Plan was revamped in 2003-2004

with a fresh emphasis.

30

Rev. Wes Johnson

September 1996, Wes Johnson came as

pastor until January 2015. During these

years, the Vacation Bible School has been

in June for children first grade through sixth

grade. So many youth and parents come to

help out; it is usually hard to tell who is

more rewarded. The church encourages our young people (from 3 rd grade up) to

attend a week of camp. The church also financially supports the youths’ trips.

The church supports AWANA for children ages 4 years old through the 6 th grade

on Wednesday during the school year. The WMU has continued to reach out to

people outside the church by means of food pantry, materials needed in the

House of Refuge, and luncheons for the Housing Authority and BSM. The WMU

promotes the missions offerings and provides prayer support. Other activities:

Baby Showers, Shoe Box Ministries, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, and

the Christmas Store. Extra Bible studies are provided on Sunday and Monday

night.

31

David Reaves

David Reaves served as Youth Pastor from June 2004-January 2015.

The youth had weekly Christ-centered bible studies- our Wednesday

program was called 180 and then in about 2007 we changed it to

Break Thru. We would meet in the youth room for our Wednesday bible

study until we outgrew it. Then we moved into the new building

fellowship hall.

Several times after the church fire we met outside in the parking lot to

continue meeting while the education building was being cleaned due

to smoke damage.

Every year to start the summer off, we would have a Wet Wednesday. Full of

water games, slides, and we would play a game called Kiddie Pool Kickball--it

was kickball, but we used kiddie pools as bases and a slip-n-slide to slide into

home.

We would do some sort of monthly mission project with the Sunday night

students- collect food for the food pantry, go buy the items we needed for the

food pantry, walk around town going house to house asking if we could pray with

the families, and asking if they needed anything.

We would have a regular Bible study on Sunday nights as well. It was set up like

discipleship training, and we would have open discussions about the topic we

were studying. It was designed to be a foundational strengthening activity. Every

once in a while, we would meet on a Sunday night, then go out to eat at one of

the many places in Corsicana. The student’s usually picked Cici’s Pizza. We

would also go to the movies if a good one was showing.

32

We had regular Sunday school set up as well. The Middle School was doing a

study through both the Old Testament and New, and the High School would do a

topical study for issues that they faced or will face. It worked out great because

the Middle School would have a lot of the background by the time they came up

to the High School.

During the summer we continued to meet on a regular basis on Wednesday

nights. On Tuesday and Thursday, we had a fellowship called Game Day.

Students would come to the church around 9 a.m. and stay until about 4 p.m. I

would bring my video game systems, and they would bring their game systems.

We would fellowship and play all sorts of games too. We would play outside as

well--basketball, football, and softball. We also had a gathering on Friday called

Friday Movie Club. We would go to the $2.00 movie each Friday. It was a great

time to see the students as much as possible.

Every year we would help Dixie Edwards at VBS. Students would help teach,

recreation, crafts, music and anything else that she needed done. We always

had more students than jobs, but Mrs. Edwards always found something for them

to do at VBS. The students would also help James Inmon at the VBS Carnival for

Family Night. They would help in each of the booths that were there. I think the

booths that always had plenty of help were: the dunking booth and Homerun

Derby. On the Wednesday night during VBS, we would always meet at Dean and

Peggy Engel’s house for a huge pool party for the student volunteers. We always

had a blast and the Engels always fed us really well.

Each summer we took close to 30 students to Super Summer. It is a leadership

training week. The students would spend about 8 hours a day studying God’s

word and being taught how to live it out daily. It was great taking the students

there and seeing God change their lives each year and then seeing them share

their faith with all those around. Also I was blessed with taking another group of

6-8 student to help at the Pre-Teen Camp called Breakthrough. They would help

33

in recreation, and they were challenged to be mentors to the students from our

church. I know several of the students made impacts on the younger student’s

lives because of the commitment that was constantly being shared.

During one Spring Break, we took a group of about 20 students to Baton Rouge,

LA. We worked at a homeless shelter, served food, did minor work projects on

the campus, and we were blessed to meet with several women and children that

lived at the shelter. The students that went really had an eye opening experience.

They realized that they can make an impact and reach out to others.

I am sure that I am forgetting a lot of the other things that we did both serving

and fellowshipping. We saw several students come to know Christ, surrender to

ministry, and many lives were touched just from the love that we shared with

everyone. I can say that I wanted each student to feel a part of the family at FBC

Kerens, and I tried to the best of my ability to make sure that happened. Each

student that was there while I served there has a special place in my heart. To

Him Be the Glory!

34

The church burned on October 17, 2009. Sunday school classes met in the

church’s education wing after it was cleaned of smoke damage. Some classes

continued to meet in homes. The church services were at the Kerens EX

Students Association building in downtown Kerens.

The building was insured, but rebuilding was more expensive that the insurance

would cover. The church had to raise the difference of about $250,000.

35

It was two years and four months after the fire when the congregation moved into

the new sanctuary on February 12, 2012.

36

The First Baptist Church of Kerens is affiliated with the Corsicana Baptist

Association, Central Texas Baptist Area, Baptist General Convention of Texas,

and the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas.

The First Baptist Church of Kerens will respond to the challenges of the future as

it has responded to the challenges of the early years. It will continue to reach

people for Christ and grow as it has in the past.

The Gospel message of Jesus Christ never grows old. The Great Commission

states.

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.”

(Matthew 28:19-20 HCSB)

37

38

39

40

Music Directors1. Herbert Batson Feb 8, 19502. Woodrow Behannon May 1951 Sept 19513. John McCallon4. Weldon Moore Nov 1954 19555. Paul Barnes Sept 1955 Oct 2, 19576. Buddy Sessions Apr 8,19597. Bill Nakaharia June 19, 1960 Apr 23, 19618. O.D. Randall June 1, 1961 Oct 10, 19639. Frank Prewitt Dec 1, 1963 June 15, 196410. Joe Keith Aug 9, 1964 June 12, 196611. Frank O’Banion Jan 8, 1967 Oct 1, 197212. Rich McKinney Jan 21, 1973 Dec 23, 197313. Bob Mayberry Feb 24, 1974 Dec 19, 197614. Rickey Loy June 12, 1977 Feb 19, 197815. Tommy Havens Sept 1, 1978 Aug 29, 198216. Lee Henson July 17, 1983 Sept 198517. Keith Matney Nov 1985 Dec 198818. Don Thornton July 1988 Aug 198919. Don McCall (interim)20. Tim Ames Nov 1989 May 199221. Brian Hogan June 1993 Sept 199522. Bobby Bain Oct 1995 Sept 200223. Mark Stegall Oct 2002 May 200424. Bobby Bain June 2004

41

Secretaries

1. Martha Bain Oct 1954 Feb 19552. Nell Baker Mar 1955 Sept 19593. Lavois Wallace Sept 1959 Jan 19884. Elaine Holt Jan 1988 Apr19905. Cindy Jones Apr 1990 Sept 19936. Debby Hill Sept 19937. Christina McManus Oct 1993 Dec 19938. Karen Wilcox Jan 1994 May 20009. Jymie Carol Inmon May 2000 Sept 200510.Cindy Carnegie Sept 2005 present

Youth Directors

1. Ricky Loy 1977-1978

2. Tommy Havens 1978-1982

3. Lee Hinson 1983-1985

4. Keith Matney 1985-1988

5. Don Thornton 1988-1989

6. Rick Jagguars (interim) 1989

7. Tim Ames 1989-1992

8. Brian Hogan 1993-1995

9. Larry Bell (Interim) 1995

10. Brian Frank Nov 1995 April 2001

11. Larry Bell (interim) 20012002

12. Mark Stegall Oct 2002 May 2004

13. David Reaves (interim) June 2004 Aug 2004

42

WORKS CITED

Bell, Dixie and Price, Gladys. “History of First Baptist Church, Kerens, Texas.” January 1976. (Typewritten.)

Corsicana Daily Sun. 30 January 2012

First Baptist Church, Kerens, Texas. Minutes of Church Conference. 1956-2014.

First Baptist Church. Web Site. 2015

Hinson, Dr. Lee. “History of First Baptist Church Kerens, Texas.” (Requirements for the course. Baptist History). 1984.

Inmon, Jymie Carol. History of First Baptist Church, Kerens, Texas. 2004

Reaves, David. “Youth Activity 2004-2015.” Farrisa Smith. Facebook. 2015. Web.

CONTRIBUTORS

Atkeisson, Leah. “First Baptist Church 1894”. Pencil Sketches. 2015

Measures, Royce. Historical information.

Paschal, Don. Kerens, Texas. Interview. 18 January 2014.

Wallace Lavois. “The One-Hundred Year History of First Baptist Church in Word and Picture.” 1989.

43