Church History
In 1982 an Intercessory Prayer Ministry was begun, with “prayer warriors” praying at specified hours from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. This ministry was expanded in 1985 to five days a week, and in 1987 the singles department extended it to include Saturdays until 1:00 p.m. God greatly blessed the church during Dr. Leroy Kemp’s long pastorate.
On November 13, 1988, First Baptist welcomed the Rev. Andy Davis as its new pastor, just moved from Fort Worth with his wife and two children. In his seventeen years to date, the church has continued and expanded many ministries and other opportunities for spiritual growth begun during Dr. Kemp’s pastorate, including several not mentioned above. Revival meetings, Lay Renewals, classes in Master Life, Evangelism Explosion, Precepts Bible study, and other such activities continue to afford a large and varied congregation ways to grow and serve. Hand in hand with these have been missions activities, as individuals, families, youth groups, senior citizens, Baptist Men, and others have gone to many mission fields to preach, teach, build buildings, do surveys, give concerts, and conduct Bible schools and backyard Bible studies. Special yearly mission offerings, such as Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong, receive emphasis and routinely exceed their goals.
When Bro. Davis came in November 1988, resident church membership was 1,482. As of August 2006, it is 2,359. In the same period, Sunday School enrollment has grown from 1,627 to 2,978, the average attendance from 682 to 1,100. The budget for 1988 was $680,602; for 2006 it is $2,839,043. On May 4, 1997, First Baptist broke ground for a new sanctuary, and on July 5, 1998, the congregation worshiped in it together in one glorious morning service.
Since 1953, its centennial year, and especially since 1967, the First Baptist Church of Belton, Texas, has come of age, blessed by God and serving its community in the name of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, may it long continue to provide a place for people to worship, learn, and serve.