TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH  -  1952-1982

 The following was taken from page 508 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

 Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of Texas

 In 1951, Henderson’s First Baptist Church sponsored a revival on the Kilgore Highway with the Reverend Alfred Grigsby, evangelist, and the First Baptist purchased property to build a mission.  The Sunday school was organized with twenty-five members on Sunday, June 22, 1951.  The church building was completed in September, 1951 at a cost of $12,500, and the dedication took place on December 14, 1952.  Dr. J. Howard Williams, Executive Secretary of the Baptist General Convention of Texas gave the dedication sermon.  The first pastor of the mission was Reverend George M. Slayton.

On April 8, 1953, the mission became the Trinity Baptist Church with Reverend Slayton as pastor.  October 4 of the same year the church was organized with seventy-five members and a budget of $8,710.00 for the year.  In the same month the Southern Baptist recognized the church and the church became a part of the Rusk-Panola Association.

 Between 1954 and 1960, the Church had three pastors, W. Ray Tatum, Francis Wilson, and Stanley Cox.  In 1960 the new auditorium was constructed at a cost of $33,000.  This same year the Educational building was named “Kelly Hall” for Walter Kelly.  This year the Church hired the first music director, Fred Harris.

 The pastors of the church since 1960 in the order of their ministry are: Bill Joe Tate, W.H. Markham, John Heaton, Mack Brister, W.H. Markham, Charles Bullock.  An interim pastor is serving at this time, spring 1982, and he is Jerry Smith.

Music and Youth Directors have change more often during these years.  They are Duane Evans, Gil Brink, Alford Rowe, Bob Elmore, Larry Talbert, Larry Dunn, Phil Dillard, Steven Berry, Don Gray, Blair Markham, Bob Horn.

 In 1969 the auditorium was enlarged and remodeled at a cost of $24,000 and in 1973, the church dedicated the “Aubrey Little Library” in memory of Mr. Aubrey Little.  This same time, 1974, the church bought a home for the Music and Youth director.

 Church membership had increased so much that by 1978-1980, the Church constructed a new Fellowship Hall.  An Educational and Outreach Director was chosen in 1981 and he was Johnny Newton.

 Today, 1982, the value of the church property is $680,900 and the church membership is six hundred.  The congregation has given #38, 946 to missions during this past year, 1981, and the budget is $159, 941.89 for the church year.

 Sure, God’s blessings have been given in abundance during the past years.