Baptist Church Organized in 1894
A. A. McNabb, an ordained deacon in the Baptist church, moved here from east Tennessee in 1893. He brought his wife and children, William, Mattie, Etta, Oscar, and Daisy. He felt it was important to have a Baptist witness in Dumas and organized a Sunday school in a building in the southeast part of Dumas in 1894.
Later, a school building was erected west of the courthouse and the church met there.
Later, a school building was erected west of the courthouse and the church met there.
There are no records of the first nine years of the church, but Rev. W. H. Younger became pastor on March 15, 1903. The church was officially organized as the Dumas Missionary Baptist Church on July 16, 1894. Rev. Younger and his family lived in Channing, but came to Dumas to preach one Sunday each month. In 1902, Charles Jameson was the first person baptized in the church.
In 1907, Rev. W. A. Edwards became church pastor. In November of that year, the church purchased lots 13 through 18 of block 20 and J. L. James, L. T. Cook and T. A. Jameson were named trustees.
Three men, R. E. L. Farmer, J. L. McDade and Frank Robinson constructed the building. It was completed by the fifth Sunday of May, 1908, and had room for 100 people. The building was located at Third and Dumas Ave. A tornado destroyed the building in 1925. The church was rebuilt at 501 S. Dumas Ave.
In 1907, Rev. W. A. Edwards became church pastor. In November of that year, the church purchased lots 13 through 18 of block 20 and J. L. James, L. T. Cook and T. A. Jameson were named trustees.
Three men, R. E. L. Farmer, J. L. McDade and Frank Robinson constructed the building. It was completed by the fifth Sunday of May, 1908, and had room for 100 people. The building was located at Third and Dumas Ave. A tornado destroyed the building in 1925. The church was rebuilt at 501 S. Dumas Ave.
In 1936, a school building was moved to the present location, between Fourth and Fifth Streets on Bliss Ave. The present sanctuary was completed in 1949. With church growth, educational wing was added in 1960 and a larger sanctuary, a fellowship hall and music room was added in 1985.
Another building was purchased across the street from the church and was converted into an activity center.
Missions have always been an important part of First Baptist Church. In 1943, First Baptist Church sponsored a church in Masterson. A church in Etter was started in 1950 and in 1954 a church that later became Calvary Baptist Church was started in Dumas. In 1958, the church began churches for Hispanic and Laotian worshippers. The church sponsors the Iglesia Bautista Hispana Mission.
In the early days of the church, pastors served in Dumas for only a year or two. W. H. Younger was an exception. He was the first ordained pastor and served for about five years, leaving in 1907. Records show the following pastors who served the church in the early days:
Another building was purchased across the street from the church and was converted into an activity center.
Missions have always been an important part of First Baptist Church. In 1943, First Baptist Church sponsored a church in Masterson. A church in Etter was started in 1950 and in 1954 a church that later became Calvary Baptist Church was started in Dumas. In 1958, the church began churches for Hispanic and Laotian worshippers. The church sponsors the Iglesia Bautista Hispana Mission.
In the early days of the church, pastors served in Dumas for only a year or two. W. H. Younger was an exception. He was the first ordained pastor and served for about five years, leaving in 1907. Records show the following pastors who served the church in the early days:
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The present pastor is Matthew Price who came in November 2020.
The church had a celebration for it's 125th anniversary in 2019 and marked 128 years in July 2022.
The church had a celebration for it's 125th anniversary in 2019 and marked 128 years in July 2022.