About FBC
In 1998, First Baptist Church of Tyler celebrated her Sesquicentennial, 150 years of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in Tyler. When that first group of believers met in a one-room courthouse to form the Baptist Church, James Polk was president, the Civil War was still years away, and Texas was a brand new state.
In 1883, a series of small buildings were constructed and all were destroyed by fire between 1855 and 1882. In 1883 a corner lot was purchased at the intersection of Bois d'Arc and Ferguson, where the church has worshiped ever since. In 1886, the church moved into a newly constructed steepled sanctuary where it met until 1913. That year the congregation moved into their new columned sanctuary. The sanctuary has been remodeled on the inside through the years but has housed First Baptist worship to this day.
In 1939, the Young Men's Bible Class began a radio broadcast to the area. That became the Radio Bible Class, which is still radiocast every Sunday. In 1929, Dr. Porter Bailes began a pastorate that lasted for 27 years. The first education building was erected in 1935 under his leadership. In 1955, First Baptist sponsored the construction of a mission church in south Tyler, Green Acres Baptist Church. Following Dr. Bailes retirement,Dr. William Shamburger began his term as pastor that endured until 1985. Under his leadership a larger education building was constructed in 1959. In 1961, the church began having two morning worship services. In 1965, First Baptist was the first in East Texas to televise her morning worship. The church continues to televise the 11am worship live on the ABC station, KLTV-channel 7.
Weekday child care was started in 1969. The sanctuary was renovated in the early 1970s. The largest church Recreation Center in Texas was opened by First Church in 1980.
Dr. Gary Fenton became pastor following Dr. Shamburger's retirement. During his tenure the music ministry first produced the Singing Christmas Tree.
Under the leadership of Interim Pastor, Dr. Paul Powell, the church adopted the First Forward campaign. Under First Forward much of the downtown campus was renovated and the search for undeveloped property in South Tyler for future expansion began.
Dr. Michael Massar was called as pastor of FBC in 1997. Since Dr. Massar's coming, the church purchased over 100 acres in far south Tyler for the development of a second campus to minister to that growing area of the city. In October of 2002, the First Baptist Church South Campus was officially opened. During Dr. Massar's pastorate the Tyler Family Assistance Center was begun and the Bethesda Health Clinic was opened.
In 1996, under the leadership of Interim Pastor Dr. Paul Powell, First Baptist Church adopted the "First Forward" capital improvements campaign. A part of that program was to seek out undeveloped land in far south Tyler for purchase as a future dual site. Property was located at the intersection of Hwy 69 South and FM 2813. The church voted to purchase over 100 acres. This property will be near the new proposed loop around Tyler. The property was acquired in 1998.
Activities began on the property in 1998 and have since included a churchwide sesquicentennial celebration, a revival under a giant tent, a family drive-in movie night, the Fall Fun Fest, an Easter Sunrise Service, Sunday Nights On the Road and more. In 1999, plans were approved for phase one of development of the South Campus. The first phase will include an entry way, a lake, recreation fields, and a multipurpose building. The building will include an auditorium large enough to house 700 people for worship, concerts, and other events
Also in 1999, a pioneer congregation began having a Bible Study on Sunday evenings led by Associate Pastor Scott Wiley in a house on the property. On August 20, 2000 this new congregation started having Sunday morning worship services in the cafetorium of Owens Elementary School with Bible Study following.
"Whole Hearted," a capital fund-raising campaign took place in the fall of 2000 to raise funds for the first phase of development. The future plan is to continue to minister in Downtown Tyler and on the second campus in south Tyler. Exciting days are ahead as the South Campus of First Baptist Church takes shape and begins to grow.
The first phase included a tree-lined entry way, a lake, recreation fields, and a multi-purpose building. The new structure would include an auditorium large enough to seat up to 700 people for worship, concerts, Bible study, and more.
Construction began in the summer of 2001. The First Baptist Church South Campus first phase was dedicated and opened officially on Sunday, October 6, 2002. The natural beauty of the East Texas piney woods has been preserved. The South Campus is a scenic and innovative spiritual home for Tyler single adults and families. The hope of ministering in the name of Jesus Christ in the central and southern parts of the city has become a reality.
