First Baptist Church celebrates 125 years in Dalhart
By Sandy Reynolds
Special to the Dalhart Texan
(Editor’s note: This is the third and final part of a three-part series about the 125th anniversary of the First Baptist Church and its history in Dalhart. The first was published on August 20, and covered the time period from 1901 through about 1938, and the second was published on August 27 and covered the time period from 1944 through about 1971, and included the creation of Lincoln Street Baptist Church, Antioch Baptist Church, and the early beginnings of La Primera Iglesia Bautista.)
In March 1974, the Mission Committee of First Baptist Church became convinced that a new house of worship should be built and plans were launched for a building program to serve our Spanish-speaking community. Logs and other building materials were purchased through the efforts of the Spanish Mission congregation, FBC and other donors. The “Builders for Christ” Baptist laymen group from across our convention donated their skills and labor together with members from FBC and constructed the new building that was dedicated on January 26, 1975.
The name of the new church was La Primera Iglesia Bautista and became an autonomous church in 1979; it was later returned to mission status and is supported by her sister church First Baptist.
Pastors who faithfully served at La Primera from 1969 to present time were Rev. Daniel Castro, Rev. Andres Rodriguez, Rev. Herman Martinez, Rev. Raul Morales, Rev. Jose M. Rodriguez, Rev. Domingo Duenez and Rev. Carlos A. Perez.
A dynamic, faith-inspired building program began in 1980 when Rev. Rodney Williams was called as pastor to First Baptist Church. Our history is filled with the adventures of Christian pioneers who launched out on faith beginning 1901 when FBC was organized; again when the little white frame building was constructed at Fifth and Rock Island; in 1919, when continued growth was evidenced and a building fund was implemented resulting in the beginning construction of and new location for a larger plant at Sixth and Denrock. This great step of faith became a reality in 1927 when the church was completed and occupied.
The “Together We Build” campaign led by Rev. Williams was a bold push toward the goal of $2,000,000 plus and conducted over a three-year (156 weeks) period. The theme of this campaign was “Equal Sacrifices…Not Equal Gifts.” Pledges or commitment payments began November 2, 1980. Used to gather in those pledges was a bright, shiny tub (no, not the same one used in the Building Fund campaign in 1919!) Three goals were set: Must Goal - $2,000,000 considered a “must” in order to build a new plant; Victory Goal - $2,250,000 would enable the furnishing of the new buildings throughout; and the Hallelujah Goal - $2,500,000 would enable FBC, with the sale of the current church at Sixth and Denrock to build a Family Life Center.
The Hallelujah Goal was eventually met. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.”
First Baptist had that vision and with hard work and sacrifice, God’s purpose was achieved. Lots were purchased in the Pueblo Addition on Sixteenth Street and construction soon began. The Worship Center was completed in 1988 and dedication was held October 16, 1988.
First Baptist Church began a Television Ministry in March 1983 that was designed not only to reach those members unable to attend worship services, but utilized as an outreach tool to those who had no church affiliation. Worship services were not only televised, but announcements of multiple adult, youth, and children’s programs and events were made available community-wide.
Under the pastorate of Rev. Travis LaDuke, FBC experienced an amazing growth in the number of professions of faith, as in 1991, there were 104 people who followed Christ in baptism. A Miracle Offering was promoted in December and continues as of 2026.
An additional educational wing helped enlarge current learning facilities for projected growth of First Baptist. In July 1999, the Family Life Center Committee brought a proposal to the church family that the land across the street from the Worship Center be purchased for future construction of a Christian-oriented recreational outreach facility, and the lots were obtained.
Rev. Rodney Weatherly answered the call to become FBC’s pastor in 2004; and once again, the church began to re-look at the earlier discussed idea of building a Family Life Center. In October 2006, church members and the architect began putting projected blueprints together; and with finalized plans, construction soon began. Ground was broken for a center that would be 25,500 square feet in size.
The facility serves a multiple-purpose center providing meeting space and recreation for all ages. Areas within the facility can accommodate large groups passing through Dalhart that could utilize this area. There are a kitchen/dining room area, individual classrooms, a youth area that will accommodate approximately 150 children/youth, a full-size gym, an indoor playground with access to an outdoor play area, restrooms, and stage area for plays, musicals, ceremonies, etc.
The name of the center would be the Recreational Outreach Center (ROC.) The ROC continues to be an ongoing missional facility that has reached multitudes. Dedication of the ROC was held on August 7, 2008.
Cowboy Church was launched during Rev. Weatherly’s pastorate in 2011. It started with meetings at the Cattlemen’s Livestock Commission with Bible studies. It is still active today and now located at the old XIT Rangers’ building with Gospel music and visiting pastors on Tuesdays of each week.
Dr. Michael Wilcox became pastor of First Baptist in 2019. Not long after his arrival, a global pandemic created through the deadly COVID-19 virus hit, resulting in historic lockdowns and widespread closures. Stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions temporarily closed doors to Dalhart churches, businesses, and schools for health precautions. First Baptist was included, however, this did not deter Dr. Wilcox and a minimal number of staff and church members from preparing and presenting live broadcasts on YouTube (with health precautions taken) not only to the congregation, but to the community, as well (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.) Their faithful determination kept the Gospel alive and growing for many who were unable to attend in person.
Other pastors who were called to lead First Baptist Church through these 125 years were Reverends J.P. Reynolds, W.A. Tournage, S.W. Kendrick, Spurgeon Wingo, W.L. Williamson, O.L. Hullinger, C.V. Herrin, E.C. McDonald, C.S. Burgess, J.M. Mizzell, Kenneth Marshall, Dr. L.A. Brown, Dr. A.J. Quinn, Mel Hardin, Dr. Roy D. Collins, Jr., David Walker, Dr. Steve McMeans, Stephen Lowrie and Shawn Vickers. Interim pastors at First Baptist Church during transitional periods were Rev. Dennis Schulz, Rev. T.J. Gamble and Dr. Strauss Atkinson.
Over the 125-year period, First Baptist’s home-based missionaries were sent to multiple foreign countries and lived for a required amount of time. These included Nazareth, Brazil, Nigeria and other locations in Africa, India, Korea, Belize, Panama, Russia, and Indonesia.
Volunteer missionaries from FBC traveled to Africa, Belize (twice), Brazil, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico (trips covered a span of twenty years), Russia (twice), Scotland, Thailand, Wisconsin (twice) and Colorado (as church planter.)
As we come full circle to August 2026, the journey has carried us back to the beginning of First Baptist Church of Dalhart in August 1901 covering an amazing, God-inspired, faithful 125 years of creating a culture of love, compassion and conviction, as well as fostering a mission-minded outreach to thousands. Beginning with those eleven Christian visionaries who, when they stepped down from that rail car “Good Will” on August 25, 1901 and led by God’s Holy Spirit planted the seed that was to become the beginning of a 125-year historic-filled evangelical journey.
From their zealous sharing of the Gospel to those many pastoral encouragers who continued to shepherd the members through enriched avenues of Bible study and missional outreach services for all ages, God has indeed blessed her abundantly (1Corinthians 3:5-9.) First Baptist Church will continue to evangelize and stay the course He has set before her.
The journey is not yet complete. As we look to the future, we are in the process of instituting plans as to how First Baptist can strengthen and improve her challenge of evangelism in order to reach a larger diverse area of her community in Dalhart (Prov. 16:3, 9.) We have traversed 125 years and will continue our journey of joy in spreading the Good News as led by God (Romans 1:17.)
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