Church History

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18

 

The history of First Missionary Baptist Church is rife with struggle, strife, perseverance, triumph and resilient people.

 

The original church was organized between 1900 and 1903.  There was little recorded history of the early days of the church.  It was written that sometime between 1903 and 1906 the church burned and from the ashes two churches emerged.  These churches were Pilgrim Rest and Iron Wheel.

 

Iron Wheel later relocated across town.  Pilgrim Rest later relocated back to the old location where the church first burned.  They purchased more land and rebuilt the church in 1917.  The membership split again and some members organized what is now New Zion Baptist Church.  Pilgrim Rest became First Baptist Church in the mid 1920ies and would eventually become First Missionary Baptist Church but not before splitting again in the early 1960ies.

 

From 1903 – 1938 the church struggled to survive but then made a significant turn for the better around 1944 when the church started having full time weekly Sunday worship service.

 

The next three decades would bring dramatic spiritual and financial growth for the church in the form of increased membership, expanded ministries and a vast of capital improvements.

 

The name of the church was changed in the 1960ies to remove the word “Colored” from the bank statement which was used to distinguish it from the “white” First Baptist Church.

 

Ten years later, Rev. J. D. Simmons, described as a great preacher, teacher, leader and songster, would be credited with leading the modern day First Missionary Baptist Church to new heights.  He and his wife, Marjorie Nell, were often referred to as the dynamic duo.  In 1979, the Trustee Board took a leap of faith and decided to purchase the Leach Street property.  Two years later they stepped out on faith again to build a new church at the current 410 Scarbrough location.  They moved into the new sanctuary in 1982.

 

Between 1971 and 2000 First Missionary Baptist Church reached sustained spiritual healing and the membership swelled to over 800 members.  Church ministries grew exponentially and dynamic new programs were added during that time.  Then sadly, in 2000 Rev Simmons died.

 

Determined to keep the church growing spiritually a search committee was formed.  The search committee’s primary charge was “to find a new pastor who was called by God.”  In 2001 the search committee discovered a dynamic young preacher named William R. Ricks.  After much prayer and consideration, Rev. Ricks resigned his post at New St. Matthews Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas.  He and his wife, Gloria, and their talented children, Aryn, Lauryn and Kaleb, moved to Lufkin in order to accept the pastorship.

 
Rev. Ricks ordained five deacons on November 2, 2024 including Bro. Calvin Richard, Bro. Alex Alexander, Bro. Kelvin Cole, Bro Jimmy Walker, Bro. George Sellers to join longtime deacon W.H. Johnson on the deacon board.
To this day, Rev. Ricks continues to guide First Missionary Baptist Church “forward, looking ahead and reaching outward” toward Salvation.