Landmark Baptist

Hello Brothers,
I'm preaching on the "church" and have returned to researching the lineage of our Church. We find our history from Central Baptist in Texarkana which came from County Avenue which came from or was simply a name change from Mt. Pisgah.

I can't find any more distant history on Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. Any of you Arkansas/Texas boys able to help me? I'm hoping to go backwards as far as possible.

Thanks

I have no information about the churches you mention in Texarkana. I do, however, know that I have pastored three different churches in Arkansas that either started from a revival meeting or originated in their own community of origin when resident Baptists decided to build a building and start holding services. At least one began as a union church with a Sunday School and occasional preaching. Records are scarce, but eventually things were more particularly organized. My own experience and limited research has shown me that the formula for church starts may not have been nearly as regimented 100 years ago as it is today.

Rich

I'm assuming that when you say "union church", you are meaning several separate congregations of different denominations shared the same building and used it for services on different Sundays. That's what I have always been told. Am I correct?

I have the history of the Southwestern Association that O.H. Griffith wrote. County Avenue should be mentioned in there. I'll try to remember to look this afternoon.

Hamlin, I am CONFIDENT that Church beginnings are much more regimented today than in the 1800's and earlier.

Melton, my understanding of this particular Union Church is just that. There was Union Baptist which shared the property with Union Methodist.

Vaughn, any info would be helpful and appreciated.

Here's what I find in the County Avenue page of Southwestern Baptist Association 1881--1981, by O. H. Griffith (p. 47):

Organized on or before March 8, 1871
Baptists and Methodists wanted to secure a building of worship
Mr. & Mrs. W.W. Wooten donated 3 acres of land
The meeting house was known as Union Church
The Baptist church was originally known as Mt. Pisgah
The Baptists purchased 5 acres on County Avenue in 1886
Name changed to County Avenue BC in 1917

Page 381 of Pioneer Faith has the same information.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info Brother