Sunday Night Services Will
Mark 60th Anniversary For Local Church

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

It was a band of people, back in 1949, that gathered together for a "church raising" on a hot June day, and Central Baptist Church, located at the corner of Connally and League Street, was "born." Members met and built the wooden-frame building one day and worshiped in it the next, following a revival meeting, conducted by a pastor from Tyler.

 

Members of the Central Baptist Church are shown constructing the
original building at the corner of Connally and League Streets,
in June of 1949.

 

Some sixty years later the church has certainly expanded into larger facilities and now is home to approximately 900 local members, according to church pastor, Kenneth Rhoades. "We have a regular Sunday morning attendance of about 435 and strive to be a working influence in Hopkins County," state Rhodes.  "Church history reflects that the original revival was held by John Rollins, of the Central Baptist Church in Tyler, thus the original group selected the same name for the congregation. Brother Sudduth, who attended the revival from Tyler, came and served as the first pastor of the church in June of 1949."

The local congregation of believers have remained a steadfast "light" in our community and some fifteen pastors have served the church in the past 60 years. Currently, Rhoades is completing his 26th year as pastor of the group and the church will mark this occasion on Sunday, as well.

 

 

Sunday morning services will be held at the regular 10:30 worship, with special music and a message by Rhoades. Then, at 5:30 p.m., a time of fellowship, celebration, a birthday cake, and a special message will be presented. The message entitled "Through the Decades" has been prepared with a number of photos, video clips, and special music to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the church, and will be lead by Loren and Pam Carter, members of the congregation, along with sound assistance by Joey Baker, also a member.

The public is invited to come join Central Baptist Church and its members on marking this historic occasion and celebrate the influence of the congregation in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County.

 

Happy 60th Birthday,
Central Baptist Church!!!

 

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