First Baptist Church of Douglass
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Doctrinal Statement

Here we will tell the story of the beginnings of our church and how we became what we are today.
 
        First Baptist Church of Douglass was first petitioned for admission to an association in 1869.  Originally, however, the church was a part of a union church where the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians took turns conducting Sunday services.  The building also served as a school.

       There were few records kept until the church petitioned to be accepted into another association in 1887.  In 1925, a petition was made and it was accepted in the present day Shelby-Doches Association.  It is not known how long it was a church before petitioning to an association where annual church letters were sent and records were kept.

       There were some outstanding things that were recorded throughout the years.  In 1869, the records show that there were 28 members and 18 baptisms.  In 1925 the church membership grew to 99 with a Sunday School enrollment of 100.  In the 1930's, the church membership kept growing.  The church's membership had grown to 297 and 90 were enrolled in Sunday School.  In the 1940's the Sunday School had reached a peak of 164.

The church was built at its present location in the 1930's.  In the 1950's the church members donated yearlings to help build Sunday School rooms.  In 1957 the old tin roof was rebuilt and the auditorium was remodeled.  In 1968 the sign in front of the church was added, which was followed by a new addition on the west end for Church socials.  The room was named the "Mrs. Kitty King Room."  In the 1960's the ceiling fans and the wooden pews were taken out to make way for  new lighting, air conditioning/heating, and cushioned pews.  During this time carpet was also installed.  In the mid 70's, the church built a new 4 bedroom parsonage.  In the early 90's, the church added a front vestible and two more bathrooms.  The front parking lot was also paved with asphalt.  Most recently, a Family Life Center is being constructed.  We plan on eventually adding more classes and a basketball court.  The Family Life Center is almost complete.

Because our church began in the late 1800's, we have gone through several pastors.  Here is a list of all the pastors of First Baptist Church of Douglass.


LIST OF PASTORS
1869-1876                                                                                    J.S. Lambert
1878-1881                                                                                 W.W. Albritton
1882-1883                                                                  E.D. "Ben" Blankenship  
1883-1887                                                                                    W.M. Gaddy
1887-1888                                                                                 W.W. Albritton
1888-1892                                                                              No regular pastor
1893.....                                                                                      Rev. Jefferson
1894........                                                                             Rev. J.C. Fondren
1895-1908                                                                     The records had burned
1908-1909                                                                                       N.C. Partin
1909-11                                                            Associational Missionaries Only
1911-1913                                                                                       L.O. White
1913-1915                                                                              G. E. Hammonds
1915-1916                                                                                   J.E. Adkinson
1916-1925                                                                                     E.M. Gentry
1925-1926                                                                                     J.W. McCall
1926-1927                                                                                         W.E. Hill
1927-1930                                                                                     A.T. Garrard
1930-1934                                                                                    H.F. Sanders
1934-1938                                                                           C. Weldon Sanders
1938-1940                                                                            Fred Higginbotham
1941-1943                                                                                    J.E. Johnson
1943-1944                                                                                L.A. Willingham
1945........                                                                                     S.A. Bonner
1946-1951                                                                                    R.R. Davidge
1951-1953                                                                                    Charles Baty
1953-1956                                                                         C.T. "Pete" McGuire
1957........                                                                          James "Jimmy" Bird
1957-1964                                                                                      Bobby King
1964-1967                                                                                   Bobby Powell
1967-1968, 1976  (Interim)                                                              W.H. Collins 1968-1973                                                                                 Kenneth Baker
1973-1974                                                                                    Kenneth Ells
1974-1976                                                                              Wayne Stephens
1976-1980                                                                                 Kenneth Baker
1980-1984                                                                                   John McGuire
1985-1986                                                                                     Calvin White
1987-1988                                                                                     Steve Ewton
1989........(Interim)                                                                        Brent Kirkley
1989-1990 (Interim)                                                                      T.D. Lunsford
1990-1991                                                                                     Dwain Miller
1992-1993 (Interim)                                                                      T.D. Lunsford
1993-1995                                                                                    Keith Weaver
1995-1997 (Interim)                                                                       T.D. Lunsford 1997-2000                                                                                       Bruce Bear
2001-2003                                                                         C.T. "Pete" McGuire
2003-Current                                                                      Randy Arnold

Our church was founded in 1890 by two brothers looking for a place to practice their faith. It took two years to erect the first building for the church, however, that is still the base for the building we currently are in.

With each challenge we have encountered, we became stronger in our faith. We may provide links to other sites that provide more detail on our church history or particular events in our past.

We invite you to become a part of the church today and a piece of its history tomorrow.