YEAR BY YEAR 1976 - 1998

                    
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YEAR BY YEAR
1976 - 1998


HAMILTON BAPTIST CHURCH, 1873--1946

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, HAMILTON, 1947-1998

See also:  First Baptist Church, Hamilton, TX
Includes pictures

 

1976

HCBA observed its centennial at the annual association meeting with a history of the association written and presented by Arvord M. Abernethy.

Mrs. Mattie Brown left her estate to the church which paid off the indebtedness on the church bus and some on new choir robes.

1977

Arvord Abernethy was honored at the HCBA annual meeting on his being associational clerk for 25 years--since 1953. In absentia he was presented a hand-made tie. Illness prevented his attending the session, his first to miss in many years. Many members of FBC continued to spend their vacation-time assisting in the construction of a Baptist church in Cloudcroft, NM. Twenty-four students were enrolled in kindergarten and five were enrolled in a bus ministry. The services of FBC were broadcast on the local radio. The Baptist Standard was still included in the church budget and sent to each church family.

1978

The 1978 Hamilton County Baptist Association paid tribute to two members of FBC--Arvord M. Abernethy and Wm. B. "Bill" Puckett. A tape and slide presentation was presented during which each discussed their thoughts about the association. Mr. Abernethy had served HCBA as Clerk of the Association and Mr. Puckett had served as Treasurer.

The 1978 Hamilton County Baptist Association Annual is dedicated to Mr. Arvord Abernethy and to Mr. W. B. Puckett.

Mr. Abernethy faithfully served as the Associational Clerk from October, 1953, through September, 1978.

Mr. W. B. Puckett faithfully served as the Associational Treasurer from October, 1961, through September, 1974.

"Our appreciation is expressed to these two fine Christian men who so freely and willingly gave of their time and service as officers in the Association. We thank God for you and pray that he will continue to bless you as you remain faithful to Him."

"4. BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Hamilton Co. Baptist Association, express our deepest gratitude for the ministry of Bro. Arvord Abernethy and Bro. Bill Puckett. We are grateful to God for the exemplary Christian lifestyle and for their unselfish hours of service. Bro. Abernethy has served as clerk for 26 years and Bro. Puckett as treasurer for 14 years. We express our gratitude to their spouses who have served in unseen ways. Finally, be it resolved that the Association dedicate the 1978 Annual in their honor, with an appropriate picture of both.

(Their pictures were not included in the annual minutes.)

FBC borrowed $7,000 during this year. Twenty children were enrolled in a day care program.

1979

FBC was recognized at the annual session of HCBA for the largest gain in Sunday School enrolment in the association.

1980

The value of the pastor’s home increased from $15,500 to $40,000.

1981

There were 70 tithers among the church membership. Thirteen percent of the church budget was designated for the Cooperative Program. The Baptist Standard was a budget item and was sent to all church families.

1982

The value of the pastor’s home increased from $40,000 to $60,000, and church debt increased from $3,913 to $44,894 without a report of borrowing money or a report of new construction while $8,049 was paid on debt reduction. There were 67 tithers in FBC, 13% of the church income was designated for Cooperative Program, and $85 per month was paid to Associational Missions. Church services were broadcast on the radio. Arvord Abernethy was elected treasurer of HCBA..

1983

The tenth resolution adopted by the HCBA is significant for maintaining the Baptist position on Christian ethics:

"BE IT RESOLVED That we reaffirm our stand in regard to alcohol in regards to Baptist understanding and practice of total abstinence and encourage our people to actively oppose any attempt to bring it into our county."

RESOLUTION COMMITTEE, 1983
Doyle K. Combs, Chairman 
Ernest Newsom
Dale Hunter 
Bernell Jernigan

Fourteen percent of the budget was sent to the Cooperative Program. The Baptist Standard was a budget item and was sent to all church families.

1984

The name of the association was changed from Hamilton County Baptist Association to Hamilton Baptist Association.

1985

--

1986

The value of the church property increased from $308,500 to $365,500. Seventy-one tithers were in FBC. Fourteen percent of the church budget was contributed to the Cooperative Program and $93 per month was given to associational missions.

1987

Erath Association withdrew from the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area in October, 1987.

Church services were broadcast on the radio on Sunday mornings. Seventy-one tithers were in FBC which contributed 14% of the budget to the Cooperative Program and $100 a month to association missions.

1988

The Baptist Standard was still part of the church budget, being sent to each church family and church services were broadcast on the radio. There were 79 tithers in the church, 14 % of the budget was sent to the Cooperative Program.

1989

1989 was the Year of The Sunday School--a BGCT strategy for reaching people. The number of tithers increased to 82. The cost of heating, cooling, and lighting the church plant was $9,392. Two hundred and sixty-one of the 630 church members were males.

1990

Churches across the SBC participated in "Here’s Hope: Jesus Cares For You," simultaneous revivals in March and April, 1990. While churches across the convention were seriously effected by division and conflict from within the convention, the churches of HBA were encouraged to strive for a spirit of mutual love, fellowship, and harmony. The Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment at Brownwood had sustained substantial flood damage. The U. S. Military forces deployed to the Mid-East were remembered both in prayer and by resolution. The sixteen Baptist churches in HBA had a total membership of 2,622 and had a Sunday School enrolment of 631.

Gifts to the Cooperative Program were reduced from 14% to 10% of the church budget and the amount given to associational missions was reduced. The value of the pastor’s home increased to $65,000. Sunday morning services were broadcast on the radio and the Baptist Standard was send to each church family.

1991

Lee Roy Williamson retired on June 15, 1992, after 25 years as area missionary of Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. One of the resolutions of the HBA was an urgent appeal to encourage Baptist to vote against a state lottery on November 5, 1991.

1992

Jerry Stratton became the Director of Missions of Tri-Rivers Baptist Area on July 15, 1992. Ten percent of the church budget was sent to the Cooperative Program and 2.23% to associational missions.

Average attendance for Sunday morning worship services was 145 and 20 on Sunday evenings. The value of the pastor’s home was returned to $60,000.

1993

A full-time Hispanic Work Coordinator was added to the Tri-Rivers Area staff in October, 1993. Churches in the association were invited to become sponsor churches of Hispanic missions. At the annual meeting Arvord Abernethy presented an associational quilt constructed of squares provided by each church in the association.

Michael R. Graham came as pastor of FBC, which designated 10% of its budget for the Cooperative Program and 1% for associational missions. Heating and cooling expenses were $8,055. Average attendance for Sunday morning worship services was 200 while the average attendance for Sunday evening was 50. Sunday morning services were broadcast on radio, but the Baptist Standard was removed from the church budget.

1994

At the annual meeting FBC received two awards--largest numerical increase in Sunday School average attendance and largest numerical increase in Sunday School enrollment.

Church property was reappraised and the value increased from $365,500 to $500,000 without new construction or remodeling. Ten people were enrolled in New Church Member Training and 15 in a Baptist Doctrine study. Average attendance of Sunday morning worship services increased to 237. The church the Week of Prayer - Home Missions, Home Mission Study, Week of Prayer-Foreign Missions, Foreign Mission Study, and had a Deacon Family Ministry.

1995

The value of the church property increased from $500,000 to $750,000. In March, 1995, ground was broken and construction began on a Youth and Family Life Center with an expenditure of $250,000. FBC borrowed $10,000 during this year. Average attendance for Sunday morning worship services was 208, while average attendance for Sunday evenings was 77.

1996

Arvord M. Abernethy was recognized at the annual associational meeting for 42 years of service to HBA--26 years as clerk of HCBA and 16 years as treasurer of HCBA/HBA. The Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment at Lake Brownwood launched a three phase campaign to acquire additional land, build an auditorium, a conference center, and other special projects.

FBC sponsored a mission trip to Colorado.

1997

Fifty people participated in mission projects--25 in local projects and 25 in state and national projects.

1998

FBC participated in a World Mission Conference in May, 1998, and celebrated in September, 1998, the 125th birthday of the church. An effective Passion Drama was presented for the community at Easter, 1998. Jerry Stratton retired as Director of Missions of Tri-Rivers Baptist Area in June, 1998. Dewayne Clover is the Administrative Assistant; Jenni Smith is the Church Secretary; Maria Weaver is Church Pianist; and Jackie Christian is Church Organist. Committee Chairmen for Celebrating 125 Years of Faith and Service are Alice Poteet and Jackie Christian.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE BEGINNING OF BAPTIST WORK IN HAMILTON COUNTY

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 1896-1897

YEAR BY YEAR, 1873 - 1899

YEAR BY YEAR, 1900 - 1925

YEAR BY YEAR 1926 - 1950

YEAR BY YEAR 1951 - 1975

A HISTORY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, HAMILTON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 
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People and Places: Gazetteer of Hamilton County, TX
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Copyright © March, 1998
by Elreeta Crain Weathers, B.A., M.Ed.,  
(also Mrs.,  Mom, and Ph. T.)

A Work In Progress