Honoring the Past. Embracing the Future. Building for Gospel Impact.

Since 1886, First Baptist Church Big Spring has stood as a beacon of the gospel in our city—proclaiming Christ, discipling generations, and ministering to the needs of our community. We are grateful for the faithful legacy that has been built on prayer, sacrifice, and service by those who came before us. Their vision has given us a foundation from which to launch into the future.

As we look ahead, we recognize that our current facilities—though filled with history and memories—must be updated to meet the needs of today’s ministry and tomorrow’s mission. Renovation is not merely about updating buildings; it is about preparing space for God to move. We seek to create environments that are safe, welcoming, accessible, and equipped for every generation—from the youngest child to the oldest saint.

This renovation project allows us to honor the past by preserving our heritage while also stepping boldly into the future with renewed purpose. It is a declaration that we believe the best days of ministry in Big Spring are not behind us, but ahead. We are designing spaces that will reflect the heart of our mission: to take life to the city, and the gospel to the world.

As the renovation team we ask for your prayer, your unity, and your faith as we walk together through this season of growth and transformation. May God continue to use First Baptist Church Big Spring as a place where lives are changed, the gospel is proclaimed, and Jesus is glorified for generations to come.

The Beginning

On Saturday November 13th, 1886 a tiny group assembled met in the "Methodist home of worship" for the purpose of organizing a Baptist church at Big Springs, Texas. "After a short service of reading, prayer and religious address" they organized the church with eight charter members. The next day, Sunday November 14th the first worship service was held and six others joined the church, including one coming for baptism.

The first building - 1890

In August of 1887 a committee was formed for a "church plant" (building.) In 1889 another committee was appointed to "secure a lot on which to build a church home." They purchased a lot on Gregg street that they began to use in 1890.

Building Trials - 1897 - 1908

The 1890 building was severely damaged/partially destroyed by a tornado. Members picked up the pieces and rebuilt the building as best they could on the 6th and Main property, but tragedy struck again in 1908. Rev. George W. Sherman asked the men of the church to raise an outdoor tabernacle behind the present building and they held revival services which yielded 80 baptisms. They had placed hay in the aisles of the outdoor tabernacle to control the dust, but after record attendence that morning the hay caught fire, burned down the outdoor tabernacle as well as the main building. Both were completely destroyed leaving the congregation to meet in the opera house and courthouse until a new building could be built. A picture of the 1908 courthouse is displayed to the left.

1909 - 2nd Building 6th and Main

Plans were made to properly rebuild and the church voted to build a building "not to cost more than $15,000." Fundraising commenced, even selling the parsonage to raise money, but the church eventually arranged to borrow $22,000 to complete the project. The first building at 6th and Main was a temporary rebuilt structure after the fire of 1908. The 2nd building you see pictured here opened on October 11, 1910.

1929 - 3rd Building at 6th and Main

Once again tragedy struck on October 28, 1928 when that evening fire completely destroyed the 1909 building at its contents. The next Sunday, the congregation under the leadership of Rev. Dow H. Heard met at the brand new R & R "Ritz" Theatre. That building still stands today, located at the corner of 4th and Main, across the street from Wells Fargo. They began to raise funds to rebuild were made and construction started. The market crash of 1929 left the church with substantial financial challenges and debt on the new building for years to come, still the church continued to experience growth.

1960's - Plans for Relocation to Current Site

Rapid growth in the late 1940's saw the church purchase buildings adjacent to the 6th and Main property for use as Sunday School and offices. Plans were made to add on to the current building in 1950, but when actual bids to construct the addition were double the estimates, the church decided to make do for now and look to the future. The future would lead to increased attendance and more space challenges. This led the church to purchase the property we presently have on FM 700 in 1959 and look to building a brand new building on a larger plot of land. A building contract was signed in May 1964 and the first service was held on December 15, 1965. The $1 million project left the church with $500,000 in debt to be paid off in 11 years. The church paid off that debt in 1976 and made plans to complete the entire facility. In 1980 the Family Life Center, kitchen, dining, and bowling spaces opened.

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