First Baptist Church of Cameron

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna give it to you straight. Way back in 1853, two itinerant ministers named J. W.

D. Creath and David Fisher rode into the picture and organized what would become the First Baptist Church of Cameron. Now, itinerant ministers were a particular breed.

No fixed address, no guaranteed supper, just the road and the calling. Those two didn't linger long, but what they built did. The church took root right there in Milam County, and it started growin.

It wasn't until 1867 that the congregation got its first resident pastor, a man named Reverend T. M. Anderson.

Somebody who'd actually stay. That matters more than it might sound. Then comes 1914, and the church extended membership to the community's Mexican-Americans.

That's a line worth sitting with for a moment. A congregation making a choice about who belongs. Five years on, in 1919, the church joined the Milam Baptist Association, and the work kept expanding.

Not just the building, but the reach. In 1925, First Baptist helped organize the Mexican Baptist Church of Cameron. Then in 1945, Battetown Baptist Church came together with First Baptist's hand in it as well.

Two new congregations, helped into existence by this one. The marker tells us the congregation stays active in foreign missionary work and continues to serve the community. Started by two ministers who were just passin through, and still standin.

Some foundations hold.

What the marker says

Itinerant ministers J. W. D. Creath and David Fisher organized this church in 1853. The Rev. T. M. Anderson became the congregation's first resident pastor in 1867. Membership was extended to the community's Mexican-Americans in 1914, and in 1919 the church joined the Milam Baptist Association. Church facilities have been expanded over the years to meet changing needs. First Baptist helped organize the Mexican Baptist Church of Cameron in 1925 and Battetown Baptist Church in 1945. The congregation is active in foreign missionary work and continues to serve the community.