DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna give it to you straight with a little room to breathe. Now, if you want to talk about humble beginnings, consider this: the entire Baptist story of El Paso started in somebody's living room. August 26, 1882, the Baptists of El Paso gathered for the very first time at the home of Major and Mrs.
W. F. Fewel.
No sanctuary, no steeple, no pews. Just folks in a parlor, and a preacher named Reverend George Baines, Jr. leading the way. One week.
That's all it took. One week after that first meeting, Reverend Baines directed the formation of a full congregation. They chartered it with twenty-two members.
Twenty-two people standing up and saying, we're building something here. And build they did. The first sanctuary went up in 1885, sitting at the corner of Magoffin and San Antonio.
That building carried the congregation clear through to 1906, when they moved into new facilities over at Magoffin and Virginia. New corner, same calling. Then comes 1922, and First Baptist makes a significant move.
The congregation merged with Central Baptist Church and came to the very location where this marker stands today. But here's what really lands the story. From that one gathering in the Fewel home, from those twenty-two founding members, First Baptist Church went on to help start twelve other churches across El Paso and Juarez.
Twelve congregations that might trace their own beginnings back to one August evening in somebody's house in 1882. That's not just a church. That's a seed that kept on growin'.
What the marker says
The first meeting of Baptists in El Paso was held on August 26, 1882, at the home of Maj. and Mrs. W. F. Fewel, under the leadership of the Rev. George Baines, Jr. One week later he directed the formation of this congregation, which was chartered with 22 members. The first sanctuary, constructed in 1885 at Magoffin and San Antonio, served until 1906 when new facilities were occupied at Magoffin and Virginia. In 1922 First Baptist merged with Central Baptist Church and moved to this location. Through its missions, First Baptist Church has started 12 other churches in El Paso and Juarez. 1983