DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll pass it along just the same. Way out in the pioneer Duck Creek community, Baptists were gathering — probably as early as the 1850s — in a log schoolhouse. Just folks, meeting regular, out on the frontier.
Then comes March 8th, 1868. Sixteen Baptists assemble in that same schoolhouse and make it official. They formally organize Antioch Baptist Church, and they call a man named W.
B. Long as their very first pastor. Sixteen people.
One pastor. One log schoolhouse. That's your foundation.
The first actual church house goes up in 1870. Sunday School classes get started in 1873, and by 1883 a Ladies' Aid Society is organized — and now, you keep that Ladies' Aid Society in mind, because those women are going to matter to this story. Then comes 1890, and something's shifting in the county.
A new town called Garland is growing fast, and the church picks up and moves right into it. And the church begins to flourish. Now, here's the part that could've gone sideways — and it didn't.
In 1904, the congregation hits a disagreement about the best course for mission work. What do they do? They divide.
Amicably. Into two equal groups. Half stay Antioch Baptist, half become First Baptist Church of Garland.
Two churches from one. And then — 1915 — those two churches come back together as Garland Baptist Church. A reunion, eleven years in the making.
The church prospers alongside the community. That Ladies' Aid Society and other groups within the congregation keep working, raising funds to support the church and everything it's trying to do. A more modern building goes up in 1930.
In 1946, as other Baptist churches are being established around the city, this one takes the name First Baptist Church of Garland — planting a flag, so to speak, in the story of that town. A fourth worship center is built in 1953. Educational facilities follow in 1958, then 1963, then 1980, and again in 1996.
And by 1999 — the year this marker was set down — First Baptist Church of Garland had assisted in establishing 19 missions. Many of those grew into large Garland churches in their own right. Sixteen people in a log schoolhouse on a March morning in 1868.
Nineteen missions, a city full of churches, and a congregation still at work in the community and the larger world. That's a long way from Duck Creek.
What the marker says
Baptists in the pioneer Duck Creek community began meeting regularly in a log schoolhouse probably as early as the 1850s. On March 8, 1868, sixteen Baptists assembled in the schoolhouse and formally organized Antioch Baptist Church, calling W. B. Long as their first pastor. The first church house was built in 1870. Sunday School classes began in 1873, and a Ladies' Aid Society was organized in 1883. The church moved into the rapidly growing new town of Garland in 1890 and began to flourish. In 1904 the congregation divided amicably into two equal groups after a conflict about the best course for mission work. Antioch Baptist and First Baptist Church of Garland were reunited in 1915 as Garland Baptist Church. The church prospered with the community. The Ladies' Aid Society and other groups within the congregation worked to raise funds to support the church and its programs. A more modern church building was erected in 1930. The church assumed the name First Baptist Church of Garland in 1946 as other Baptist churches were begun in the city. A fourth worship center was built in 1953, followed by educational facilities in 1958, 1963, 1980 and 1996. By 1999, the church had assisted in establishing 19 missions. Many of those grew into large Garland churches. First Baptist Church continues to serve the local community and the larger world through numerous worship, outreach and mission programs. Creative Sunday School programs and a variety of worship experiences are designed to meet the changing spiritual needs of the city in the 21st century. (1999)