Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll give it to you straight. Back in October 1886, out in the rural stretch southeast of Waco, a congregation came together. Organized for the African-American community in that area, the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church was born, and it didn't wait on fancy walls or a proper roof to get started.

No sir. Services were held under a brush arbor, right across the street from where the church would eventually stand. You can picture it, can't you.

Open sky, open air, a community gathered together on the faith that something permanent was coming. And it was. A permanent building was erected, and the congregation had a home.

Now, leading those members through the early going was the Rev. Ural Crain, an Anglo minister from a nearby Baptist church. He served for a year, steady and committed, until the congregation called their first African-American pastor, the Rev.

Ben Crain. From that beginning, the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church built something that outlasted any single season or single leader. Programs of music, mission, and community outreach became the heartbeat of the place.

All these years on, the church remains a focal point for the community, and a living part of the heritage of that corner of McLennan County. Started under a brush arbor across the street. Still standing.

That's a story that doesn't need any embellishment.

What the marker says

Organized in October 1886 for the African-American community in the rural area southeast of Waco, this congregation held services under a brush arbor across the street from this site until a permanent building was erected. The Rev. Ural Crain, an Anglo minister from a nearby Baptist church, led the members for a year, until they called their first African-American pastor, the Rev. Ben Crain. Throughout its history, the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church has developed programs of music, mission and community outreach. It remains a focal point for the community and a part of the heritage of this area of McLennan County. (2002)