Serving the Lord for 107 years

(Some early records were lost so the dates may be a bit off)

In April 1914, a few farsighted Baptist in the western town of Fort Sumner saw a need for the gospel to be spread there. These people invited a cowboy preacher, B.B. Crim and his singer, Drew Cumby to lead in revival. The revival began April 7, 1914 and by April 14, 1914 the First Baptist Church of Fort Sumner was organized and twelve charter members. By April 21, 1914 twenty-five more members were added and the church was up and running.

The church was then in need of a pastor. Raleigh Garland was serving as pastor at the Melrose Baptist Church half the time and agreed to serve the other half time at the newly organized First Baptist Church of Fort Sumner church. They met at the local school since there was no official building yet. Not long after on June 19, 1914 a building committee was elected to look into securing their own building. They also elected three deacons on October 7, 1914 to lend leaderships on the endeavor.

On March 28, 1915, the size of the building was decided. It was 24’x40’x12’ H.H. Hassun was awarded the contract and the building began. On October 20, 1915 the first service, a prayer meeting, was held in the new building.

In 1924 lots around the church were bought as well as a residence building at the back of the property for the Pastor to live in, a baptism was also purchased. Folks would no longer have to travel to Sumner Lake to be baptized. By the end of the year there were one hundred and eighteen members, with full services and Sunday school.

In 1928 more room was needed both in the church building and the parsonage. A basement was dug under the parsonage to alleviate this need and an annex was added to the original building in 1931. With the additional room there was also a need for more pews, so the church traded beans for more pews!

By 1937 a new building was purchased for Sunday school room and by 1940 heating and plumbing was added! By 1943 the number of members increased to 256.

A building committee was formed in 1945, with fast growing numbers of church members more space was needed, and a new building fund was started. It took until 1947 before building could take place. By January 1948, the old church building was sold but the new building was not finished yet, so the church rented out old barracks across the street for 25.00 a month. A loan was later obtained to finish the building and on May 15, 1948 the new building for First Baptist Church of Fort Sumner was dedicated.

Within ten years the church was supporting upwards of two hundred and ten church members, First Baptist also helped support the Baptist Hour on the radio station KICA and helped form ministerial alliance and a Spanish Mission.

On April 12, 1964 First Baptist Church of Fort Sumner celebrated it’s fiftieth year!

During the 1970 upgrades were made to the heating and cooling units in the building. The ramp leading up to the door was built. The large and small fellowship hall building was made. A new sound system was added, and a van was purchased for the church.

In the 1980’s a new parsonage was purchased, and the old parsonage was converted to more room for Sunday school. A chapel was created at the De Baca county Hospital and the church began using Baptist Television Network. Remodeling began on the outside of the church and sidewalks were added as well as a brick exterior.

More coming soon!