175 Years of First Baptist Shreveport

February 15, 2020

First Baptist Shreveport is celebrating 175 years of our journey of faith . From our humble beginnings to the exciting growth of today, one thing has remained the same - our commitment to missions, our community, and education. Explore the timeline below to learn more about the history of our church and our future of promise.

1845

On Valentine’s Day in 1845, First Baptist Shreveport is established by John Bryce, a Collector of Customs from the Republic of Texas. He became the first pastor of the church with just nine members. John Bryce also served as Shreveport’s mayor in 1850.

1847

The church purchased a lot at the corner of Travis and Market Streets in downtown Shreveport for $350.

1848

The first building of First Baptist Shreveport was erected for $2500 at the corner of Travis and Market Streets. That same year, First Baptist Shreveport and four other churches joined to form the Grand Cane Baptist Association.

1866

Out of 161 members, 73 African-American members of First Baptist Shreveport separated and formed Antioch Baptist Church on April 23, 1866.

1868

Members of First Baptist Shreveport in cooperation with the Grand Cane Baptist Associate formed Shreveport University located on Greenwood Road. The yellow fever epidemic of 1873 and the financial panic of 1874 led to the demise of the University.

1870

In the early 1870s, First Baptist Shreveport organized a Women’s Sewing Society to sew clothes for the needy. The organization later became the Ladies’ Missionary Society and finally the Women’s Missionary Union.

1880

In 1880, First Baptist Shreveport constructed its second building designed by Shreveport architect N.S. Allen, credited with designing over 300 buildings in the city. Erected at the corner of Texas and McNeill Streets, the structure utilized bricks from Shreveport University. The striking of the church clock during Pastor W.S. Penick’s Sunday sermons so annoyed him that he appointed a church member to have the clock stopped during his messages.

1908

First Baptist Shreveport constructed a third building on the corner of Travis and McNeill Streets in 1908, again using bricks originally part of Shreveport University salvaged from the 1880 building. The new church building cost $85,000 and the church membership was 482.

1908

The new church was dedicated in a sermon delivered by Dr. George Truett, pastor of First Baptist Dallas. His sermon focused on the text “Sir, We Would See Jesus,” from John 12:21. This text eventually became a theme for the church and was carved into the pulpit.

1911

Dr. Henry Sumrell, pastor since 1904, preached his last sermon on December 17, 1911 and died that night.

1912

Dr. Monroe Elmond Dodd, pastor of the 22nd and Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, was called as pastor of First Baptist Shreveport. Dr. Dodd preached his first sermon on April 7, 1912 using the text Galations 6:14: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Dr. Dodd served in the Spanish American War and as a WWI chaplain at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana for six months as well as in Europe.

1918

Many members of First Baptist Shreveport serve in WWI.

1920

Oil is discovered in Haynesville and Homer fields, enabling Shreveport and First Baptist Shreveport to grow in members and financially.

1922

With church membership growing to 2,400 the congregation remodeled and enlarged the facility to seat 2,500 with the property valued at $500,000. The building increased Sunday school space to 3,000 and included a ten-story bell tower which housed a radio, making First Baptist Shreveport the first church in the U.S. to own and operate its own station. Dr. George Truett again preached the dedicatory sermon. The church established the Baptist Tea Room in the church basement to serve lunches to the working people in downtown Shreveport.

1922

In 1922, First Baptist Shreveport led all churches in the Southern Baptist Convention in giving with $310,062.

1925

Dr. Dodd chaired a committee appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention which recommended the formation of the Cooperative Program. This is still the funding mechanism for missionary sending, seminary education, and publication for the Southern Baptist Convention.

1926

In 1926, Dr. Dodd led in the establishment of a girl’s college in shreveport, named Dodd college named Dodd College, after Dr. Dodd assumed the pastorate of Temple Baptist Church in Los Angeles for seven months in 1927. Because the fundraising for the girl’s college lagged, the church persuaded Dr. Dodd to return as president of the college and pastor of First Baptist Church on August 15, 1927 and he began his second pastorate at the church. The church membership was 3,942.

1939

Several hundred members of First Baptist Shreveport serve in WWII.

1945

First Baptist Shreveport and the Southern Baptist Convention celebrate 100 year anniversaries. The First Baptist Shreveport theme was “Light Across the Century.” Dr. C. Oscar Johnson, pastor of the Third Baptist Church in St. Louis and president of the Northern Baptist Convention, served as the guest minister for the week-long commemoration. First Baptist Shreveport membership reaches 5,421.

1949

The church votes to remain Downton at the Travis and McNeill Street location and not move to the corner of Line and Jordan Streets. The church also votes to construct a new educational building completed in 1950.

1950

Dr. Dodd retires after 38 years as pastor of First Baptist Shreveport.

1970

First Baptist Church School is established in the former buildings of Dodd College. The school is kindergarten through 12th grade.

1974

Dr. Middleton retired in 1974 after 22 and a half years as pastor of First Baptist Shreveport.

1975

Dr. William Hull becomes First Baptist Shreveport’s new pastor on September 7, 1975. Dr. Hull was formerly the Provost and Dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY.

1975

First Baptist Shreveport initiates “To Shreveport With Love” featuring sixteen task forces that conducted 100 ministry projects to show the church’s appreciation for the city.

1976

First Baptist Shreveport celebrated the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976 with a worship celebration featuring a military band from Barksdale Air Force Base and guest speakers to commemorate the occasion. United States Senators J. Bennett Johnston and Russell Long participated.

1977

A campaign was launched to raise funds to retire the debt on the Ockley Drive property. The worship brochure entitled, “A dream Possessed,” marked the retirement of the bonded debt of the Ockley Drive campus.

1980

A Chinese ministry is established and a Minister to Internationals is hired.

1988

Dr. Jon Stubblefield becomes the pastor of First Baptist Shreveport. Dr. Stubblefield was formerly the president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention and pastor fo the Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

1990

The Fellowship Hall and children’s areas are remodeled from the original 1960s construction.

1993

A capital campaign is started to purchase new equipment to enable the television ministry of the church to expand.

1996

Highland Baptist Church votes to merge with First Baptist church effective January 1, 1996.

2003

Dr. Greg Hunt becomes the Pastor of First Baptist Shreveport. Dr. Hunt was formerly the associate pastor of the church in the 1980s. Under Dr. Hunt’s guidance, the church established a contemporary worship service designated “The Gathering” which met on Sundays in the Williamson Activities Building. The service began to attract non-members of First Baptist Shreveport and grew in numbers.

2009

A Youth Building is constructed to house activities for high school students. The space allowed for youth Sunday school classes and gatherings to be held in a modern, spacious facility.

2011

The church voted to combine the separate traditional and contemporary worship services into a single, combined service.

2012

Dr. Jeff Raines becomes the pastor of First Baptist Shreveport. Dr. Raines was formerly the associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Amarillo, Texas.

2010s

The church renewed its commitment to world missions by sending mission teams annually to Central America, Africa, and Europe and local missions by creating new community events - Scramble Up South Highlands, Soak Up South Highlands, Ice Up South Highlands and Holiday in South Highlands.

2013

The church celebrated 50 years on the Ockley Drive campus.

2015

The church conducted a major restoration of the sanctuary, including a redesigned stage and choir loft. This flexible space can fit the entire Shreveport symphony for special occasions. 

2017

First Baptist Shreveport dedicated the new Woods Memorial Garden. This columbarium contains 183 niches for church members who desire to be at the church they have served and loved.

2018

The church constructed a new Middleton Hall to house the upper grades fo the First Baptist Church School.

As First Baptist Church looks to the future, the mission remains the same: showing Jesus’ love; reaching out in missions; growing in Jesus’ ways. The church will always seek to adapt to better connect with our neighbors and city. As the church moves toward its 200th anniversary, Jesus will be the foundation, the leader, and the goal.