Central Baptist Church Kirbyville

Church History of Central Baptist Church Kirbyville Texas

On January 11, 1953 Central Baptist Church of Kirbyville, Texas had its beginning. There were 72 charter members recorded. Immediately upon organization the church membership voted to affiliate with the Sabine Valley Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the Southern Baptist Convention. The church et in the Community House in Kirbyville until land could be purchased and a church building completed.

Bro. Benton Sherrod (1953-1956)
Bro. Sherrod was called as the first pastor. Under his leadership the church purchased 10 acres of land located on highway 96 across from the Jasper Newton Electric Cooperative. On April 18, 1954 the first services were conducted in the new church building. A strong doctrinal, missionary, and stewardship program was conducted under his leadership. In 1955 a parsonage was built.

Bro. Wayne Flory (1956-1961)
Bro. Flory was called as pastor in Mary of 1956. Under his leadership there developed a need for more space for worship and educational facilities. The church voted to go into another building program. A new auditorium was constructed and the original auditorium was converted into educational space. This building was dedicated on January 1, 1961.

Bro. Orel Speed (1962-1965)
Bro. Speed launched and enlargement program for all the church organizations. There was no kindergarten in the community at the time, so a kindergarten for five year olds was begun in September, 1962. It was conducted for three years. This proved to be a good outreach program for our church.

Bro. Percy Bailey (1965-1980)
Under Bro. Bailey’s leadership many improvements were made in buildings and on the church grounds. A note burning for the new sanctuary was held on Easter Sunday April, 1971. In 1974 construction began for more educational space. A fellowship hall was added. In 1977 the north wing was constructed.

Bro. Wayne Franklin
During Bro. Bailey’s ministry the church hired Bro. Wayne Franklin as its first full time Youth and Education Minister. Bro. Franklin’s work here added to the general growth which the church experienced during this time.

Bro. Larry Lindsey (1980-1984)
Bro. Lindsey led in a survey of the community, along with a church census. The church membership roll was updated. Under his leadership the church engaged in a more intense Bible Study.

Bro. Larry Tucker (1985-1988)
Under Bro. Tucker the church developed plans for a Christian Life Center. A Bible Study class was begun at the local nursing home every Sunday morning, which is still part of our church ministry. Also begun was the assistance to a young, growing church in Minnesota/Wisconsin are. Some of our church members helped in their building program, and our youth conducted Vacation Bible Schools and youth musicals in this area.

Bro. Jimmy Burks (1988-1992)
Under Bro. Burks’ the church conducted another church census in the community to assess where the people were and how our membership might reach out the unbelievers and unchurched in the area. Another change and remodeling of church office space was accomplished. This endeavor resulted in a new pastor study, church secretary office, music director office, choir room and conference room. It made space for a more accessible library facility, and more space for record keeping and literature storage for the other organizations of the church. The Kirbyville Christian Outrage ministry program begun, as volunteers from out church and 12 other churches joined to help the needy in our area. The Christian Life Center was completed debt free, adding Sunday School classrooms, a parlor, kitchen, fellowship hall, gymnasium area and game room.

Bro. Larry Killian (1988-1990)
Bro. Killian led in a full time ministry of Music and Youth, helping to grow our music programs with adults, youth, children and preschool choirs.

Bro. Larry Lindsey (1993-1995)
Bro. Lindsey returned to serve as pastor and guide us through the building of a new education building for babies, children and young adults and the renovation of our sanctuary.

Bro. Jon McClain (1994-2001)
Bro. Jon came as a full time staff member working with the youth. Jon, along with his wife Rhonda, developed an active youth program through Bible Study, mission trips, retreats, and camps.

Bro. David Sevar (1997-1998)
Bro. Sevar served as Associate Pastor in charge of Outreach Ministry. He was instrumental in a survey of Kirbyville and the surrounding areas.

Bro. Abram Ogea, Jr. (1996-2004)
Bro. Abe’s ministry showed a real heart for people. He led in helping our church to reach out to minister to people in Kirbyville, and to unite churches in our area in fellowship, encouraging each other in the Gospel.

Louis (1990-2003) and Dorthy St. Aubin (1991-present)
Louis and Dorthy St. Aubin served together as custodians of our church for many years. Dorthy continues her faithful service and we are thankful for the work she provides preparing the buildings for use in many ministries.

Bro. Blaine Miller (July 2002-August 2005)
Bro. Blaine’s ministry to students enhanced the Wednesday evening Student Worship and Bible Study. He reached into our lives of students by visiting them during their lunch time at school. He worked with coaches in the development of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and its monthly breakfast at Elijah’s restaurant. Bro. Blaine broadened cooperation and ministry support between the local churches in reaching and ministering to students. The Student Ministry grew numerically and spiritually during his tenure.

Dalena Pickett (2002-2009)
During Dalena’s Ministry to Children, she instituted an after school ministry on Wednesdays developing Bible Study and activities. Through the Children’s Department she developed an environment of acceptance and growth for our children – bed babies through 6th grade. The ministry flourished under her leadership.

Bro. Jamie Kinman (2005-Present)
Led by Bro. Jamie Kinman our church is enjoying a close, caring fellowship reaching out to the whole membership. Bro. Jamie is faithful to make hospital visits to church members as well as others in the community, providing comfort and encouragement. The church is currently implementing a program called Ground Zero in effort to present the Gospel and assess the needs of the community. Our Capitol Campaign Fund is a two-year effort to collect needed funds to complete some remodeling of our church facility. Bro. Jamie has made special services such as the Hanging of the Green and the Lord’s Supper very worshipful and meaningful times to each of us. Under his leadership we continue to reach Kirbyville and the surrounding community for Christ and expand our missionary impact in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the world.

Bro. Skipper Schexsnayder (2006-present)
As Minister of Music and Education Bro. Skipper is leading us in worship through a variety of musical styles, always working diligently to coordinate the music with the sermon. The choir has grown in number and Bro. Skipper began a Handbell Choir in 2008 which we continue to enjoy. He emphasizes the training of Sunday School leadership through conferences and monthly Teachers and Officers Meetings. Like Bro. Jamie, he makes many a hospital visit and will always ask, “What can I do to help you?”

Bro. Jason Shirley (2006-present)
Bro. Jason is our Minister of Family and Students and has shown us his heart for missions. Not only has he participated in mission trips himself but he has developed the Bucket List in order to keep missions participation a part of family life all year long. Bro. Jason recognized the need for special facility for youth activities. His ideas lead to transforming our bus barn into a Youth Building. He is very involved with Youth and their activities both in and out of church, eating lunch with them at school and beginning the Tailgate Party for home football games. The result has been a growth in the Youth Ministry. Under Bro. Jamie’s guidance Bro. Jason has continued to develop his leadership skills.

Angela Shirley (2009-Present)
Angela has taken the leadership role and the challenges of Ministry to Children at Central to new levels of success. She has developed programs and ministry with the focus of reaching and maturing children through VBS, Children’s summer camps, Sunday School, and scripture memorization. We are grateful for her fingerprint on our Ministry to Children.

Certainly over the years there have been a host of others who have supported Central Baptist Church and whose efforts have advanced the cause of our Lord. Part time ministers of music, part time youth ministers, summer youth ministers, secretaries, nursery workers, deacons, instrumentalists, and too many more to name. We are thankful for all those from Virgil Pulliam through the present who have stood side by side with us as we have worked to bring honor to God and meet the needs of our community.