Our History
First Baptist Church,
Greenwood, Arkansas
Our church was established around 1867, shortly after the Civil War. The small congregation first met in the wood-frame courthouse on the town square. After the Masonic Hall was erected in 1871, the congregation began meeting there.
Our first pastor was William Greenlee, who was also serving as pastor of Oak Bower in Lavaca. Under his leadership, the congregation joined the Arkansas State Baptist Convention in 1870 and became part of the Dardanelle Association. The following year, several churches in the area came together to form the Concord Association.
In 1881, the congregation built a one-room, wood-frame church two blocks east of the business district. When the Midland Valley Depot was constructed across the street in 1903, the church building was moved nearly intact to our present location.
James C. Williamson became our first full-time pastor in 1904. During his ministry, the cornerstone for a new church building was laid in 1909.
Following many years of steady growth, the church expanded again in 1954. Under the leadership of Pastor James Benton, the existing building was remodeled, and a larger worship area was added.
Milton “Pete” James became pastor in 1975. During his 22 years of ministry, several new buildings were added to the church campus, including our current worship center, which was completed in 1979.
In 2005, under the leadership of Pastor Ronnie Deal, the Recreational Outreach Center—known as the ROC—was completed. It was created to provide a place of fellowship for our church family and new opportunities to serve our community.
