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Rev. L. W. Crouch of El Campo, Colorado Baptist Associational missionary, took a religious census of the Van Vleck area and realized the need of a Baptist church. On May 1, 1951, a one-room building, the former Pentecostal church of Sargent, was purchased from trustees, E. H. Phillips, C. J. Socha and lonzie Theus, for the sum of $2,250. On May 18, 1951, three lots, which is the present site of the church, were purchased from Mr. and Mrs.. L. A. Pruett. The building was moved, May 24, 1951 from Sargent to the present site by Roy Hall for $350. Rev. Morrell, pastor of Cedar Lane Baptist Church, repaired and readied the building for use. In July, 1951, Rev. W. L. Hughes, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Bay City; Kirk Richardson, song leader; and Joyce Hughes, pianist; led in a week-long revival. From July, 1951 to May 4, 1952, the church functioned as a mission of the Colorado Baptist Association, District No. 4. During that time, Rev. Crouch was interim pastor. The first officers of the church were; M. M. Wells, Sunday School superintendent; Bertha Wells, church clerk; Iva Pruett, treasurer; Mary Gibson, pianist; Donald Wells, choir director; and Mrs. Phillip Johnson, training union director. The first deacons were M. M. Wells and Ira Blanchard who had been ordained in 1951 at Calvary Baptist Church, Bay City. The first trustees, Allan D. O'Connell, Robert Ellis and Cecil Pruett, were elected April 7, 1952. In 1952, while still a mission, six additional classrooms were added. The First Baptist Church, Van Vleck was organized May 4, 1952 with 57 charter members. On June 15, 1952, the church called Rev. James O. Brown as pastor. He served until March 29, 1953. The first Vacation Bible School was held in June, 1952. Cecil Pruett, Robert Ellis and George Bell were ordained as deacons on August 10, 1952. Two adjoining lots were purchased on January 24, 1953, from Bryan Bickham. On April 28, 1953, Rev. Roy A. Cloudt, assistant pastor of Calvary Baptist, Bay City, was called as pastor and served until September 26, 1954. Just before leaving, Rev. Cloudt licensed R. M. Babb on April 18, 1954. The next pastor was L. L. Garner from First Baptist Church, Needville, Texas. He served from October 20, 1954, to September 16, 1956. On February 26, 1955, Bay City Federal Savings and Loan Company approved a loan of $12,270 for the erection of a sanctuary and educational building. Ground breaking for the two new buildings was held March 6, 1955, and formal dedication of the completed sanctuary and other additions was October 2, 1955. The first baptism in the new baptistry was that of Presley Porter, Jr., on October 16, 1955. On February 12, 1956, a deacon ordination service was held for Jack King. Rev. Derald Dugger of Salado, Texas, was called to the pastorate on November 11, 1956. The parsonage was purchased from Humble Oil Company on November 4, 1956, for the sum of $3,750. Also in the 1950s, the church voted to participate in the Texas Baptist Achievement Program, organized a library with 106 books, voted to adopt the Forward Church program, won the associational and district Rural Achievement Program, and licensed Danny Nations as a preacher. In June, 1960, the church purchased 100 Baptist hymnals, which were placed in the sanctuary by family members as memorials. After having sold the house purchased from Humble, two lots directly behind the church and another house were purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Don Klingman for $6,900. Brother Derald Dugger resigned on October 16, 1960, and was replaced by Brother B. Leroy Patterson in January, 1961. On April 18, 1962, the church voted to erect an educational building that would house classrooms and a hall for recreational and fellowship use. That building was dedicated on March 17, 1963, and Brother David Elliott (1963-69) began his pastorate. Ira Blanchard, Jr., was licensed to preach on October 13, 1968. Russell Davis and Jack Hutson were licensed on November 2, 1969. In October, 1968, the church realized the need of a room for the library. A room was designated and young people's training union class members Carolyn Cole, Debbie Ellis, Mike Denbow, Phillips Jacobs, Gary Vos, Ira Blanchard, Jr., and Kenneth Cummings accepted the project. Adult leaders who assisted in the project were: Mrs. Billie Ray Denbow, librarian; Mrs. J. W. Renfrow, assistant librarian; Mrs. Phillip Johnson, general director; Brother David Elliott, pastor; Mr. Tinnin, associational audio-visuals and librarian from New Gulf; Bob Hutson; and Bertha Wells. The library was dedicated May 4, 1969, on the church's 17th anniversary. Today the library is outstanding and has three workers: Penola Johnson, Shelby Roberson, and Emaline Reed. Other pastors serving First Baptist Church, Van Vleck: Rand Baxter (1969-73), Hollie Briscoe (1973), Bob Cook (1973-75), Jim Hardaway (1975-79), Michael Zimmerman (1979-84), Dr. Phillip Williams (interim 1984) and Bob Hobbins. During the past 34 years the church has gone from one room to the present plant (1985) which includes a sanctuary with baptistry, recreation hall, kitchen, nursery, pastor's study, library, office for literature and records, storage room, rest rooms, thirteen classrooms and a parsonage with garage. From the 57 original members, the church has grown to 210 resident members and 123 non-resident members. The members have grown spiritually under the leadership of its pastors and is continuing that growth.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, pages
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