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Est. 1965
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:58
Pastor, R.W. Cunningham
Served 1965-1969
In May of 1965, a preacher by the name of R.W."Dick" Cunningham felt led of the Lord to start a church on the southwest side of Wichita Falls, Texas. He didn't go around asking folks what kind of church they wanted. He didn't take a poll to find out their likes or dislikes. He knew what kind of church God led him to establish.In the original By-Laws of the Southwest Baptist Church, the very first article reads: "The Southwest Baptist Church, 4608 Coronado, Wichita falls,Texas, declares itself an Independent, Fundamental, Missionary Baptist Church.... free from all external authorities answering to our head, even Jesus Christ."
The By-Laws go on to say: "The Southwest Baptist Church will have as its main and ultimate concern, the preaching of the Gospel."
So, on July 16, 1965, Southwest Baptist Church of Wichita Falls was established. The church first met in the American Legion Hall near Lake Wichita on Fairway. Then in August of 1965, the Lord blessed the church with our present property here on Coronado Avenue and a 40'x 90' church was constructed. Later, another 40'x 58' building was constructed as an educational wing.
The church's first missionary support went to missionary Bob Hughes in the Philippines, and before Bro. Cunningham left, the church was helping support 37 foreign missionaries, two infant churches, and two Bible colleges. It is also noteworthy that Southwest was the first church in Wichita Falls to establish a Bus Ministry. By 1970, the church owned and operated six buses to pick up boys and girls for Sunday School.
Bro. Cunningham served Southwest Baptist Church for 5 years.
In March of 1970, the church called Bro. Larry Lilly to be its second pastor.
Bro Lilley came with a vision to accomplish even greater things.
During his first Sunday School campaign in 1971, the church experienced its largest Sunday on record with a total of 711 folks in attendance.
During Pastor Lilley's tenure, another building was added to the property, renovations were made, a five-minute radio program was launched called "Your Life Today" on KFDX-TV, Channel 3, a weekly bulletin called "The Southwest Baptist News" began circulation to almost 400 homes.
Many missionaries were also added to the Missions Program during this time, and over 1,700 souls came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour!
The average attendance was approximately 200.
Bro. Lilly served Southwest Baptist Church for 17 years.
Pastor, Larry Lilley
Served 1970-1987
Pastor, David Adair
Served 1987-2009
In November of 1987, the church called Bro. David Adair to be its third pastor.
At that time, the church was facing some difficult challenges and the attendance had dropped down to about 25.
With the introduction of a new pastor, many old members returned and new members were added to the roll. As the church regained it's footing and a new vision, the buildings were remodeled, brick was added to the exterior, and the missions program grew to 100 missionaries.
One of the more notable accomplishments under Bro Adair happened in 2004. The church built a beautiful 18,000 square foot Family Life Center with offices, a full-court gymnasium, locker rooms, a game room, commercial kitchen, and classrooms. This building was later named the Heginbotham Family Life Center, after Bro. Lloyd Heginbotham, a faithful charter member of Southwest.
Bro. Adair served Southwest Baptist Church for 22 years.
In May of 2010, the church called Bro. David Bishop to the pastorate. He would be the church's fourth pastor in almost 45 years.
Because of Bro. Bishop's vision to re-establish Southwest as a conservative, hymn-singing, devil-chasing, revival-spirited, King James Bible-only, Baptist Church, his first year was not without some controversy. Half of the congregation felt led to move their membership! But God's grace was sufficient and the church began to flourish again.
Under Bro. Bishop's leadership, the church elected it's first deacons, reinstated its incorporation status with the state of Texas, adopted a new and updated Church Constitution, and implemented a Church Missions Policy for our World-Wide Missions Program.
The church has also started two Nursing Home Ministries, as well as launching new Sunday school classes.
In May of 2015, the church building was completely remodeled from floor to roof after a flood ripped through our properties. The church congregation met in the Family Life Center for six months as the main building was restored and refreshed. But again, God was in it all and the church has never been more united and excited!
In October of 2019, in answer to a season of fasting and prayer led by Bro. Bishop, God moved on an anonymous donor to pay off the church's mortgage of $150.000.00 for which we praise the Lord!
Today, Southwest Baptist Church is still contending for "the faith once delivered" and preaching the Gospel just as our original by-laws stated. Southwest is an exciting church for the whole family!
Bro. Bishop has served Southwest Baptist since 2010 to present.
Pastor, David A. Bishop
Serving since 2010
Our Prayer is that the next 50 plus years will continue to find us faithful to the Praise & Glory of God!
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