Church History 1885-2000
BLACK JACK BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
Black Jack Baptist Church, located in northwest Burleson County just off FM 908 was organized in May 1885. The church was named Black Jack Ridge and was so named by G. C. Hilliard, a charter member of the church. The name was changed to Black Jack Baptist later on.
Black Jack Baptist was sponsored by Liberty Baptist Church with Bro. W. T. N. Beasley, Bro. W. S. Lackey and Bro. J. J. Harris assisting in the organization. Bro. Beasley supplied as pastor until the church called Bro. James G. Cooper as their first pastor.
There were seventeen charter members of the church Although all the names of the members are not known, there were ten known members. They were Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Newman, Mrs. Bettie Ann Christiner, Mrs. Newt Jones, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Hillin, Mr. & Mrs. G. C. Hilliard, Mrs. Ann Griffin and Mr. William Mason. Deacons of the newly organized church were G. C. Hilliard, Newt Jones and Bill Newman.
The church met in the old schoolhouse southeast of the cemetery until 1894 when the present sanctuary was built. The land for the church was donated by G. W. Ray and wife
Mary Ray and Tommie Ray and wife Mollie Ray.
The church was part of the Little River Association and mail was received at Hookerville, Texas, which was about 5 miles down the road. The building, which had one large room, was set facing the west near the county road. In 1947, the building was blown off its high blocks by a tornado. The building was not destroyed but the members set it back some and faced to the south. Soon after that, the county road was widened and the building was moved back again. In 1954 the church added a choir loft and five Sunday School rooms.
Some fourteen years after the church organized, Sunday School began in 1909.
Records shows an enrollment of 60 and an average attendance of 30. Bro. W. D. Crane was pastor at that time. John Newman served as church clerk and W. J . Rogers was Sunday School Superintendent. The church membership totaled 80 for that year. »
In researching the records, it was learned during the early years of the church, male members were counted separately. Also, in the early years, church members who did not live according to beliefs were excluded from the fellowship. However, if they confessed their wrong doings, they were restored into the fellowship.
Pastors who served in the early years were known as Circuit Preachers and their salaries were quite low. They usually pastored more than one church and had services once or twice a month at each church. Records show in 1911, the pastor was paid about $100.00 a year. The members pledged their support to meet the expenses of the church
In 1919, the church became a member of the Burleson Association. Later the name was changed to Burleson-Lee Association and still later it was changed to Independence.
The church did not meet from 1940 until 1946, the reason for this is not known for sure. In 1946, Independence Associational Missionary, M.A. Gary was instrumental in reviving the church and services began again. The church continued to meet until 1966 when it closed due to losing members who moved away and lack of attendance. Although the church was not meeting on a regular basis, Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Willard kept the electricity on by paying the bills. This allowed the church to be used for funerals, homecomings, and other functions.
Mrs. Willie Willard passed away June 9, 1977 before the church was reorganized again. In the fall of 1980, several of the church’s original members contacted Bro. Clyde Griffin to assist in reviving the church once again. Bro. Griffin, who grew up in the church, is now retired and living in Rockdale. He is 94 years of age. He asked Bro. Jim Lafferty, Director of Area Missions, to help reorganize the church. These men, with the assistance of members Irene and Henry Shephard and Irene and Leonard Key and prospective members, Lottie and Wayne Morton, conducted a survey to see how many residents would be interested in reorganizing the church. A number of new people had moved in the area and several people had returned to the area. The survey response was so great, a weekend revival was planned for October 24th and 25th , with Bro. Jim Lafferty conducting the services. Revival attendance was great and a business meeting was held after the last service. Everyone attending indicated they would support the church and Lloyd Morton, an original member, made a motion to reorganize and begin services on November 2, 1980. Alfred Rogers, also an original member seconded the motion. The motion carried and services began the following Sunday with Bro. D. D. Simpson of Rockdale preaching. He was elected as Interim Pastor.
Officers elected were Lottie Morton, Church Clerk, Johnny Morton, Church Treasurer, Wayne Morton, Sunday School Director, Jim McDonald, Music Director and Carolyn
McDonald, Pianist. Wayne Morton was recognized as a deacon, having been ordained December 20, 1964, while attending First Baptist Church In Somerville.
There were thirteen known resident members at the time of reorganization. On November 2, eleven new members joined the fellowship with new members being added each week.
The building had gone down in disrepair and some remodeling began in November of 1980. The building was leveled and plans got underway to completely remodel. Serving on the Committee was Chairman, Wayne Morton, Ned McManus, Irene Shephard, Carolyn McDonald and Hughie Smith. Most of the work was completed by December of 1981. Two bathrooms were put in, new aluminum windows were installed, central heat and air was installed, ceiling tiles were added, sheet-rock repaired, vinyl flooring was put in the auditorium and a carpet runner installed down the aisle and choir loft. The building was painted inside and out. A grant from the Oldham Little Foundation helped pay for the remodeling with the men from the church and the community doing the work. A porch was added to the front of the building and a fellowship hall was added in 1982. Accordion walls were used to close off the choir loft for a Sunday School room and one was installed in the fellowship hall to make two Sunday School rooms. First Baptist Church in Somerville donated the accordion walls. The men and women of the church, all being excited about reorganization, donated their time and labor to get the church remodeled. Once the church began meeting again, under the direction of Interim Pastor, Bro. D.D. Simpson, an advisory committee was elected to serve before the election of deacons. Serving on the committee were Chairman, Wayne Morton, an ordained deacon and members Hughie Smith, Johnny Morton, Jim McDonald, Lloyd Morton and Henry Shephard. This committee ' served the church well until an election of deacons was held.
Four deacons were elected and ordained on April 26, 1981. They were Henry Shephard, now deceased, Hughie Smith, Jim McDonald and Tom Tynes. Jim McDonald moved to Burleson and moved his letter to a Baptist Church there.
Tom Tynes lettered out to Calvary Baptist church in Caldwell and now is pastoring a small church in Rockdale.
The church continued to grow and many other things were added to the church. The State Mission Board allowed the church $6,000.00 to use for needed additional educational space. That was how the church was able to build the fellowship hall.
In August of 1982, the church purchased a mobile home to be used as a parsonage. A baptistery fund was established in November of 1982 with a love offering from Bill and Opal Ragness. Others contributed to this fund and the church purchased a baptistery. It was installed in February 1983 by Wayne Morton, Leonard Key and David Morton. Before the baptistery was installed most of the baptisms were held at First Baptist Church in Rockdale.
In the early years, baptisms were done in local stock ponds. There was one occasion since 1980 that the candidate for baptism, Kennard L. Morton, preferred to be baptized in his great grandfathers stock pond.
The church still used the handmade pews from earlier years. In February of 1983, a pew fund was established. A church in Houston donated pews to Black Jack and the pew funds were used to have them cut to fit in the sanctuary. David Morton refinished the pews.
Mrs. Thelma Key, widow of Bro. Travis Key, who grew up in the church, was instrumental in securing the pews for the church.
The old piano from earlier years was still being used for services each Sunday.
A piano fund was begun with a love offering of $500.00 from Reva and Randy Morton. The fund began in June of 1983 and a new piano was purchased in October 1983.
Sidewalks, a patio and garage was built at the parsonage in January and February 1985.
When the church celebrated its 100* birthday in 1985, the church was debt free. The celebration had to wait until November 5, for various reasons. The church had grown since reorganizing in 1980 from 13 known members to 75 resident members.
The officers of the church at the time of the celebration were Music Director;
David Morton, who also served as Church Treasurer; Church Clerk and Pianist, Lottie Morton; Sunday School Director and Deacon Chairman, Wayne Morton. Serving as Deacons at the end of 100 years were Wayne Morton, Jim McDonald, Henry Shephard, Hughie Smith and David Morton who had been ordained on June 23, 1985.
Bro. Clarence Jones, who served as Pastor from November 4, 1984 until November 2, 1986, helped put together the Centennial Celebration. A revival began Friday, November 15,1985, with past church members who had become licensed and in most cases ordained
ministers. Those speaking were Bro. Clyde Griffin, Bro. Hope Crain, Bro. James Morton, Bro. Hubert Ray and Bro. Emmitt Key.
Sunday, November 17 was dedication day. Bro. Reuel Cooper from First Baptist Church in Lexington was the speaker for the dedication Service, Bro. Cooper’s great grandfather had been the first pastor of the church.
Since that day of celebration time of the church’s 100* birthday, fifteen years has passed. The church has continued to serve the Lord and the church has continued to grow. At this writing the church has 91 resident members, 31 non—resident members bringing the total membership to 122. Several associate members join our worship services each week.
They also contribute to the program of the church and join most workday sessions.
After Bro. Jones resigned in November of 1986, the church called Bro. Clarence Craven as Interim Pastor. He became Pastor at a later time. He came on field December 7,1986 and lived part time in the parsonage. He and his wife Rachel resided in Wilderness
Sound near Lake Somerville. He served as Pastor until may 1989, when he resigned due to his wife’s health problems. She regained her strength and he returned as Pastor on July 1, 1990 serving until September 6, 1991.
While Bro. Craven served the church as Pastor, he refused to take a salary. He did finally take a car allowance. The church was able to build up a treasury that allowed finances to pay for many things that were badly needed. One of the things was a new kitchen, which was added to the fellowship hall.
After Bro. Craven resigned in 1991, he and Mrs. Craven moved their membership and helped to start Northshore Baptist Church. The church had a disturbance and the Craven’s
returned their membership to Black Jack.
While he was Pastor, he and Mrs. Craven donated a number of things to the church.
Among those, were two vanities for the bathrooms, several kitchen items and the beautiful Lord’s Table. A friend of the Craven’s Mr. E.F. Jambick donated a Thomas Organ. Another friend painted the picture over the baptistery. This man, O.D. Abson of Tennessee, was quite elderly when he painted the picture. Mrs. Craven’s health kept them from attending all the time, however they kept their membership at Black Jack.
Bro. Craven was honored with an appreciation service on February 6, 1993. Special tribute was shown to him from the members of the church who had come to love he and Mrs. Craven so much. The church moved along sometimes up and sometimes down especially in Sunday School. Several times since 1980 there would be very few in Sunday School. Classes were discontinued for a while. It was reorganized in December of 1995, and even though the number attending was quite small at times, classes were held each Sunday. At the present time the enrollment stands at 40 with an average attendance of 31.
Since the celebration of the 100th birthday, the church had gone forward with lots of accomplishments during the next 10 years. Numbers in attendance had gone up and down
several times. The church worked hard to keep things running smoothly and stay in keeping of God’s teachings.
In the next 10 years several pastors served the church with good leadership. Those that served as Pastor during that time were Bro. Clarence Craven, Bro. Russell Thornburg, Bro. Clarence Craven, Bro. Keith Price and Bro. Delbert Miller.
The Church called Brad Oliver as Interim Pastor in September 1995. He did not want to serve as Pastor at that time. A surge in attendance began with a number joining the church.
In April of 1996, Bro. Oliver asked the deacons to recommend him as Pastor. He was called to be the Pastor of the church April 14, 1996. Bro. Oliver was relieved of his duties as Pastor on May 12, 1996.
Bro. Robert Johnson became the Pastor September 8, 1996 and served until August 1997.During the next year, the church had a number of Supply Pastors filling the pulpit each Sunday.
The attendance was up and down, however Sunday School continued and there were several new additions to the church.
Bro. Henry Swofford of Austin was called to serve as Pastor, August 16, 1998. He had retired from his catering business and began preaching full time. He had severed several years as Associate Pastor in a Baptist church in Austin before coming to Black Jack. He and his wife, Margie, along with their son, Wayne and Margie’s brother, Gary DeLuil joined the Church August 16, 1998. Although they live in Austin, they arrive on Thursday or Friday each week and stay until Sunday night. Bro. Swofford parked his motor home at the church where he and his family live while at Black Jack. They enjoy the room that was already there.
Bro. Henry, also a carpenter, finished the room so they could have more space. In May of 2000 a mobile home was donated to the church for a parsonage. The mobile home was
donated by Jim and Sharon Luecken.
In May of 1996, the Liberty Baptist Church building was moved to Black Jack. The building had been given to the FIRM Area, as services had not been held there for a number of years. FIRM Area gave it to Black Jack. It had to be moved, so they could sell the land on which the building was located. A walkway building was erected to join the two buildings together. A note to remember, in the beginning of the church history, Liberty Baptist Church sponsored Black Jack Baptist Church when it was organized.
The addition is used for Sunday School. It is now called the Sunday School Annex.
Soon after the building was located at Black Jack, renovations were begun. A large porch was added to the front of the building, two bathrooms were put in, new windows installed, carpet laid, and air conditioning and heating was also installed. In March of 2000, a large classroom was sectioned off and a storage cabinet added. The new Young Adult Class meets in the room. The Youth Class meets in the larger section, which is also used for overflow crowds for meals in the fellowship hall. Other classrooms are planned as needed. When a workday is planned, a large group of men and women come and offer their talents. One member, Lottie Morton, said, "Liberty Baptist Church building had a special place in her heart." Lottie became a Christian while attending that church.
Bro. Swofford has served well as the church’s pastor. He is out and about visiting in the community and always there when he is needed. Under his leadership, the church began a Friday night prayer service in the fall of 1999. Attendance to the service has grown and has twenty to thirty attending each week.
Black Jack Baptist Church has been blessed with a number of "Do It Yourself Members" and their talents have really been put to use.
In the early years of reorganizing in 1980, Wayne Morton served as chairman of the Building Committee. Many times he and Leonard Key worked during the week when other people were at their jobs. They did most of the rewiring of the building along with a lot of other repair jobs. At lunchtime, Irene Key fixed them a good meal and also served as the "Gofer" running errands for them. Both Mr. & Mrs. Key have gone to meet their reward in Heaven, but are still remembered by the members of the church.
Wayne often serves as chairman of the "On Going Building” at Black Jack. He is well known for his woodworking and furniture building. Some of the things the church enjoys are the frames he has made for the picture over the baptistery, the bulletin board and the church calendar. He made the stand that holds the Bible, the sconces that hold the candles, the shelves that hold the bulletins and literature, the cross for the auditorium and several cabinets used in the Sunday School rooms and office.
Fred Graves’ talent of welding has been used for the playground equipment, the frame that holds the bell and a barbecue pit.
Mike Pinter and son Ronnie put the electricity in the new kitchen. Wayne Morton,David Morton, Skipper Legg and the late James Morton assisted in this project.
Herbert Dudley also has shared his electrician background in several of the building projects of the church.
David Morton’s talent of painting and refinishing has been used through the years. He repainted the Sunday School rooms, refinished the pews and headed up the committee of
volunteers painting of the church in the fall of 1999. He has also used his singing talent by serving as Music Director for the church at several different times.
Former member, Chris Johnson used his welding talents while he was a Black Jack.
He made the frame for the sign for the church that is on FM 908.
Earlene Morton has been using her singing voice for the church all this time since reorganizing. She has served as Music Director at several different times. She was on hand to lend her talents for most of the Bible School.
Jennie Johnson, the late Irene Shephard, Sue Johnson and Lou Dudley has served the church well as Church Hostesses. Jennie is Hostess at the present time and served in this
capacity most of the years since 1980. Her late husband, Sam was always on had to assist her helping out in every way he could. Lou Dudley served as Co-hostess.
Loretta Legg and her daughter, Alicia Legg, used their decorating and artistic talents to make some beautiful decorations for the Church. Loretta and Alicia also headed up the Christmas programs for a number of years. Alicia would draw the scenes needed and enlist volunteers to help paint them.
In the past couple of years, Jackie Varner and her son, Frank Varner use their artistic
talents to paint scenes used in the Christmas programs and the Easter programs.
It was stated earlier that a number of things had been added to the church and they are listed in chronological order.
Buildings——garage and room added to the parsonage and a patio completed in 1985.
Brother Clarence Jones and his sons did the work on these projects.
Kitchen added to the fellowship hall. A drive for funds started with a donation of
$200.00 from Leonard Key. Brother Clarence Craven and Wayne Morton each donated $100.00 to help with the cost estimate at $1250.00. Cecil Johnson donated a refrigerator box for the new kitchen. Silverware, a l00 piece place setting, a microwave, an ice machine and a dishwasher was purchased to complete the new kitchen. The original kitchen appliances of stove, refrigerator and hot water heater had been donated by Lottie and Wayne Morton. Later the hot water heater was replaced to accommodate the use of the dishwasher. A serving bar was installed in the fellowship hall to hold the bountiful supply of food served often at Black Jack.
New Roof-a new metal roof was put on the main building in 1990.
The David Morton family donated a swing set for the smaller children.
Chris and Bernadette Johnson donated material for a volleyball court. Both the swing set and volleyball court had to be torn down to move in the annex Building. This playground equipment was restored by Fred Graves, who also built a larger swing set.
The church purchased a sign to put out by Fm 908. Chris Johnson built the frame for it. Twice the sign was stolen. The first time it was found near Gause, Texas. The second time it was never found. However a new one was put up each time. The last time it was replaced, it was secured in such a way that no one has taken the time to steal it again.
Ceiling fans were purchased for both the auditorium and fellowship hall in hopes to help with the cooling. However, another air conditioning and heating unit was added to
adequately cool and heat the building.
Mini blinds were installed in the auditorium to replace the shades for the windows.
A sound system was installed in the auditorium with a speaker in the nursery. Later on, the system was replaced and a speaker added to the fellowship hall.
A parking lot was sectioned off and blacktop added. Everyone really seemed to enjoy that addition.
In the year of 1991, the church was very busy with everyone pitching in to get several projects done. Furniture for the nursery was ordered and set up for the younger children.
Vapor lights were installed. A walk was installed from the parking lot to the fellowship hall. The late, Jimmy Weatherly was overseer of the project. Charles Vaughn was his key helper. Several others prepared the yard, leveling it for the project. Shrubs and roses were planted. The church has enjoyed several beautifitl bouquets from the roses. A steeple was also installed on the building.
Church bell-the bell for the church was given by Mr. Mrs. Edd Burney in memory of her parents and grandparents. Mrs. Burney is a descendent of Charter Member, Mrs. Ann Griffin.
Land-The church purchased 2 acres of land from the Caufield Estate. This was done in case future growth demanded more space for facilities. Several times a "Potato Patch" was planted for the church to enjoy its bounty. One year about 3200 lbs. Of potatoes were enjoyed by all. After laying the land out for a year or so, a "Potato Patch" grew again this year. The storm in early May destroyed the vines and the rain was ruining the crop.
Harvesting was forced about three weeks early. Even so, there were some 2200 lbs. harvested.
Indoor-outdoor carpeting was installed at the front steps and fellowship hall entrance.
A handicap ramp was installed in 1993. The ramp has really come in handy several times.
A hymnbook fund was started by the Griffin Family Reunion in June of 1993 and new hymnbooks were purchased in February of 1994.
In keeping the building in good condition, the church was repainted in the fall of 1999.
It has been said, "Black Jack Baptist Church has as much to offer their congregation as does any larger Church and we are proud of it."