By LORETTA FULTON

New Light Baptist Church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary with various events beginning Saturday, Sept. 30.

A Praise Festival will be held in the church parking lot, 518 N. Sixth St., that Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food trucks, bounce house, face painting, and more will be featured. Local choirs and Praise Dancers will provide the worship experience. Motivational speaker DJ Duffey will speak on “I’m Her.”

An anniversary gala, a black tie event will be held Oct. 7 at Oak Street Arbor. Tickets are $35. Contact Renea Ervine, 829-9187, or Dee Moore, 665-1400, for tickets. 

The front of New Light Baptist Church, 518 N. Sixth St. Photo by Loretta Fulton

A state historical marker has been approved for the church by the Texas Historical Commission through the Taylor County Historical Commission. Documentation for the narrative notes that New Light Baptist Church was founded in 1923 by some members who had left Macedonia Baptist Church. Founding members were Mary Yates, Mariah Bennett, Lillian Wells and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Weir. The Rev. S.H. Hubbard was called as pastor in 1923. He and the congregation worshiped in a small house on Magnolia Street, which today is North Treadaway Boulevard. 

“The early church had its challenges, facing the institution of racism and segregation,” according to documentation for the marker narrative. “Still, the parishioners of New Light persevered and began to function in the community as a positive force impacting disparities in the African American Community.”

Hubbard was succeeded in 1925 by Rev. John McDowell, who also served as Moderator of the Progressive West Texas Baptist District Association. 

In more recent years, Rev. Leo Scott and Rev. Eddie Jordan served as pastors of New Light. Both are deceased. Scott served from 1986 through 1999. Jordan followed him and served from 1999 until his death in 2021. 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene