By Loretta Fulton

Two historic Black Baptist organizations will meet jointly in Abilene June 29 through July 3. 

The 123rd annual session of the Original West Texas Baptist District Association (OWT) and the 112th Congress of Christian Education will meet together at Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road. Opening service will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, June 29.

Theme is “Strengthening Faith. Equipping Leaders. Building Kingdom. Together in Christ!” Moderator of the OWT is Rev. Demotis Sherman Jr., pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. A promotional flier says:

“Join us for a spirit-filled week of worship, learning, fellowship and service.”

Rev. Demotis Sherman

The historic organizations that will be meeting in Abilene are made up of Baptist churches with predominantly Black congregations. A history of the OWT states that Black Baptist congregations date to a meeting at Silver Bluff, Aiken County, South Carolina some years prior to 1776. The second meeting was held at the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia, in 1778, which George Leile, the first ordained Black Baptist preacher in the New World was instrumental in founding. 

In 1805, the Joy Street Baptist Church, the first Black church in New England, was organized in Boston. In 1808, the Abyssinian Baptist Church was founded in New York City, and in 1809, the First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia opened. The history of the Original West Texas Baptist District Association, Inc., dates to 1903 under the leadership of the Rev. W.F. Talley and the Rev. B.B. Johnson, along with the ministers of the churches listed below:

St. John, Stephenville
St. John, Decatur
Mt. Zion, Weatherford
Mt. Zion, Colorado City
Mt. Zion, Abilene
First Baptist, Thurber
St. Luke, Annetta
Macedonia, Albany
Mt. Hermon, Mineral Wells

They met at St. John Baptist Church in Stephenville in August 1903 to lay the foundation for the association. Rev. Johnson, pastor, preached the first sermon of the new association. The first moderator was Rev. F.B. Williams, who served in 1903-1904. 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene