By LORETTA FULTON Jack Ridlehoover, pastor of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church for 29 years, died Sunday, June 19, at age 91. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. A service of celebration will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer Drive. A livestream of
Read moreThe Celebration Choir and Orchestra of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church will present “The Cross, The Crown” in two parts at the Abilene Convention Center. Part 1, “The Cross” will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, April 15. Part 2, “The Crown,” will begin at 10:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 17. Both parts will be presented at the Convention Center, 1100 N.
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON Thanks to a $4.5 million renovation project, even the oldest Sunday School class at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church can now watch a TikTok video on the big screen. “That’s how advanced we’ve become,” joked John Whitten, senior pastor at the church. The renovation/reconfiguring did much more than add upgraded technology to the campus. It more than doubled
Read more
On Sunday, Jan. 9, members of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, led by senior pastor John Whitten, dedicated the completed Phase 1 of a building project to enlarge and remodel the complex at 701 S. Pioneer Drive. The building project is part of a three-year campaign called Pioneer Possibility. Reed Ambrose, director of communications at the church, said members are in the
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON “Can I have your attention, please?” The man asking the question was hard to ignore–Kooter the Clown, also known as Barney Johnson, was talking and the kids were listening. Johnson, 87, is a member of a senior adult organization at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, which is a neighbor to Bonham Elementary School. Every September members of the
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON As sure as the rains come during the West Texas Fair & Rodeo, so do volunteers from Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. It would be hard to say which is a more welcomed sight. Rain is always welcomed in Abilene,, but so are the folks from Pioneer Drive, who year after year provide a home-style barbecue meal and
Read more
By LORETTA FULTON In August 2020, Stan Allcorn started a trend that is continuing this summer among other local pastors and people serving in ministry roles–retirement. Allcorn came to Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in 1998 and stepped down from his position as senior pastor last August. He and his family were honored at an outdoor retirement party Sunday night, Aug.
Read moreDaniel McKay is the new associate pastor for teaching and connections at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. McKay, whose position was made official on Sunday, Feb. 28, is replacing John Whitten, who was named senior pastor last fall. McKay and his wife, Anna, were in all four services at Pioneer Drive on Sunday. The final vote was a long time coming.
Read more
This article will be updated as more information is obtained. If your church or organization, or one you know of, is assisting in any way, please email editor@spiritofabilene.com and that information will be added. Include name of church, contact info, what you’re doing, and if volunteers and/or supplies are needed. By LORETTA FULTON Churches and ministries in Abilene and the
Read more
Spirit Of Abilene 