Missions
According to the record, the Colorado Baptist Association's session in 1853, the young
Missionary Baptist Church of Bastrop went on record as having contributed $21.25 to missions that year,
a worthy contribution for a church membership of 34, in a time when there was very little hard cash in
circulation.
For a long time, it was customary to take plate offerings at certain times of the year
for the various mission work. In later years, however, these activities have been financed by the
Co-Operative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention, to which each church in the convention pays
10% of its monthly total collections.
In addition to the funds given to the Co-Operative Program, each year, a collection is
designated for each of the home, state, and foreign mission programs. These collections are sponsored by
the Missions Committee. In 1883, this group was known as the Ladies' Aid Society, and although its name
has been changed several times over the years, its purposes have been constant; to contribute to the
awareness of the church's members the importance of mission work in the world today; to increase
knowledge concerning those areas in the world where that work is going on; and to encourage financial
support for the Baptist Missions everywhere.
In January, 1972, the Baptist Men Mission Organization of our church, purchased a large
66-passenger bus and presented it to the church for the purpose of providing transportation to those
who, otherwise, would have no means of attending church services. At the same time, members of this
organization conducted a door-to-door visitation program in the area surrounding Bastrop to locate those
who were in need of this ministry.
In 1980, the church voted to buy two fifteen-passenger Ford Club Wagon vans to replace
the old bus. The latter was donated to the Antioch Baptist at Hills Prairie.
On July 26, 1954, the First Baptist Church of Bastrop extended an arm to the Bateman
Baptist Church by accepting and enrolling the Bateman members in our membership while their church was
erecting a building and getting started.
In 1987, the Mission Committee from First Baptist instigated and aided the funding of a
mission church in the Circle D area. In September of that year, First Baptist chartered the mission into
a full-charter church, the Pine Country Baptist Church on Highway 21.
First Baptist is again seeing the need for more room. In January, 2000, planes were
voted on to build the balcony, enlarge the choir and stage area, enlarge the choir room and construct a
new library. Construction began in February, 2000. Remodeling the Children's and Youth area where also
included. Construction of the pre-school area began in May, 1999 and was completed in January 2000.
Histories tend to deal with finite things. Church histories are no exception. However,
in this account of organizations, building programs, and growth in numbers, we hope you will see the
story of a body of people behind these things who wished to serve God and to provide what was needed in
His Service.
We honor the people who have gone before us to prepare our way. We are thankful to them
and to God, Who through them has brought us thus far, and with Whose help, we will continue this story in
the years to come.
